Don't listen to the negative reviews

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Without the opening half hour or so, this is almost an okay Hammer flick. But oh my, what's with Stoneground and their hip rendition of 'Alligator Man'? That party scene was just ludicrous, as described by one of the blonde party goers who stated "It's all rather a bore".But then things got moving with the black mass satanic rites that brought forth Count Dracula from his century old dirt nap. The blood and ashes bit was pretty interesting, as well as all the new vampire lore introduced in the story, like the silver blade business and running water as a vampire killing strategy. And let's face it, Stephanie Beacham was absolutely stunning as the target of Christopher Lee's vampire revenge spanning the past hundred years.So with Johnny Alucard (Christopher Neame) demanding the power of immortality from the resurrected Master, I'm surprised Dracula didn't turn the faucet on him himself. This 'Bacchanal with Beelzebub' ended on a high note though; after getting the holy water treatment from Van Helsing (Peter Cushing), the screen writers opted for a neat switcheroo - instead of a stake through the heart, Dracula had his heart put through a stake. I think Jessica van Helsing (Beacham) had it right when she mentioned early in the picture - "The operative word is 'yuck'."

Hippies in '70s England resurrect Dracula and a descendant of Van Helsing's must do something about it. Weak later Hammer effort, desperate to stay trendy, has one major thing going for it: the reunion of Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee in a Dracula movie. All the dated hippie stuff is a relic of its era that may provide a few unintended laughs but does nothing to contribute to creating a proper horror movie atmosphere. After a strong opening that shows how Dracula was killed in 1872, it's halfway through the movie before we see him again. Then, after he's resurrected, he doesn't do much of anything. Instead, he lets his acolyte (an overacting Christopher Neame) do all the dirty work. Cushing is the best thing about this and all of the best scenes involve him, including his two (sadly just two) scenes with Lee. At least there's also Stephanie Beacham and Caroline Munro providing the pretty. Some of the sets are nice and director Alan Gibson shows he has some flair but there's too many scenes that misfire. For example, scenes with potential (like Dracula's resurrection) are ruined by the "groovy" music used. While there's more wrong with the movie than the music, it would be interesting to see how a re-scoring with a less cheesy soundtrack would help it. All in all, it's worth a look for fans of Hammer and the stars. But it's really a disappointment because there's so little of them, especially Lee. Still, when they are on screen, they're fun to watch.

Predictable, when Viewed Today, it is the "Hip" Dialog and Behavior of the Mods that make this one a Picture that Fluctuates Between Hammer's Reliable Sex and Gore with Lee and Cushing and a somewhat Strained Attempt to make it "Today (1972)".Not All of it Works, but Some of it Does. Once the Film gets Past the Obvious and Clunky Introductions of Time and Place with Cringe Inducing "Long Hair" Music and Party Crashers, along with "Drug Talk", the Movie Kicks in with some Stirring Stuff that Hammer Fans Expect.The Churchyard Sets are there for that Gothic Invasion of Swinging London and when Van Helsing, the Count, and a Police Murder Investigation gets underway the Movie Settles into a Passable Vampire Hunt.There are some Effective Touches here and there with Rituals and Rites, and as a whole the Movie is Better than Expected. Not in the Top Tier of Hammer Horror, but all Hammer Films are Worth a Watch and this is No Exception.

This is a sequel to Scars of Dracula. It is awesome it is a 70's classic. It is so very scary. It is one of the scariest movies ever made. It has a great story line. It also has great acting. It also has great special effects. It is one of the best horror movies ever. This the seventh hammer Dracula movie. The eighth hammer Dracula movie. The satanic rites of Dracula is scarier. But only by a little bite. This is scarier then the first six hammer Dracula movies. This is very intense movie. Dracula is resurrected in modern day. He is out for revenge on Abraham Van H.e.l.s.i.n.g and after his grand son. Very scary. One of the scariest movies ever. It is a must see.