It's a convention of vampire films that Dracula starts dead, and ends up dead. In Hammer productions he is usually ended by a member of the Van Helsing family, but his nemesis can also be a callow youth or a monk who likes to warm his arse on an open fire. In 'Taste The Blood Of Dracula' he just gets giddy from being in a church and falls off a ledge. Fact is, Dracula is very much a bully. He's cock of the walk when biting young, vulnerable girls, but he crumbles when faced with any real opposition. Literally. That said, he'll be back. He always comes back.
RIP, Sir Christopher, you pompous old marvel. See you again soon.
Speaking of pompous old marvels, did you ever find out what Jon Pertwee said to Dolly Dolly?
ReplyDeleteIt's been bothering me for longer than I care to remember, and my main fear nowadays is that I'll go to a lonely grave, none the wiser.
I'll ask him.
DeleteThe ease with which Hammer's Dracula can be coerced into kicking the bucket is one of the things that's annoyed the hell out of me ever since I started watching horror films...
ReplyDeleteHawthorne bushes, canals, shower nozzles, the shadow of a couple of bits of wood arranged in a cross shape... how are we supposed to take him seriously as a terrifying, implacable villain when just a quiet stroll in the country is liable to put him under constant threat of imminent destruction?
I realise this is a point that has been made once or twice before, but I still feel the need to vent, god help me.
You've come to the right place, Ben, I feel your pain.
ReplyDeleteRight with you on this issue ,Ben.
ReplyDeleteI always keep the 1982 2000ad Annual close at hand in case of vampire attacks. I'm sure it could be quickly adapted to destroy The Prince Of Darkness, even if I'm reading it in the bath.