Horror of Dracula (1958)

Horror of Dracula (released simply as Dracula in some regions) is a 1958 Gothic horror drama that follows young solicitor Jonathan Harker, who takes a job at the remote castle of the charismatic but deadly Count Dracula under false pretenses. When Harker’s attempt to destroy the vampire fails, Dracula escapes to a nearby city and sets his sights on Harker’s fiancée and her family. The only hope lies with Dr. Van Helsing, Harker’s friend and a learned hunter of the occult, who must convince skeptical relatives and race against time to find Dracula’s lair and save the women before they are lost to the undead. Watching this film you’ll get a classic Hammer-Studios experience: vivid, atmospheric color and stagecraft, slow-building suspense, and a tense, tragic tone rather than modern jump-scare horror. The story combines eerie castle sequences with a chilling hunt in town, moral urgency, and moments of intimate menace as loved ones are slowly preyed upon. Expect memorable performances, stark lighting and practical effects, a brooding villainy that feeds on obsession and desire, and a measured, suspenseful pace that culminates in a desperate, violent confrontation. Fans of traditional vampire tales and Gothic horror will find it a stylish, haunting entry in the genre.

Actors: Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Michael Gough

Director: Terence Fisher

Runtime: 82 min

Genres: Drama, Horror

7.0 /10 67 /100 7.2 /10 7.0 /10