Britain's Hammer Films, having scored with Christopher Lee in 1966's "Dracula: Prince of Darkness", attempts a repeat performance, but lightning fails to strike twice (it barely manages a crackle). Picking up the story 12 months after Dracula met an icy end at the finale of the superior predecessor, the Count's castle in Transylvania is striking fear in the hearts of the villagers (seems its tall shadow crosses over the church at one point during the day, scaring away all the parishioners!). A disbelieving monsignor performs an exorcism on the castle, but only makes things worse for everyone, particularly the audience. Opening with the discovery of a dead wench in the church--apparently vampire-related, though we have no idea why or how--the picture gets off to a poor start with continuity lapses, errors in narrative and judgment, poor acting and makeup effects, and an anti-climactic reemergence from Christopher Lee in the titular role. A rusty screamer; someone nail this coffin shut! * from ****
