Ian’s review published on Letterboxd:
74/100
”Sleep well, Mr. Harker.”
I actually just wrote that my thoughts and feelings towards the very selects few Hammer Production films hasn’t been all that exciting and whole I've enjoyed some of the entires that I've seen, there has yet to be one that I truly really liked and lives up to the name that so many people have spoken about; then I watched Dracula. Just from the very start of the film you’re brought right into the beautifully crafted world and characters that director Terence Fisher and company build so well.
The thing that I’ve noticed with each Hammer Production is essentially their name - production. So far that’s been the best aspect of each film and here it really is no different. The colors and the set designs pop out of the screen during each scene and it’s quite marvelous to watch the characters move within this really greatly built world. Especially the performances from Peter Cushing & Christopher Lee; I think Cushing absolutely kills it and is easily my favorite, but only because I just wish Lee was in it more. A fantastic Dracula who just needs more screen time.
Overall, I’m glad there’s finally a Hammer horror film that I’ve absolutely liked; been sadly a bit disappointed in the past but with Dracula I found a special film. Seems to be that Terence Fisher is the complete master behind most of their filmography and with the amount of passion he puts into his craft, I think I’m okay with that. See this for the wonderful world building and attention to the special moments. Cushing absolutely kills the role and honestly makes it more interesting to see how he’ll beat Dracula then the other way around.
