Odd how a few years can change things. Christopher Lee's return to the titular role brought a certain amount of class and menace to the part, even if he refused to say any of the lines.
We open with a recap of Horror of Dracula, mostly the finale with Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) killing Dracula (Christopher Lee) in his castle. Ten years later, a funeral procession is being held in the same mountainous countryside. A local girl is about to be buried at the crossroad with a stake in her heart when Father Sandor (Andrew Keir) arrives, rifle in hand. A quick examination of the body shows no signs of bite marks and so her orders her burial in the churchyard.
Sometime later in a tavern, a quartet of English tourists is having a drink. Brothers Charles and Alan Kent (Francis Matthews and Charles Budwell respectively) are enjoying themselves, while their respective wives Diana (Suzan Farmer) and Helen (Barbara Shelly) less so. Father Sandor arrives and warms his backside at their fire before introducing himself formerly. He welcomes them to the region, but when they tell him of their travel plans he warns them to stay away from any castles near Karlsbad. Alan protests that there aren't any castles on his map...but Sandor insists that there is and that they need to stay away from it.
Sure enough they end up at the castle, although mostly due to a skittish coach driver leaving them by the side of the road. They also find their luggage and dinner set out for four. The castle's only occupant welcomes them. Klove (Philip Latham) insists that his former master kept strict orders to welcome all travelers. Alan thinks it's a bit off, and when he sees Klove dragging a large trunk down into the basement he goes to investigate. All he finds is a knife in the back and a slit throat, but thanks to him Dracula (Lee) lives again. He wastes no time in turning Helen into a vampire.
From there Charles and Diana flee to Sandor's monastery with Dracula hot on their heels. Can Sandor save the pair? Lee is fantastic as the count. Almost no dialogue but his face coneys more emotion than half the cast. Keir is no Cushing, but his Sandor is a wonderful addition. He's holy but also worldly enough to talk smack to ignorant villagers and is handy with a gun.
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