Rating: 
Summary: An intriguing Lee-Cushing collaboration
Review: "The Satanic Rites of Dracula," directed by Alan Gibson, brings together horror icons Christopher Lee (in the title role) and Peter Cushing (as his nemesis). The screenplay is by Don Houghton. The film seems like a sequel to the campy "Dracula A.D. 1972," which featured Lee and Cushing in the same roles.Like "A.D. 1972," "Satanic Rites" takes place in England in the 1970s, and Cushing plays the descendant of the 19th century Van Helsing who had also fought the ageless vampire Dracula. This 1970s Van Helsing is assisted by his grandaughter Jessica (played by Joanna Lumley). "Satanic Rites" is an intriguing blend of crime thriller and supernatural horror story. Van Helsing is enlisted by the police to investigate a sinister Satanic cult whose members include some of England's most powerful and elite men. The plot, which involves bioterrorism, ultimately leads to a showdown between the vampire and his nemesis. Yes, some aspects of "Satanic Rites" will probably come off as a little campy or cheesy. But overall it's a compelling and serious take on the Dracula character, and in many ways more effective than "Dracula A.D. 1972." Lee's Dracula in this film is a frighteningly malevolent figure: a savvy conspirator who seduces the powerful for his own ends. The classy Cushing brings intelligence and gravitas to his role. Overall, a pretty good film.
Rating:
Summary: An intriguing Lee-Cushing collaboration
Review: "The Satanic Rites of Dracula," directed by Alan Gibson, brings together horror icons Christopher Lee (in the title role) and Peter Cushing (as his nemesis). The screenplay is by Don Houghton. The film seems like a sequel to the campy "Dracula A.D. 1972," which featured Lee and Cushing in the same roles. Like "A.D. 1972," "Satanic Rites" takes place in England in the 1970s, and Cushing plays the descendant of the 19th century Van Helsing who had also fought the ageless vampire Dracula. This 1970s Van Helsing is assisted by his grandaughter Jessica (played by Joanna Lumley). "Satanic Rites" is an intriguing blend of crime thriller and supernatural horror story. Van Helsing is enlisted by the police to investigate a sinister Satanic cult whose members include some of England's most powerful and elite men. The plot, which involves bioterrorism, ultimately leads to a showdown between the vampire and his nemesis. Yes, some aspects of "Satanic Rites" will probably come off as a little campy or cheesy. But overall it's a compelling and serious take on the Dracula character, and in many ways more effective than "Dracula A.D. 1972." Lee's Dracula in this film is a frighteningly malevolent figure: a savvy conspirator who seduces the powerful for his own ends. The classy Cushing brings intelligence and gravitas to his role. Overall, a pretty good film.
Rating: 
Summary: Christopher Lee's Final Bow as Dracula
Review: A marked improvement over the previous film in the series, "DRACULA A.D. 1972," SROD boasts some terrific set-pieces (the final confrontation where Lee's Dracula explains his evil plan for mankind) & the always-welcomed pairing of Lee and Peter Cushing. It is hampered by a low-budget, which caused the producers to skimp on the special effects, particularly in the destruction of the cellar full of vampire-women! The music is also decidedly awful, and seems VERY out of place, making this one of the few movies I'd actually like to see re-scored for it's video release! But if you're a TRUE horror fan, you should be used to taking the good with the bad, making this film required veiwing! (Well, at least once, anyway!) And yes, that IS "Absolutely Fabulous's" Patsy as Van Helsing's grand-daughter Jessica!
Rating:
Summary: Christopher Lee's Final Bow as Dracula
Review: A marked improvement over the previous film in the series, "DRACULA A.D. 1972," SROD boasts some terrific set-pieces (the final confrontation where Lee's Dracula explains his evil plan for mankind) & the always-welcomed pairing of Lee and Peter Cushing. It is hampered by a low-budget, which caused the producers to skimp on the special effects, particularly in the destruction of the cellar full of vampire-women! The music is also decidedly awful, and seems VERY out of place, making this one of the few movies I'd actually like to see re-scored for it's video release! But if you're a TRUE horror fan, you should be used to taking the good with the bad, making this film required veiwing! (Well, at least once, anyway!) And yes, that IS "Absolutely Fabulous's" Patsy as Van Helsing's grand-daughter Jessica!
