Powerful government officials are meeting in secret, holding black masses, and planning some unknown threat against king and country. The head of the security service knows this is too politically hot, so calls in Inspector Murray (Michael Coles), who had faced dark forces in Dracula A.D. 1972. He in turn, calls in Professor Van Helsing (Peter Cushing). Might it all be the evil doings of Dracula (Christopher Lee)? Yes, yes it might.
Made by the same team as Dracula A.D. 1972, and with the same lack of talent, The Satanic Rites of Dracula doesn’t look or sound like a movie, but like any number of cop shows of the time. There’s simply no skill behind the camera.
However, once we get past basic film-making skills, things improve. Without the earlier film’s groovy ‘60s vibe, there’s space for mystery and suspense. A spy caper is several points up from yet another vampire revenge film. We have clear protagonists and clear aims, which allows us greater time with the characters who matter. Satanic Rites has arguably the best plot of any Hammer Dracula film (yes, that’s a low bar, but it is something) with an actual story that goes somewhere and can’t be explained with: “Vampire wants revenge. Get’s stabbed.”
It’s also nice to have a direct sequel, sharing multiple characters with the previous film, though in one case without much care. They were forced to recast the role of Jessica Van Helsing, taking on Joanna Lumley, who does a fine job, but I wonder why they didn’t bother with a blonde wig. Appearance aside, the character is completely different, now a brilliant assistant to her Grandfather without her hippy ways. But since I’m happy to forget the hip cats, I can live with the inconsistency.
Hammer had been awkwardly adding nudity to their films for several years, but had kept the nipples covered in their Dracula films. That changed here, with long and loving shots of a naked sacrifice, but it actually fits the film. It would be more awkward for her to have stayed dressed. For Hammer, that’s a significant success.
However, one thing doesn’t fit The Satanic Rites of Dracula: Dracula. Vampires make no sense in the movie, but Hammer wanted to squeeze a few more dollars from the name. Make Peter Cushing “Professor Johnson, special consultant to Scotland Yard” and Christopher Lee the “non-vampiric D. D. Denham, evil priest and industrialist” and you are all set. Dracula pretends to be just that for most of the film as is, and his plan to use modern technology doesn’t require a vampire. Vampirism just confuses matters and the cult makes it redundant. But I have to review the film for what it is, not what it should be, and what it is is one of the better Hammer Dracula films, though deeply flawed.
The other Hammer Dracula films are: The Horror of Dracula (1958), The Brides of Dracula (1960)—which lacked Dracula, Dracula, Prince of Darkness (1966), Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968), Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970), Scars of Dracula (1971), Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972) and The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires (1974).