Mediocre low-budget vampire movie, interesting only because of its originality compared to its predecessors. While Dracula movies so far were placed in past centuries, this story takes place in "present", in small American town in fifties of the 20th century, and main characters are teenage couple, local priest/doctor and some town aunts. Pretty much unusual for Dracula movie. Still, story and characters are undeveloped, plot is simple, and everything happens fast and easy, like in short cartoons. Movie is two-dimensional and fails to involve us enough, so there's no dramatic tension. Teenage romance won't fill you with emotions, nor will horror elements scare you. Overall, interesting idea, technically well done for its time and budget, but undeveloped, so movie fails to build atmosphere that could leave strong impression. You won't get bored, but you'll forget all about it soon enough.5,5/10

Count Dracula murders a man and poses as him: Bellac Gordal. Bellac/Dracula moves in with his American cousins and begins to wreak havoc in his new home. -- A simple but effective story.This film was released in 1958 not long before Christopher Lee's portrayal of Dracula in 'Horror of Dracula (1958)'. Lee's movie over shadowed this film with it's vivid color and a towering, menacing Dracula (Lee). BUT that is not to say that 'The Return of Dracula (1958)' is a bad film - it's actually a good vampire movie.If you like vampire movies then I do recommend 'Return of Dracula ('58)'. It's not like the Universal Dracula ('31) nor is it like the Dracula Hammer Horror film series - it's a Dracula film all on it's own.7/10

Paul Landres directed this better-than-expected updating of the Dracula legend. Francis Lederer(quite good) plays Count Dracula, who flees his native land when vampire-hunters threaten him. He kills a Czech artist on a train, and assumes his identity as "Cousin Bellac", who visits the man's family in America, where he stays. Young Rachel Mayberry(played by Norma Eberhardt) becomes infatuated with her "cousin", who is both suave and mysterious, which makes her boyfriend jealous. Meanwhile, Dracula proceeds to seduce a local blind girl named Jenny, with tragic consequences, which climaxes with a pursuit in a spooky cave... Good horror tale cleverly uses the premise of "Shadow Of A Doubt" to fine effect, resulting in an atmospheric Halloween-setting, with a good score. Not a classic, but better than the title would suggest.Trivia note: Lederer would "return" as Dracula in a fine episode of the "Night Gallery" TV series called 'The Devil Is Not Mocked'.

Dracula (splendidly played with suavely sinister aplomb by Francis Lederer) leaves Europe and moves to the California suburbs. Posing as the cousin of an unsuspecting family, Dracula resumes preying on human beings for blood. Director Paul Landres, working from an absorbing script by Pat Fielder, relates the compelling story at a constant brisk pace, does an able job of creating and sustaining an appropriately spooky atmosphere (the shots of Dracula materializing out of thin air are genuinely eerie), and makes inspired use of such natural elements as fog and mist. This film further benefits from solid acting from a capable cast: Lederer clearly dominates the picture with his smooth and hypnotic presence, the lovely Norma Eberhardt as the chipper and kindly Rachel Mayberry makes for a fetching and appealing damsel in distress, plus there are sturdy contributions by John Wengraf as dedicated vampire hunter John Merriman, Gage Clarke as the jolly Reverend Doctor Whitfield, Virginia Vincent as the blind Jennie Blake, and Greta Granstedt as the sweet Cora Mayberry. Jack Mackenzie's crisp black and white cinematography boasts plenty of neat and artful fades and dissolves as well as one especially striking color shot. Gerald Fried's spirited shuddery score hits the shivery spot. Both Landres' lean straightforward style and the trim 77 minute running time ensure that this movie never becomes dull or overstays its welcome. A superior fright feature.