It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

An excellent, atypical addition to the Hammer cycle which breathes life into some of the old vampire clichés that Hammer were keen to use at the time, thanks to a tongue-in-cheek script and direction from AVENGERS man Brian Clemens. A good cast, fine photography, a wonderfully evocative music score and a good eye for pacing make this a highly enjoyable, intelligent film, and definitely one of Hammer's best - full stop.Thing begin well in the best Hammer tradition as a girl, picking flowers in a lush woodland, is attacked by a black-caped vampire whose face is kept hidden for most of the movie (adding a murder mystery slant to the proceedings). The local village doctor, Marcus, played by veteran John Carson - on the rare side of good this time - calls in his old war buddy Kronos to help out, and here the fun begins. On his arrival, Kronos frees a gypsy girl from the stocks, played by Caroline Munro. Munro has an underwritten role as per usual but she's sufficiently glamorous for the part.Along with Kronos comes the hunchback Grost, played to perfection by John Cater. Grost is a most unusual character, who hunts for vampires by burying dead toads in boxes around the area. However, this isn't as weird as it sounds, as apparently when a vampire passes it will cause the toad to return to life, as is proved later on in the film. There is much enjoyment to be gained from watching this film, not least from the fun Clemens and co. have from playing with vampire folklore in general. For example, here the victims are not drained of blood, but actually drained of life, so that they are discovered withered and aged when dead. Along with the aforementioned dead toads, there are lots of other neat little ideas to look out for, like when time actually stops for a few seconds. The vampire also wilts flowers and mushrooms when passing them by in the wood, a clever effect if ever I saw one.The special effects are actually quite limited in this film, although what appears is pretty good. The old-age makeup looks realistic, and there's a brief vampire dissolve in the best Dracula tradition. The film isn't very gory for the period, although there is a bloody bat attack and a cool scene where a man loses his arms after being run over by a coach. The acting is generally spot-on, with few exceptions. Horst Janson makes for an athletic and interesting hero, and he is given nice, odd touches of characterisation like the fact that he smokes and uses leeches on his back to clear his mind. Cater is brilliant as his assistant, and as I mentioned Caroline Munro provides sufficient glamour if not acting ability. John Carson is excellent as per usual in his sympathetic turn, and Shane Briant is fine. Ian Hendry turns up briefly but is magnificent as a cruel goon who finds himself on the receiving end of Janson's sword in a bar-room battle. Although some of the lesser actresses aren't that good, both Wanda Ventham and Lois Daine have fine, strong roles.Other bits to look out for include some nice references to westerns and adventure films of the past, like the scene where Janson takes out Hendry and two of his men in a swift movement, with the sword replacing a revolver in this case. The ending is also a good one. There's a brilliant sword fight which recalls THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD and all of the swashbucklers that have come since, and doesn't disappoint in the least. Finally, the fine photography brings out the atmosphere of the British countryside, especially effective in some spooky (daylight) graveyard sequences. I would say that this neglected Hammer classic offers up a bit of everything for the genre fan and proves to be one of their best.

Worth seeing as an an interesting twist on the vampire legends. Here the vampires drain the victim of their youth, not just their blood, leaving them aged looking and dead. The vampire in return stays young. The lead characters are well acted and intriguing. I especially like the scene where Captain Kronos teaches some bullies in a bar a deadly lesson about manners and swordsmanship. My only complaints are it's slow moving at times and the characters have a 1960s/70s hairstyle and makeup look to them. They don't all look like they belong in the period that is supposed to be the film's time. One character even looks like a Twiggy look-a-like. Also, the good captain sure waited till the last second before rescuing the women he used for vampire bait. Still the film is over all fun to watch. and worth your time.

An unnamed region in 17th Century Eurpoe is being stalked by a vampire . The bodies of young woman are being found who have lost their youth , their vitality and lifeforce has been drained from them . In to this region rides a mysterious soldier of fortune Captain Kronos I first saw this in my early teens and remembered it well as a very creepy and exciting horror movie featuring vampires and their nemesis in the shape of Captain Kronos . Two scenes I remembered very well were the opening pre-title sequence of a young woman consumed by a vampire and the scene in an Inn involving a trio of loud mouthed ruffians . I couldn't recall any else from the film and that's simply because there's very little memorable about the movie . The opening sequence is striking and well done but the Inn sequence is ridiculous as it cuts to an Inn keeper and his daughter hiding behind the counter as Kronos gets in to a stand off with three hooligans . Some people seem to have described this movie as a " spaghetti horror movie " and you can see their point and much of this opinion is probably down to this silly scene which merely seems to exist to shoehorn a relatively well known name in the shape of Ian Hendry . Horst Janson has a dubious starring role as Kronos . I say dubious because he looks like a cross between Bjorn Borg and Roman Polanski and if someone is corrupting young girls then a Polanski lookalike is the last person you're going to trust to save the situation . Caroline Munro is very noticeable looking hot , sultry and sexy . No make up required and unfortunately no acting required eitherI can see what writer/director Brian Clemens is trying to do here and that is bring a new twist on the vampire legend for Hammer studios which by this point in its history was becoming a little bit too old fashioned . It was also meant kick start a series of films revolving around Captain Kronos but this film combining horror chills and swashbuckling thrills doesn't succeed simply down to the two aspects cancelling one another out . It is moderately entertaining and does pull the rug out from under the audiences feet as to who the vampires are but it's not a great horror movie

"My Family were Karnsteins!" Lady Durward reveals to her shocked children.In 1970 Hammer Films did the Vampire Lovers based on Joseph Sheridan LeFanu's novella Carmilla about the Austrian Vampire Noblewoman Carmilla Karnstein played superbly by German Actress Ingrid Pitt and her evil vampiric Satanic witchcraft loving family.Then in 1971 Carmilla is resurrected by the blood of a female human sacrifice played by Scandinavian Actress Yutte Stensgaard in the sequel To Love a Vampire to raise cain in a boarding finishing school and in 1972 Carmilla is briefly back again and makes a vampire out of a descendant in the film Twins of Evil and the descendant in turn makes one of his antagonist's twin nieces a vampire. In 1974 Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter now deals with Lady Durward nee Lady Karnstein who along with her late husband Lord Durward whom she made a vampire to keep their love alive drain the blood of young village girls. The vampires had two children when they were non-undead.The young two young adult children and the Doctor who was an admirer of the "once beautiful"Lady Durward and is the person who sends for Kronos are unaware that Lady Durward is responsible for all of it. This film is well acted (with the exception of Caroline Munro who was no great actress but a beautiful woman and a great scream queen of Hammer films)has great swordplay,dark hidden family secrets,great sets and witty double entendre. Ingrid Pitt by the way would have been perfect for Lady Karnstein Durward but Wanda Ventham was just as good in the role.This movie I recommend to anyone who is a vampire movie fan or a fan of Hammer films adaptation and sequels of Joseph Sheridan LeFanu's Carmilla.