Retro Review 'Satanic Rites of Dracula'
In a previous Retro Review I covered the Hammer flick , so I feel it is appropriate to now look at its follow up. In 1973, Peter Cushing reunited with Sir Christopher Lee for, the Satanic Rites of Dracula. Of course this cult classic has healthy doses of your standard Hammer Horror elements; Satanic cults, sexy women, and bright red blood. Unlike additions to the franchise though, the Satanic Rites of Dracula takes a more minimalist approach to the legendary bloodsucker. In fact the Count does not even appear until the movie's climax.
Reprising his role from Dracula AD 1972, Michael Coles as Inspector Murray, discovers that a cabal of powerful men are joined together in a cult based out of an isolated farm house. Naturally he looks for assistance from Dr. Van Helsing, whom he knows has great knowledge of the occult. As expected Count Dracula is pulling the strings of this cult, but his plot is not what anyone expected. Having grown weary of battling with or feeding on humanity for centuries, the Count has become weary and jaded. He now sees his best
What many do not expect when watching the Satanic Rites of Dracula is the hip espionage elements director, Alan Gibson, mixes with the Gothic horror. In fact the whole idea of a secretive Dracula manipulating high level officials to manufacture a biological weapon for him, seems more in line with a Spectre plot in a Bond movie. In fact this film eschews the tradition of Dracula hanging out in crumbling old castles and cathedrals as he has set up base in a modern art deco office building. Given that the studio was eight films deep into Draculla stories, it makes sense that they would want to change it up. But at the end of the day this is still a Hammer Horror flick so you have to have the occult imagery and gothic settings. In the Satanic Rites of Dracula, these are found during the scenes where Satanic rituals are carried out at the behest of the Count.
