Rating: 
Summary: Actually, it deserves a 3.5 but there is no half a star.
Review: First things first. This is the FIFTH(AS IN #5) Dracula film in the Hammer series. #1.Horror of Dracula. #2.Brides of Dracula(The absence of Dracula does NOT exclude it from the list). #3.Dracula:Prince of Darkness. #4.Dracula Has Risen From the Grave. #5.Taste the Blood of Dracula.
Now, about this film. It is one of the last well done Hammer films. Shot with gothic atmosphere it has the look and feel that Hammer fans expect. Not a masterpiece but a fun film for fans of Dracula and Hammer.
Rating: 
Summary: The last decent film in Hammer's Dracula series
Review: "Taste the Blood of Dracula" begins with the conclusion of "Dracula Has Risen from the Grave," as a traveling salesman makes off with the count's cape, ring and some of his blood. Figuring these mementoes will be worth something, the salesman returns to England. A few years later we find three decadent London gentlemen--William Hargrove (Geoffrey Keen), Samuel Paxton (Peter Sallis), and Jonathan Secker (John Carson)--who spend their nights drinking and whoring in the East End under the guise of "charity work." The trio have become bored with their indulgences and then have the misfortune of encountering Lord Courtley (Ralph Bates), who comes up with the bright idea of bringing Dracula back to life for fun. The three purchase the relics the salesman brought over from Transylvania but freak out during the magic ritual that involves drinking the potion made from Dracula's blood (one thing you have to say for Hammer films, the titles usually come into play at some point in the narrative). The trio beat up Courtley and flee, but the potion transforms the Lord into the Count (Christopher Lee). Dracula immediately decides Courtley is worthy of revenge and goes after the three men through their children, whereupon much blood-letting ensues. This is yet another one of Hammer's Dracula films where it ends up being less about the title character and more about what the director is up to. Unlike those films in the series directed by Terence Fisher, who had great affection for the 19th-century, director Peter Sasdy is more interested in seeing the Victorians as hypocrites who basically get what they deserve in the end. "Taste the Blood of Dracula" not only lacks the strong moral counter-presence of a Van Helsing type, it lacks a true hero. Dracula again meets his fate at the end of the film because that is what is supposed to happen, not because we have any vested interest in the boy rescuing the girl. Dracula is clearly an erotic figure whose seduction of the children of the Victorian debauchers heralds their sexual awakenings (e.g., Linda Hayden as Alice Hargood laying sensuously on the lid of Dracula's sarcophagus). For those of you looking for Freudian overtones, look no further, because things get pretty blatant in this film. "Taste the Blood of Dracula" is the last decent film in the Hammer Dracula series, so if you are working through the series in order, you might consider stopping here.
Rating:
Summary: The last decent film in Hammer's Dracula series
Review: "Taste the Blood of Dracula" begins with the conclusion of "Dracula Has Risen from the Grave," as a traveling salesman makes off with the count's cape, ring and some of his blood. Figuring these mementoes will be worth something, the salesman returns to England. A few years later we find three decadent London gentlemen--William Hargrove (Geoffrey Keen), Samuel Paxton (Peter Sallis), and Jonathan Secker (John Carson)--who spend their nights drinking and whoring in the East End under the guise of "charity work." The trio have become bored with their indulgences and then have the misfortune of encountering Lord Courtley (Ralph Bates), who comes up with the bright idea of bringing Dracula back to life for fun. The three purchase the relics the salesman brought over from Transylvania but freak out during the magic ritual that involves drinking the potion made from Dracula's blood (one thing you have to say for Hammer films, the titles usually come into play at some point in the narrative). The trio beat up Courtley and flee, but the potion transforms the Lord into the Count (Christopher Lee). Dracula immediately decides Courtley is worthy of revenge and goes after the three men through their children, whereupon much blood-letting ensues. This is yet another one of Hammer's Dracula films where it ends up being less about the title character and more about what the director is up to. Unlike those films in the series directed by Terence Fisher, who had great affection for the 19th-century, director Peter Sasdy is more interested in seeing the Victorians as hypocrites who basically get what they deserve in the end. "Taste the Blood of Dracula" not only lacks the strong moral counter-presence of a Van Helsing type, it lacks a true hero. Dracula again meets his fate at the end of the film because that is what is supposed to happen, not because we have any vested interest in the boy rescuing the girl. Dracula is clearly an erotic figure whose seduction of the children of the Victorian debauchers heralds their sexual awakenings (e.g., Linda Hayden as Alice Hargood laying sensuously on the lid of Dracula's sarcophagus). For those of you looking for Freudian overtones, look no further, because things get pretty blatant in this film. "Taste the Blood of Dracula" is the last decent film in the Hammer Dracula series, so if you are working through the series in order, you might consider stopping here.
