Man, what a great premise! Sadly, just wasn't executed very well. I mean, just look at this plot line!
Count Dracula journeys to a remote Chinese village in the form of a monk to command six vampires who have lost the seventh member of their cult. At the same time, vampire hunter Professor Lawrence Van Helsing happens to be lecturing in the country and is persuaded by villagers to help them fight this curse of the ages.
Peter Cushing even…
About as disjointed as you would expect from a martial arts vampire movie co-produced by Hammer and Shaw Brothers. Not quite enough horror OR martial arts for my liking, but it's not without its charms, like the practical effects work used for the vampire deaths.
A no brainer for Hammer fans or Shaw Brothers fans, an extremely interesting watch for fans of both. In the 1970's Hammer was a dying studio, losing profits to the emerging modern horror scene. Hammer's films weren't gory or violent enough so they looked elsewhere to try and make some money. In 1974 this was done twice, both films being the last 2 entries in the company's Dracula film series. The final entry however was this film. Co-produced by Shaw…
Un peu culte pour la collaboration entre deux studios iconiques du cinéma bis : La Hammer et la Shaw Brothers.
La Hammer, en perte de vitesse, cherche à proposer des coproductions internationales et se tourne alors vers la Shaw Brothers qui est, elle, encore dans son âge d'or.
En découle un film unissant le film de monstre et d'art martiaux (les genres de prédilection de ces deux studios).
Étant déjà assez client des chi-niaiseries d'arts martiaux, surtout quand c'est Liu…
This is a low point for both Hammer and Shaw Brothers.
Arany maszkos hongkongi kung fu vámpírok, miii? 🤯
Története nem igen van, de sok az akció, és az elég szórakoztató, bár bele lehet fásulni abba, hogy folyamatosan egy rakás ember csépli egymást.
43
Disappointedly very weak considering you had Vampires and martial arts? Could’ve been a recipe for some goofy fun but instead was pretty bland. Peter Cushing did good as always though and the fight scenes were entertaining.
Two studios involved and neither of them could chip in enough cash to make some fake bats that could flap their wings and not look like black paper plates on strings?
Well, it was a great idea on paper. A Hammer vamp flick combined with a Shaw Brothers Kung Fu flick? Cushing returning as Van Helsing and Roy Ward Baker directing? Sign me the fuck UP!
Well, unfortunately its pretty terrible in execution. Its neither an enjoyable campy Hammer vamp flick, nor is it an action packed, well choreographed fight film. Cushing is as committed as ever, bringing some much needed gravitas, as everyone around him is sucking all the charisma…
A Hammer Films and Shaw Brothers collaboration? Yes, please! Though, this feels more like a Shaw movie with Peter Cushing’s Van Helsing, rather than a Hammer film with martial arts, the combination works very well. Cushing doesn’t get to do a ton (he mostly cheers on his vampire-fighting fellowship from the sidelines and swings a torch around), but he is still in fine form for his last outing in this iconic role. The action is well-executed and vampires look as…
I should be watching Lawrence of Arabia instead of this
This is absolutely stupid. I love it.
Somehow 5 random Chinese brothers made me more emotionally invested than any Hammer's good guy.
Even Peter Cushing looks like he is thinking "ok, fine, wtf" throughout the movie.
A wild flick that delivers the Kung-fu and ninja vampire action that fabulous cover art promises.