People ask me why I am still searching the globe for VHS. The answer is simple. There are so many horror flicks out that never had a DVD or Blu Ray release until this writing. And even as they have one it's sometimes necessary to search the VHS release.
Dynasty Of Dracula is a perfect example why I searched the very rare Eagle Video release on VHS. I admit, this flick is was out in Germany on the OOP 'Astro' DVD but it do has it's problems. First it's dubbed in German and secondly it was only 77 minutes long. The VHS is full uncut and clocks in at just over 85 minutes.
Still being a very rare release and also the only uncut one worldwide it is watchable but only for the nostalgia of good old Gothic horrors or maybe even the Hammer buffs.
Don't watch it for the effects because they are very laughable. Bats are hanging before windows but it's so easy to spot the wires hanging on the bats. A lot of effects is done by editing. And the editing is viewable. You see a vampire standing and suddenly, with a bad cut, he disappeared. And the vampires itself are so cheesy. They had to take care while speaking not to lose their fangs.
The story is a bit hard to get because the only release this Mexican vampire flick had was Spanish. Still you can easily spot what's going on. First you will see an execution of Lord Duke Orloff, a Satanist and vampire done by the inquisition. We move forward to the 19th century were a witch performs a ritual to provoke power and removes the stake from Lord Orloff. Dracula has risen from the grave. Together with the witch he's trying to possess a town to make it theirs together with Satan.
Looks all great but it's very low on red stuff and as said has a lot of laughable and cheesy effects. The cutting effects reminded me of some Hammer horrors so no prob there. It's still watchable if you are used to grindhouse horror because the print had a lot of scratches which adds toward the grindhouse feeling. If you dig Paul Naschy flicks then this is a must to see...if you only can possess the VHS.
Gore 0/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 1/5 Story 3/5 Comedy 0/5
