Sunday, October 20, 2019

Horror 2019 Countdown: Mark of the Vampire (1935)

Mark of the Vampire (1935) dir. Tod Browning, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer



Considering the success of 1931's Dracula, you would think there would have been more attempts to cash in on the film. There was also an earlier vampire film, 1927's London After Midnight (also directed by Browning but largely lost, so I skipped it in these reviews). What do these two have in common?



In a remote castle somewhere in Europe, Sir Borotyn (Holmes Herbert) is found in his study, dead. The only signs of violence are two puncture marks on his throat. Dr. Doskil (Donald Meek) and Sir Borotyn's best friend Baron von Zinden (Jean Hersholt) are both convinced the nobleman was done in by vampires.

Specifically the oddly pale folk who seem to be wandering around the grounds and woods, Count Mora (Bela Lugosi) and his daughter Luna (Carroll Borland).

Inspector Neumann (Lionel Atwill), who has come all the way from Prague, refuses to believe in the supernatural. Professor Zelen (Lionel Barrymore) does, however, and more so is convinced Sir Borotyn's daughter Irena (Elizabeth Allan) is marked as the next victim.

With the supposed vampires stalking the grounds and even Sir Borotyn apparently taking up residence in the castle basement, can our heroes find out the truth before another murder takes place?

Remember London After Midnight? This is allegedly an exact remake and if that is true maybe it would be better off staying lost. In a twist that is almost exactly out of Scooby-Doo, we find out the truth about the vampires and it can only leave us going "wait, what?"


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