The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

it is the rare 'crazy' movie that actually has something to say.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

Tod Browning's and Bela Lugosi's Dracula (1931) is my favourite of the Universal monster classics. this sequel, starring the beautiful Gloria Holden in her first leading role, doesn't quite measure up to the former but has its own charms it's likely to be the first lesbian or bisexual vampire film ever made; though censors from the Production Code Administration made certain that Countess Zaleska's sapphic inclinations are not overt, it's still fairly obvious whom she prefers. this is also the first film to my awareness to feature the reluctant vampire trope, à la Anne Rice's and Brad Pitt's Louis de Pointe du Lac, with Holden's performance seemingly made more poignant by her displeasure at being assigned the role — i guess auditioning worked differently in the 1930s the acting, setting designs and filming all have the look and feel of a stage play. the film's alluring string-heavy score is composed by Heinz Roemheld, music supervisor of Dracula and uncredited composer of the stock music used in Werewolf of London, Reefer Madness and about a hundred other films i'd love to see this movie remade with more emphasis on the titular character's sexuality — let her leave two puncture marks on the breasts of her victims rather than in the jugular — and the ending rewritten and brought up to date. i like the film as it is, though, and recommend it for fans of Dracula and other Universal Studios classics. be sure to bring the kiddies!

Beginning just after the events of "Dracula" (1931), "Dracula's Daughter" has Countess Zaleska, Dracula's daughter, stealing her father's corpse from the Scotland Yard to burn it in hopes of destroying a familial curse. However, events do not go as planned, and Countess Zaleska finds herself succumbing to the thirst only quenched by the vein.This dreary and downbeat sequel to the gargantuan Universal monster classic is one of the studio's unsung pictures, little-seen but loved by those who have. It's a slow-paced and relatively uneventful film, but is a masterful work of suggestion. I'll leave film theory and psychoanalysis out of the review, as it's so often the context under which this film is discussed—but I will say that the film, while in direct conversation with the Stoker narrative, seems to be reaping the feminine horrors of Sheridan Le Fanu's preeminent vampire novel "Carmilla" to a greater extent.The tone of the film is also unusual in that the narrative approach is sympathetic to the monster— something of a first. Anne Rice has mentioned seeing the film as a child and referenced it as an influence on her writing, and it's very evident. In spite of the film's low budget, the cinematography is dazzling, and there are some phenomenal outdoor sequences bathed in fog. Gloria Holden's performance as the distant Countess is fantastic, with a fine performance from Otto Kruger as a therapist who plays a key role. Nan Grey also has a memorable part as a diffident art model for the Countess.Overall, "Dracula's Daughter" is a fantastic film for a variety of reasons, but the most compelling thing about it is that it seems to wallow in its own atmosphere to an extent that is rather rare. It's a somber and unassuming offering that is as thematically rich as its predecessor, and in some ways visually exceeds it. 9/10.

Dracula's daughter (1936) is directed by Lambert Hillyer. this is the official sequel to Tod Browning's memorable and atmospheric universal horror classic an follows the daughter of Dracula, Hungarian countess Marya Zaleska. she seeks release from the evil influence of the evil known as Dracula.what the film does right is it hits all the right notes in the atmosphere department while also staying true to it's characters motivations. countess Zaleska played wonderfully by Gloria Holden is a tortured and sympathetic character that is seeking release from the evil influence of Dracula and can not seem to shake her evil urges and impulses. her assistant Sandor played by Irving Pichel acts as a contrast to the character Jeffrey Garth played by Otto Kruger (Kruger does a great job here as well). Garth informs her there is a way to release herself from the curse while Sandor tells her there is no escape and that evil will always prevail. but Sandor isn't simply there saying these things for the sake of being there and saying them to provide contrast. he is saying these things because his character plays a much deeper role in the context of the plot. he seeks immortality and if he is to achieve his goal he mustn't let Zaleska achieve hers. but back to Gloria Holden's performance. her screen presence is what makes the film work so well. charming, sensual, hypnotizing and desperate she chews the scenery in nearly every scene she's in. in the original Dracula Lugosi portrayed Dracula as a more sinister and evil character. but because of his Charisma and style we also rooted for him because we couldn't help but to want to see more of him. in this film however we do feel genuine sympathy for our female Dracula, this is something that was not present in the previous film and this makes this sequel very unique and ground breaking. Edward Van Sloan returns as Professor Von Helsing and does an excellent job as well.I should also mention that the score is utterly haunting and wonderful in this film. one of the best of the universal era horror scores. now, some people speak of a lesbian undertone or sub text in the film that I was not fully aware of. while I do believe it is possible for it to be an underlying thing here I do not think it was intentional.so in short, the performances are all great, the character are all written well and the atmosphere and story are on point.one thing that is a massive negative here though is the comedy that is shoe horned in. it feels terribly out of place and has not aged well at all. the ending also felt a tad bit rushed. while it was good and I'm aware that the intent was to create a suspenseful and climactic ending I think it could have been a tad bit better.overall Dracula's Daughter is a classic and the second best in the universal Dracula legacy.the verdict: 8.5/10

This a sequel to Dracula (1931) and it is great. It is very scary. It has a great story line. It also has great acting. It also has great special effects. If you like scary movies then you need to see this movie. Van H.e.s.l.i.n.g must now fight Dracula's Daughter. This movie is very intense and dark. I like it. If you like scary movies you will like it to. Dracula (1931) is a little bite better. But still this is a great movie. It is a must see. I need more lines and I am running out of things to say. Great movie great movie great movie great movie great movie. Very scary very scary. This movie is a must see. Very scary very scary very scary.