Dracula, Prince of Darkness

1966

1h 30m

Horror

List

81%

21 Reviews

Tomatometer

66%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Four tourists dine and spend the night at Dracula's (Christopher Lee) castle; two escape and warn a monk (Andrew Keir).

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DanTheMan 2

For what Prince of Darkness lacks in Peter Cushing, it makes up for in sheer style and simplicity. In what is Terence Fisher's final film for the titular Count, he really goes all out, even with such a tight production. It greatly benefits from the photography of Michael Reed who utilises the cold setting to a chilling degree with the bright, harsh contrasting red blood oozing and spurting onto the magnificent sets and atmospheric locations. The rebirth of Dracula sequence really left me with a shiver down my spine. The performances from its cast are exceptional, mainly from Francis Matthews killing it as a leading man for once and Andrew Keir, even if Lee's return to the iconic role is somewhat squandered by his lack of anything to do. He has an awe-inspiring presence with his complete absence of dialogue only adding to the mysterious and hypnotic portrayal of the character. Prince of Darkness may not be the best in Hammer's repertoire, but it perfectly captures that classic Hammer Horror atmosphere with its chilling terror.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/09/23

Full Review

Alexandra

I actually enjoyed this sequel much more than its predecessor. What makes this movie unique is that its characters are completely original and it doesn't mess around with the original Bram Stoker's characters in any way. Well, maybe this movie gives Dracula his own story, but that's to be expected for a sequel. I did not like the first movie at all, but this one was excellent!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/02/23

Full Review

Brad P

While it may not be Lee's finest hour as the legendary Count Dracula, this sequel works well as a continuation of the first film and it presents the vampire as more of a wild creature than ever before.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The third in Hammer's ‘Dracula' series is one of the best in Hammer's history. Christopher Lee is again superb in the role despite not speaking a single line. Barbara Shelley is also good as Dracula's love interest. The scene in which Dracula is resurrected is a gruesome highlight of the film. Christopher Lee plays Dracula for the second time. Brides of Dracula (the second of Hammer's Dracula films), never featured Lee or even Dracula.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

dave s

There comes a time in the life of every movie fan when it becomes apparent that all Dracula movies are virtually the same, especially those made by Hammer back in the ‘50s and ‘60s. Dracula, Prince of Darkness certainly makes an effort to conform to the formula. After a decade of dormancy, the Count (Christopher Lee) rises from his slumber when four British tourists appear in his dusty castle. Not surprisingly, bloody mayhem ensues until the inevitable confrontation that send Dracula back to where he belongs. Director Terence Fisher, a mainstay at Hammer, does a decent job establishing the requisite creepy atmosphere, but you just get the feeling that you've seen it all before. And that's because you have.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

While it's not the greatest Hammer Dracula movie, it's a very accessible and fun entry. Absent in the last film, Christopher Lee is back and brings everything we expect of him. The sets, costumes, and directing are all top notch. The highlight of the film is the bloody resurrection scene.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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Terence Fisher

Director

Christopher Lee

Count Dracula

Barbara Shelley

Helen Kent

Andrew Keir

Father Sandor

Suzan Farmer

Diana Kent

Francis Matthews

Charles Kent

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William Thomas

Empire Magazine

Once Dracula is up and about, the script can't find much for him to do, but there are spirited performances from Shelley, as an uptight bourgeois who becomes a sensual vampire hoyden, and Kier, as a gun-toting monk who fills in for Van Helsing.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 1, 2012

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

The thrills do not arise sufficiently smooth out of atmosphere.

Mar 26, 2009

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David Pirie

Time Out

Full of the sensual mysteriousness which Hammer used to achieve so effortlessly during their long occupation of Bray Studios.

Jan 26, 2006

Full Review

David Hogan

hoganreviews.co.uk

If all your after is a cliché B horror movie then at least the movie is a good example as it's an entertaining 80-odd minutes, just not one that's worth shouting about...

Rated: 3/5

Oct 25, 2021

Full Review

Kyle Anderson

Nerdist

While not the best in Hammer's repertoire, Dracula: Prince of Darkness is perhaps the perfect Hammer Horror film, which signaled Lee's return to his most iconic role, had some terrific performances, and lived and died by some excellent direction.

Jun 19, 2019

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

It's an effective bit of Hammer horror, boasting the expected atmospherics, period trappings, literary conceits and, yes, buxom beauties.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 21, 2019

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Synopsis

Four tourists dine and spend the night at Dracula's (Christopher Lee) castle; two escape and warn a monk (Andrew Keir).

Director: Terence Fisher
Production Co: Seven Arts Productions, Hammer Film Productions Limited
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 30m