Rating: 
Summary: The Satanic Rites of Dracula
Review: A perfect combination of a vampire movie & Satanic thriller, Christpher Lee makes another memorable appearance as the fiend of the Night. There is quite a plan behind this particular world domination. Dracula recognizes the power of viruses, thereby commissioning a "defrocked" scientist to develop another 'black plague' to decimate the earth of its living inhabitants. The dark disciples involved are essentially 'The 4 Horsemen of The Apocalypse' who will bring about mass destruction. Blood Rituals, forboding ceremonies, in which the hoary hosts of Hell are summoned, & a black altar upon which a nude virgin reposes ever so seductively, at The High Priestess' bidding, a beautiful round black Baphomet table, around which the cultists gather is present here --- in sort of a "Knights of Satan" manner. The Satanic Rites of Dracula is an 'occult'-classic that should be in every Satanic horror fan's collection.
Rating: 
Summary: Cushing tries hard, but to no avail
Review: Absolutely the bottom of the Hammer House's barrel. Low production values, a flimsy plot and, on the whole, horrific acting contrive to make this the WORST candidate imaginable for priority DVD release. Where's the fantastic 'Horror of Dracula'? Languishing still on VHS, that's where. Were it not for the scene where Joanna Lumley (Patsy, of 'Absolutely Fabulous') is menaced by several lingerie-clad Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, this would have been a complete wash. If you're campy enough to get it just for that scene, stick with the VHS -- you don't need the overpriced DVD.
Rating:
Summary: The Hammer That Got Away
Review: Although I have never viewed the movie, I remain still an avid
Dracula fan. However, because of other reviews of the movie were
not favorable, I must confer with a movie rating of one star. Perhaps a new breed of Dracula is in order here!
Rating:
Summary: Interesting but only okay
Review: Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing have been in a large number of movies together. Unlike many other paired actors, these two rarely play allies or friends: usually, their characters are enemies, with Lee usually, but not always the villain (for example, in the Gorgon, the typical roles are reversed). With the Satanic Rites of Dracula, Lee and Cushing revisit once again their biggest roles: Lee as Count Dracula and Cushing as a Van Helsing. In this movie, Dracula has widened the scope of his evil by intending to destroy the human race (and ending his own existence in the process), but he also has an urge to personally vanquish his archenemy once and for all. Lee and Cushing are fine in their roles, but the story itself is often slow and shows more potential than it actually realizes. It is not a bad movie, but it also lacks some of the fun of earlier Hammer horror movies. It shows that this series of Dracula movies have basically played themselves out, and it is good that this concludes the series. For Dracula fans, especially fans of Lee, considered one of the best in the role, this is worth watching, but as horror in general goes, this is merely passable.
Rating:
Summary: A Guilty Pleasure
Review: Generally regarded as one the weaker Hammer Films, it's not. The decision by Hammer Films to move Dracula from his gothic environment to contemporary London was an attempt to bring a fresh approach to the Dracula series. Although somewhat derivitive of "Count Yorga, Vampire" in thas respect, "The Satanic Rites of Dracula" is a lot of fun if you don't feel compelled to compare it to the best Hammer had to offer. Standing on its own, there's a wild plot about Dracula trying to develop a bubonic plague to wipe out the world and a fine performance by Peter Cushing as Dracula's nemesis Van Helsing. In many ways, the plot and execution of the film resembles a long episode of the beloved television show "The Avengers". In fact, I think some of the people who made "The Avengers" also worked behind the scenes on this movie. Suffice it to say, if you like the title of this film "The Satanic Rites of Dracula" you will also find this to be a worthwhile addition to your video or DVD library.
Rating:
Summary: Hammer film's Dracula Finale
Review: Hammer film's Satanic Rites of Dracula is the final Christopher Lee role as Dracula in the Hammer series. The movie sets Dracula in the modern world (set a few years after Dracula A.D.1972) with the great Peter Cushing as his antagonist. I loved this movie and thought it a brilliant conclusion to the Hammer line. Dracula has been revived into the modern world and is functioning as a reclusive wealthy industrialist set on introducing a deadly plague into the world. Dracula is obsessed with taking revenge on the Van Helsing decendents and intends to use them as pawns in his diabolical plan. This film has somewhat of a James Bond feel yet maintains the the mystery and suspense of previous Hammer incarnations.
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