Halloween means Hammer time: "Scars of Dracula" (1970)

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Halloween demands an appearance by the late great Christopher Lee as Dracula in a Hammer horror picture. Hammer was a British company producing countless horror movies in the 60s and 70s usually starring Lee and Peter Cushing. The tall and lean Lee seemingly made a career of playing Dracula though the vampire was a small part of the actor’s nearly 300 films. “Scars of Dracula” is typical Hammer directed by veteran Roy Ward Baker. The film opens with a bat dribbling blood on a pile of ashes which morphs into Dracula. The good people of Kleinenberg thought he was gone after burning his castle but you can never keep the Count down. Paul (Christopher Matthews) is a playboy much to the consternation of brother Simon (Dennis Waterman) and Sarah (Jenny Hanley). After being caught dallying with the burgermeister’s daughter, Paul is on the run from the law and falls asleep in a carriage driven by Kloves (Patrick Troughton). The Count always has a creepy human henchman and Kloves is it. Paul finds himself an unexpected guest at the castle and meets his hosts the ominous Dracula and seductive Tania. He learns a valuable lesson in never bed a woman with pointed teeth. There are consequences. Simon and Sarah trace Paul to the castle and Dracula gets a lust on for the beautiful Sarah. He is about to sink his fangs in her when stopped by that annoying cross around her neck. There is no question of the sexual innuendo in the scene and what sinking fangs into neck symbolizes. Story proceeds in familiar fashion with Dracula going down again only to wait for revival in the next movie. Lee goes through the paces in limited screen time. Sorely missing is Dracula protagonist in Cushing’s Van Helsing. “Scars of Dracula” is average but fun Halloween viewing for vintage horror movie fans.