The Evil of Dracula (1974), or as it is known in Japan as, Chi o suu bara (1974), is part three of a Japanese horror trilogy, called the Bloodthirsty trilogy. The other films in the set are Vampire Doll (1970) and Lake of Dracula (1971). Michio Yamamoto, directed all of them. It's interesting to note, that the Japanese also have a fascination with vampire lore, just like Europe or North America does. There are a number of stories, featured in Japanese cinema or television, about vampires. In the 1970s, Toho Studios was cutting back on expensive special-effects movies and was funneling their budgets more into, fantasy and horror films, that were more down to Earth on a human level and not effect-heavy stories. They also saw the success, that England's, Hammer Studios had in the 1960s, with their successful run of Dracula films.
Also remember, Toho Studios, was the owner of the Godzilla franchise, which was also feeling the effects of low-budget angst, in the 1970s. One of the great aspects of Evil of Dracula (1974), was the exceptionably, well-done, cinematography and camera work, seen in the film. Japanese filmmakers were always, very good at the cinematography, found in their films. The framing, that cinematographer Kazutami Hara used in Evil of Dracula (1974), helps capture the eerie, gothic aura, needed for a vampire film. Hara also was the cinematographer for Vampire Doll (1970) and he eventually landed the job on Return of Godzilla (1984 - AKA: Godzilla 1985). In fact, most of the Godzilla/Toho Studios, monster-guys, were working on Evil of Dracula (1974). What little special-effects were used in this film, they were designed by Teruyoshi Nakano, who worked on all the 1970s, Godzilla films. The soundtrack music in this film, is composed by Riichirô Manabe, who also did the music for Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971) and Godzilla VS Megalon (1973).
On the acting-side of the equation, Katsuhiko Sasaki, who plays the Renfield-like, Professor Yoshie, was also working on Godzilla VS Megalon (1973) and the Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975). Our Japanese Dracula, known only as the Principal, was played by Shin Kishida. Kishida shows up in Godzilla VS Mechagodzilla (1974), the same year as this film. Kishida is the new principal at the local girls school, who has his dead wife stored down in a sepulcher in the basement. You know, the kind of sepulcher, that anybody can just lift up and grab a quick look at the dead person in it (just kidding), which is what the new school assistant, Professor Shiraki (Toshio Kurosawa), does for some unknown reason. Shiraki is caught looking at the dead wife, by the principal, which provokes Dracula, into knocking Shiraki out. The next day Shiraki awakens, thinking it was all a dream, but the damage has been done. As the plot of Evil of Dracula (1974), moves along, Shiraki, some of the school girls and the tiny town they are in, becomes threatened, by a nightmarish situation, from this school of vampires.
If it wasn't for Shin Kishida, putting his heart and soul, into his vampire performance and the fact, that the writers tried to put together a half-decent story, Evil of Dracula (1974), would have been even worse, than it was becoming. I am not saying it is a bad film at all. Nor do I think, it is great either. Like I said earlier, this film is shot very well. The music is good and does give off a cool, psychedelic, 1970s, electronic vibe to it. The film tries to bring this 19th century character, into the 20th century and tries to do it 1970s, Japanese style. What begins to hurt the film, is poor acting, mostly by the school-girl actresses, a boring pace, that begins to slow down the plot and a film, that had so much promise, until it crashes and burns, by the end. This film, ends up being a bad-deal, as we finish out this trilogy. Evil of Dracula (1974), is the worst of the three films. I still recommend seeing this film however, especially of you decide to watch, all three of the films in this series. Evil of Dracula (1974), deserves an E For Effort. It is a Toho Studios horror classic.
5.2 (E+ MyGrade) = 5 IMDB.
Also remember, Toho Studios, was the owner of the Godzilla franchise, which was also feeling the effects of low-budget angst, in the 1970s. One of the great aspects of Evil of Dracula (1974), was the exceptionably, well-done, cinematography and camera work, seen in the film. Japanese filmmakers were always, very good at the cinematography, found in their films. The framing, that cinematographer Kazutami Hara used in Evil of Dracula (1974), helps capture the eerie, gothic aura, needed for a vampire film. Hara also was the cinematographer for Vampire Doll (1970) and he eventually landed the job on Return of Godzilla (1984 - AKA: Godzilla 1985). In fact, most of the Godzilla/Toho Studios, monster-guys, were working on Evil of Dracula (1974). What little special-effects were used in this film, they were designed by Teruyoshi Nakano, who worked on all the 1970s, Godzilla films. The soundtrack music in this film, is composed by Riichirô Manabe, who also did the music for Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971) and Godzilla VS Megalon (1973).
On the acting-side of the equation, Katsuhiko Sasaki, who plays the Renfield-like, Professor Yoshie, was also working on Godzilla VS Megalon (1973) and the Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975). Our Japanese Dracula, known only as the Principal, was played by Shin Kishida. Kishida shows up in Godzilla VS Mechagodzilla (1974), the same year as this film. Kishida is the new principal at the local girls school, who has his dead wife stored down in a sepulcher in the basement. You know, the kind of sepulcher, that anybody can just lift up and grab a quick look at the dead person in it (just kidding), which is what the new school assistant, Professor Shiraki (Toshio Kurosawa), does for some unknown reason. Shiraki is caught looking at the dead wife, by the principal, which provokes Dracula, into knocking Shiraki out. The next day Shiraki awakens, thinking it was all a dream, but the damage has been done. As the plot of Evil of Dracula (1974), moves along, Shiraki, some of the school girls and the tiny town they are in, becomes threatened, by a nightmarish situation, from this school of vampires.
If it wasn't for Shin Kishida, putting his heart and soul, into his vampire performance and the fact, that the writers tried to put together a half-decent story, Evil of Dracula (1974), would have been even worse, than it was becoming. I am not saying it is a bad film at all. Nor do I think, it is great either. Like I said earlier, this film is shot very well. The music is good and does give off a cool, psychedelic, 1970s, electronic vibe to it. The film tries to bring this 19th century character, into the 20th century and tries to do it 1970s, Japanese style. What begins to hurt the film, is poor acting, mostly by the school-girl actresses, a boring pace, that begins to slow down the plot and a film, that had so much promise, until it crashes and burns, by the end. This film, ends up being a bad-deal, as we finish out this trilogy. Evil of Dracula (1974), is the worst of the three films. I still recommend seeing this film however, especially of you decide to watch, all three of the films in this series. Evil of Dracula (1974), deserves an E For Effort. It is a Toho Studios horror classic.
5.2 (E+ MyGrade) = 5 IMDB.