Rating:
Summary: They taste his blood and the horror begins!
Review: After recently watching the film Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968), I was certainly curious as to how they managed to bring him back for Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970), the third installment of the Hammer/Lee Dracula series. I mean, the guy dissolved away to practically nothingness, but then, I guess matter can never really be destroyed, only changed into different forms. The film, directed by Peter Sasdy, who also did Countess Dracula (1970), starts off by basically rehashing the final scenes of Dracula has Risen from the Grave, and we find a portly merchant finding the remains of Dracula's corpse, his cloak, signet ring, cloak clasp, and red powder that is supposed to be Dracula's blood. We then meet of a group of three wealthy, respectable, older men who form a small group that participates in a little hanky panky on the side, and have become bored with their usual routine. They seek out the assistance of a younger man, one with noble lineage who was cut off from his family due to his predilections for the occult. This younger man convinces the trio to cough up the dough for the remains of Dracula, in the hopes of performing some sort of ritual, with the notion of bringing forth pleasures and such none of the men could ever conceive. The ritual, which takes place in an abandoned church well off the beaten path, begins, and involves mixing fresh blood with the powdered blood of Dracula (which creates quite the oozing visceral cocktail), and then drinking this new combination. The three older men understandably balk at the idea of drinking this noxious concoction, and challenge the brash younger man to drink it, to which he calls them cowards and does, with interesting effects. He begins to seriously freak out, and the three older men then proceed to have their own freak out, to which the get scared and beat and kick the younger man savagely until he's dead. They then leave, quite shaken up by the ordeal and make a vow to never talk about the crime, as they have little fear that the body will ever be discovered due to the remoteness of the derelict church. Little do they know that after they left, the body of the young man became covered in ash, and from the ash Dracula (Lee) is reborn, swearing vengeance on those who killed his acolyte. This whole concept of vengeance seems to be an on-going theme in these movies, but I guess motivation has to come from somewhere. Anyway, Dracula is now loose in London, and his wicked plans involve using the children of the three men to exact his revenge. Here's another consistent theme throughout these films of having Dracula use others to do most of his dirty work. I suppose if you can enthrall women and control men's minds, why do it yourself? His plans begin to bear fruit, as the men begin to meet their various demises, and the race is on to not only learn who is responsible for these murders, but also to stop the fiend once his identity is revealed. Will the surviving children be able to stop this monster from destroying them and their families, or will the sins of the fathers consume all and unleash a terror on the land in the form of an insatiable creature of the night? Most of the performances are pretty good, and Lee certainly makes a strong showing as the venerable Prince of Darkness, eyes becoming a ghastly red as he takes his various victims for sustenance. As with the previous films, he has very few lines, but Lee's on-screen presence speaks volumes, emoting a sense of real horror and terror. The sets are very good, especially the abandoned church where the resurrection of Dracula takes place, and then becomes his sort of base of operations as he carries out his murderous plans. This entry is a little faster paced than the previous film, as there is a bit more killing involved. I especially enjoyed the scene near the end when a character is fighting with Dracula within the church, and Dracula is trying to escape, tearing metal bars from windows and chucking them like spears. His supernatural strength didn't get much play in some of the other films, as it doesn't really here, but at least it's present. Warner Brothers provides a really sharp looking wide screen print here, but very little in the area of special features, including an original theatrical trailer for the film. If you are interesting in seeing the other films in this series, look for Dracula, Prince of Darkness (1966), Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968), Scars of Dracula (1970), Dracula AD 1972 (1972), and The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1973). Cookieman108
Rating: 
Summary: Tastes great, less filling.
Review: After we watch our lusty hero make love to every harlet in the Carpathians (including a reluctant cameraman) we fall into melancholy and succumb to the counts randy ways and winsome stares....we are then raped repeatedly and cast aside like so much disgarded refuse throughout the films final 90 minutes as the fanged master commands us to drink the blood of those who are within reach while he looks on in excrusiating ecstacy. Then, at the unforgettable climax, the Dracster, for reasons unknown, becomes embroiled in a securities scam and loses his castle after he forgets to declare those pennies on his eyes. His final and immortal utterance as he masterfully removes his fangs from his own neck sets the stage for an impending sequal: "Tastes like chicken".
