Horror of Dracula

Horror of Dracula

A man named Jonathan Harker travels to count Dracula’s castle to take an employment opportunity. He finds out that Dracula is a vampire, with this information he decides to try to kill him and also a vampire woman. Jonathan is unsuccessful and is killed by Dracula. Dracula travels to a local town, where he tries to victimize the family of Jonathan Harker's fiancé. The only living being that would be able to save them is Harker's friend and fellow student of vampires Dr Van Helsing. Dr Van Helsing learns of Lucy bite marks on her neck so he gets the maid to put garlic plants in her room. Before long Lucy asks them to b taken away due to her discomfort. The next morning she is found dead. Dr Van Helsing tries to track down Dracula and destroy him. However Mina is targeted by Dracula, however Arthur and Dr Van Helsing race to find Dracula’s lair before she is lost to them forever.  They give Mina a cross to try to protect her, it burns her and they discover Dracula has got her forever. Dracula is found to have Mina he dashes from Dr Van Helsing back to his castle. Van Helsing and Arthur follow and they discover Dracula trying to bury Mina. Van Helsing follows him into the castle. Dracula then attempts to kill Van Helsing, but Van Helsing leaps onto some curtains, tearing them down and letting in sunlight. Dracula starts to deteriorate.

The inspiration to the film the Horror of Dracula appeared from the novel Dracula, even though the film was based on the novel not everything is the same. The writer changed some things from the novel so that everything want predictable. Through out the 1950’s the media created many adverts which were seen as sexist. This included an advert which stated ‘The Chef does everything but cook- that’s what wives are for!’ This reflects on era, in which the film takes place, this is because throughout the film sexism is shoe. The women are seen to be more inferior and powerless compared to the men. Dracula one of the main characters is a male, most of the victims in the film are female, this could be shown as sexism.

This film fits into the horror genre for many reasons. Even though this film can be seen as dated it still relates to the horror codes and conventions. Through out the film there is a relation to blood. Blood is seen as a symbol for death and danger. The red blood could symbolize death because Dracula takes the blood from his victims. Further more it could relate to danger because if people see blood they know to stay away because something bad has happened. Another code and convention is isolation, through out the film the women that are in the presence of Dracula are isolated as they have nowhere to go and also have no choice. In all horror films there are always a victim, through the film there are more than one victim to Dracula. He one of the first victim in the film can be seen as the vampire women as she has been transferred into a vampire by Dracula himself, from this the audience could believe that she was once an innocent women.. Other victims include Jonathan, Mina and Lucy. The villain is usually an outcast in society, in this case it true because Dracula is an outcast because he is abnormal. He is abnormal down to him being a vampire and the rest of the characters are humans.

These are some of the comments in which the views said about the film horror of Dracula. They stated that  the film “A film that deserves recognition as one of this country's finest horror movies, a sexually charged Gothic nightmare featuring standout performances from Hammer stalwarts Lee and Peter Cushing, who stars as vampire hunter Van Helsing.” Also they believed that the film is “A Great British horror film with bite.” Others said “Perhaps the constant hunt for hemoglobin is slowing our villain down, for this time there are strong indications that the once gory plot is showing definite signs of anemia.” Also they believe that “Parts have worn less well.” Overall the film received a total of 89% out of a total of 25 people said they liked the film. In total I believe the audiences enjoyed the film and they would watch it again.

I believe there are a few key scenes in the film Horror of Dracula. The first key scene in the film is when Jonathan is walking to the castle of Dracula, this is important as it establishes the location of the film for the audiences. What the audiences see contradicts what the castle is really like. It looks inviting as behind the audience can see mountains in the distance and there is a stream none of these things look like they should feature in a horror film. Another key scene is when Dracula are seen with his victims. All of these scene show that Dracula’s victims are inferior compared to him. This is done through the cinematography and also the sound used shows that Dracula is important,, this is done when he is present music that used unsettles audiences .One of the main scenes in my opinion is when Dracula dies. I believe this is important, mainly because it’s the end of the hurt and fear in which the victim’s family has suffered from; also for Dr Van Helsing he has revenged his friend’s death.

The first reason in which I believe this is a distinctive British film is because the main cast that are used are all British. The likes of Peter Cushimg , Christopher Lee, Michael Gough and Carol Marsh are all English and Melissa Stribling is Scottish. The Director Terence Fisher is English along with the producer Anthony Hinds and the film composer James Bernard. The Writer Jimmy Sangster is Welsh. Another reason In which I believe this is a distinctive British film is down to the studio which produced it Hammer Film productions are a British production company in which created a Series of horrors including Frankenstein and the mummy.