Roy Ward Baker’s Scars of Dracula marked a turning level in Hammer’s Dracula collection. Breaking with the continuity of the earlier three-of-five entries, the movie acts as a form of smooth reboot, seeming to take up proper the place the primary movie left off: with the undead Depend Dracula (Christopher Lee) decreased to a heap of ashes. And Scars of Dracula is distinctive in essential different methods as nicely.
Made in 1970, the movie got here alongside at some extent the place horror cinema was altering to deal with the seismic impression of Geroge A. Romero’s specific and downbeat Evening of the Dwelling Useless. Particularly notable given how conservative the collection was as much as that time, Scars of Dracula succeeds admirably in ramping up the intercourse and violence, whereas nonetheless hedging its bets considerably in the case of sociopolitical issues.
The movie opens with a mob of torch-wielding peasants of Kleinenberg storming the fort and making an attempt to burn it down. However as a result of that is solely the start, not solely are they unsuccessful, however there are direct reprisals for his or her actions: They promptly come throughout a really horrific scene in a church the place all the feminine inhabitants has been brutally slaughtered, replete with grotesque make-up results and extra splashed blood than in all of the earlier movies put collectively.
From there, Baker’s movie takes a web page from Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho by introducing a serious character solely to nastily dispose of them little greater than half an hour into the runtime. On this case, that’s rakish cad Paul Carlson (Christopher Matthews) as he hops from the mattress of the Burgomaster’s daughter (Delia Lindsay) into some severe sizzling water when the buffoonish politico (Bob Todd) catches him in flagrante. Fleeing city, Paul winds up at Dracula’s fort, the place he meets his doom (although, in contrast to Psycho, the movie takes its time to point out us the phrases of his demise). The remaining of the movie then follows his brother (Dennis Waterman) and the lady (Jenny Hanley) who loves them each as they examine what’s change into of him.
In Scars of Dracula, the authority figures are extra ambivalently drawn than in earlier titles. The townsfolk, led by the innkeeper (Michael Ripper), are unhelpful and even downright merciless of their dismissal of the younger couple. The native priest (Michael Gwynn) initially appears extra amenable, however he’s hardly an infallible champion of God just like the Monsignor in Dracula Has Risen from the Grave, and, for his efforts, he’s rewarded with a deadly mauling by an enormous Dracula-controlled vampire bat. Then once more, it’s the rebellious youth, Paul and the barmaid Julie (Wendy Hamilton), who’re caught up within the movie’s repressive equipment.
You would possibly assume that the movie’s title solely refers back to the chew marks the toothsome rely leaves on his prey’s neck. Nevertheless it additionally hyperlinks to a really sadomasochistic second the place Dracula’s henchman, Klove (Patrick Troughton), is punished at his personal request by being branded by a red-hot cutlass, his scar-encrusted again testimony to the truth that this isn’t the primary time. In the end, Dracula isn’t defeated by the prowess of anybody character, not even the ostensible hero, however somewhat by a seemingly random act of God, a deus ex machina ending if ever there have been one.
Picture/Sound
The 2160p UHD presentation of Scars of Dracula is exceptionally vivid from starting to finish. Moray Grant’s luxurious cinematography, dominated by wealthy reds and blues, has actually by no means regarded higher. Particulars of the movie’s ornate set designs and costumes stand out admirably, whereas black ranges are deep and uncrushed. The Grasp Audio mono combine clearly conveys the dialogue, doing proper by composer James Bernard’s rousing orchestral rating.
Extras
In a brand new commentary monitor, novelist and movie critic Tim Lucas leans closely into Scars of Dracula’s place each amongst Hammer’s Dracula titles and the horror movies launched within the wake of Evening of the Dwelling Useless’s success. Lucas additionally reads extensively from the movie’s novelization, primarily based on an early draft of the script, contrasting it with what lastly made it to the display. The archival audio commentary by Christopher Lee, director Roy Ward Baker, and Hammer historian Marcus Hearn is a spirited seize bag of private and manufacturing anecdotes; particularly of notice is the concentrate on Hammer’s financial woes on the time. Rounding out the extras are “Blood Rites: Inside Scars of Dracula”—that includes actress Jenny Hanley and movie historians Jonathan Rigby, Kevin Lyons, Alan Barnes, and John J. Johnston—and trailers for the movie, together with one tied to Jimmy Sangster’s The Horror of Frankenstein from the identical 12 months.
General
Roy Ward Baker’s underrated Scars of Dracula marked a turning level in Hammer’s Dracula collection, and Kino has given it a revelatory 4K makeover.
Rating:
Solid: Christopher Lee, Dennis Waterman, Jenny Hanley, Christopher Matthews, Patrick Troughton, Michael Gwynn, Wendy Hamilton, Bob Todd Director: Roy Ward Baker Screenwriter: Anthony Hinds Distributor: Kino Lorber Operating Time: 95 min Score: NR 12 months: 1970 Launch Date: December 16, 2025 Purchase: Video
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