Rating:
Summary: Tasty entry in the Hammer franchise
Review: Although the script wasn't as inspired as "Horror of Dracula", "Taste the Blood of Dracula" demonstrates that the series still had bite and hadn't succumbed to the anemic writing that marred the last two entires in the series. A trio of risk taking married men decide to hook up with a Lord Cortley (Ralph Bates)disciple of the Count.. He interests them in participating in a ceremony designed to bring Count Dracula back to life. It's a nasty but inventive scene that immediately captures your attention. When the trio of businessmen beat Courtley to death, the Count uses his body to rise from the dead swearing revenge on those who killed his servant. The sharp, vivid picture quality makes this an outstanding release in the Hammer series from Warner. Although it comes only with the original theatrical trailer as an extra, it's clear that great care was taken to present the film in its original widescreen format and to transfer the film as free of blemishes as is possible. The mono sound also is of note. While it lacks the dynamic range of more recent films, the crisp and clear sound quality marks this as an outstanding reissue in the Hammer film series. The packaging reproduces the original poster art for the film for the US release (at least on the cover)as far as I can recall. A nice package that lacks the usual frills, this will be a welcome addition to most fan's collections.
Rating:
Summary: Tasty entry in the Hammer franchise
Review: Although the script wasn't as inspired as "Horror of Dracula", "Taste the Blood of Dracula" demonstrates that the series still had bite and hadn't succumbed to the anemic writing that marred the last two entires in the series. A trio of risk taking married men decide to hook up with a Lord Cortley (Ralph Bates)disciple of the Count.. He interests them in participating in a ceremony designed to bring Count Dracula back to life. It's a nasty but inventive scene that immediately captures your attention. When the trio of businessmen beat Courtley to death, the Count uses his body to rise from the dead swearing revenge on those who killed his servant. The sharp, vivid picture quality makes this an outstanding release in the Hammer series from Warner. Although it comes only with the original theatrical trailer as an extra, it's clear that great care was taken to present the film in its original widescreen format and to transfer the film as free of blemishes as is possible. The mono sound also is of note. While it lacks the dynamic range of more recent films, the crisp and clear sound quality marks this as an outstanding reissue in the Hammer film series. The packaging reproduces the original poster art for the film for the US release (at least on the cover)as far as I can recall. A nice package that lacks the usual frills, this will be a welcome addition to most fan's collections.
Rating:
Summary: Best of the Sequels!
Review: An excellent plot involving Satanism & our old friend the Count!I love the ending in this one where Dracula meets his demise against the backdrop of every holy relic available!Ralph Bates gives a solid performance as the disciple of Dracula.A lot of criticism has been given to this one due to the fact that Lee is not given enough to do.I think that this can be a strongpoint.Hammer was, possibly, looking for a different avenue and so they lessened his screen time on purpose to focus more attention to the satanic plot(also check out Satanic Rites of Dracula!).Music was good in this one too.
Rating:
Summary: The fourth in the fabulas series
Review: As just about every movie-goer will know, a series of movies always loses it after a while. After watching the fairly dull DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE (the third installment in Hammer's Drcula series), I was expecting this one to be a turkey but it actually was good nostalgic entertainment. Even though it takes Christopher Lee about 30 minutes to arrive into the film, Ralph Bates (HORROR OF FRANKENSTEIN, DR. JEKYLL AND SISTER HYDE) keeps the film moving. He plays a satanist who drinks Dracula's blood and turns into him. It's all rather obvious, but good fun.
Rating:
Summary: Dracula in Church.
Review: Christopher Lee carries on as the famous vampire in the fourth entry of the Hammer series. There is an effective handoff from "Dracula Has Risen From the Grave." A peddler accidentally witnesses Dracula's demise and takes the black cloak, the signet ring, and a vial of Dracula's powdered blood from the crumpled remains. A dark disciple of Dracula lures three Victorian family men into forbidden satanic rites, but first they obtain the "elements" from the peddler. In an exciting scene in an abandoned church, the Prince of Darkness returns from doomed oblivion after his powdered blood mixes with drops of fresh blood. Unholy communion, indeed. Dracula proceeds to prey on the three middle-age thrill-seekers and their delectable daughters. The prim Victorian women display ample cleavage as the vampire's kiss prevails. Dracula's evil power overcomes all resistance. The proper English girls become wantonly eager women. Implied sex hangs heavy in the mist shrouded night air. The penetration is of the fangs in the neck variety, but we get the idea. A hallmark of this series is Lee's towering presence in the familiar black cloak. This vampire is feral compared to other film depictions. As blood lust rages, he is red-eyed with snarling passion. Lamenting the lack of time that Dracula is on screen is a minor quibble. Dracula's dispatch is spectacular, if a little rushed. Irony abounds in Dracula's choice of the forgotten church as a refuge, considering his aversion to religious symbols. This film will please Hammer Horror Heads. It's also a good change of pace from mad-slasher horror flicks. ;-)
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