Introduction"Dracula A.D. 1972" is a British scary movie released in 1972 directed by Alan Gibson, and starring Christopher Lee as Count Dracula and Peter Cushing as Van Helsing, iconic roles that both actors had developed in previous installations of the Hammer Dracula series. The motion picture represents an effort by Hammer Films to renew the Dracula franchise by setting the olden story in the modern period of the 1970s, blending Gothic horror aspects with modern-day sensibilities.
Premise and SettingThe film opens with a beginning embeded in 1872, revealing a climactic fight between Dracula and Lawrence Van Helsing, which leads to both their deaths. A follower of Dracula collects the vampire's remains and buries them at the website of an old, deconsecrated church in London. Fast forward a century to 1972, modern-day London is depicted with a touch of the psychedelic period's cultural flair, which shows to be the background for Dracula's resurrection.
Plot and CharactersThe story pivots around a group of youths-- amongst them Jessica Van Helsing, the granddaughter of Lorrimer Van Helsing, a descendent of Lawrence Van Helsing, and an occult professional. The children are searching for new thrills and choose to participate in a black magic ritual, led by the charismatic, but misdirected Johnny Alucard, who has actually found the secret of Dracula's resting place and sees the routine as a method to bring the famous vampire back to life.
The ritual effectively resurrects Dracula, who then sets his sights on Jessica, meaning to retaliate on the Van Helsing family. After the death of one of the group is ruled as not simply an unexpected overdose, Lorrimer Van Helsing ends up being included when he notices irregularities in the blood of the deceased.
As the story advances, more of the youths succumb to Dracula, and it becomes a fight of wits and courage in between the modern-day Van Helsing and the olden vampire. The familiar cat-and-mouse game ensues, with Van Helsing seeking to safeguard Jessica and end Dracula's reign of fear at last.
Styles and ReceptionThe movie attempts to juxtapose the swinging London with the undying evil of a previous age, making it a compelling juxtaposition of modernity and antiquity. "Dracula A.D. 1972" uses the fears of the occult that prevailed at the time and utilizes the generational clash as a background for its story of great versus wicked.
Upon release, the movie received blended reviews, with numerous critics finding it an uncomfortable mix that fails to be either a convincing Dracula movie or an effective modern thriller. Fans of the Hammer series had blended responses, with some appreciating the fresh take on the story, while others felt it strayed too far from the conventional aspects that made the franchise effective.
LegacyRegardless of combined vital reception, "Dracula A.D. 1972" has gotten a cult following throughout the years for its distinct effort at improving the Dracula story and for the strong performances of Lee and Cushing. The movie catches a particular minute in time when the worlds of Gothic scary and psychedelic London intersected. It stays an intriguing artifact of its period and a notable chapter in the sustaining tradition of the Hammer Dracula series.
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