Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970)

 

Hammer Studios kept churning out Dracula-films as if there was no tomorrow and surprisingly most of them are pretty decent. Heck, a lot of them are actually good and very enjoyable if you like opulent sets, vibrant colours, blood, some sexy ladies and Christopher Lee as the eponymous character. This one is no exception, and they even tried some new angles this time around.

Once again picking up right where the previous one left off, a lost salesman comes across a dying Count and sees him dissolve into a red dust. Being an entrepreneurial spirit, he grabs the cape, ring, clasp and gathers up some of the blood in a vial, because there will always be someone eager to buy this stuff, right?

Fast forward a while and a new location where we meet three distinguished gentlemen and their sons and daughters. These three men pretend to be spending time doing charity for homeless people in London, but they actually are regular patrons at a brothel that specializes in exotic stuff, because they feel life needs some excitement.

Also: I can only assume this was the first time Hammer actually showed bare boobs on screen. 

They come across an arrogant cock called Lord Courtley, who is rumoured to have been kicked out of his home due to Satanic tendencies. This intrigues our three lords and they quickly join Courtley and procure Dracula's remains for a Satanic mass in a derelict church.Things take a wrong turn when Courtley actually drinks some of Dracula's blood and the three men beat him to death then run.

Nice chaps all around, I say.

Of course, Dracula himself is resurrected and he vows revenge (again). He then proceeds to corrupt, turn and destroy the children of the gentlemen before slaying them. Only one son remains and his love for the daughter of the most horrible gentleman will get him to try and save her and destroy evil once more.

It might be more of the same, yet this is still a solid entry. The ingredients that make the previous ones so enjoyable are present yet again and they even upped the gore, bloodshed and nudity. Sure, it is still tame, all things considered, but it works. Our trio of douchebag lords is well selected, because you'll love to hate them. Christopher Lee is just this ominous presence and his stare and stance will never get old. 

And if you talk about creative ways in which Dracula is defeated: this one is something else. Sure, it it rather silly if you think about it, but you can't deny it is a more creative turn than impalement or sunlight yet again. 

Fans know what to watch, everyone else might give this a go.