The Satanic Rites of Dracula Blu-ray

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

We have started a Patreon page with the hopes that some of our followers would be willing to donate to keep DVDBeaver alive. We are a small niche, so your generosity is vital to our existence.

To those that are unfamiliar, Patreon is a secure/verified third-party service where users can agree to a monthly donation via credit card or PayPal by clicking the button below.

Search DVDBeaver

S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

(aka "The Satanic Rites of Dracula" or "Count Dracula and His Vampire Bride" or "Dracula Is Alive and Well and Living in London" or "Dracula and His Brides" or "Rites of Dracula")

directed by Alan Gibson
UK 1973

A dying man’s report of a ritual black mass stirs Britain’s security chief into action, and a mansion filled with young vampire girls is soon discovered. And this is but the first twist in a labyrinth of horror. Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee pair up for the final Hammer Dracula in this follow-up to Dracula A.D. 1972. In this go-round, the Count (Christopher Lee, naturally) follows a more pulpish, super-villainous playbook, posing as a millionaire industrialist alive and well and living in London while secretly brewing up a batch of super-plague in a quest to destroy the world. Mixing Satanists, spies and sci-fi, the film makes viewers glad that Peter Cushing is on hand to solidly anchor the more outré elements as the effortlessly expositioning Dr. Van Helsing. Lee, in turn, has more dialogue as Dracula than was the norm, and rachets up the evil to the nth degree. Joanna Lumley (Absolutely Fabulous) costars. Also known as Count Dracula and His Vampire Bride.

Poster

Theatrical Release: November 3rd, 1973

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

Comparison

Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Box Cover
Distribution	Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Runtime	1:27:46.386
Video	1.78:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 24,356,786,703 bytes Feature: 23,601,702,912 bytes Total Video Bitrate: 31.99 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Bitrate Blu-ray
Audio	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1990 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1990 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles	English (SDH), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Warner Archive 1.78:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 24,356,786,703 bytes Feature: 23,601,702,912 bytes Total Video Bitrate: 31.99 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Theatrical Trailer (2:44) Blu-ray Release Date: November 13th, 2018 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 16

Comments

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray - December 2018': The new Warner Archive release of Hammer Studios The Satanic Rites of Dracula, on Blu-ray looks softish, thick and a bit blotchy. It is in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio and can have scenes of remarkable softness. The visuals are weak on the Blu-ray, but watchable. I don't know the reason for the haziness but it seems more prone to mid-range shots - because many close-ups show decent detail. Perhaps we will have another 1080P release to compare to one day but at present this looks like the only game in town (there is a Blu-ray in the UK but is filled with this, and others films, only in SD).

Warner Archive use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel mono (24-bit) track in the original English language (with some Latin). There are some effects with depth but dialogue can sound somewhat cloudy at times - matching the image. The score is by John Cacavas (Horror Express, Hangar 18, Superdome) that offers some bombastic moments in supporting the vampiric fist-a-cuffs and impalings. There are optional English subtitles (SDH) on the Region FREE Blu-ray.

There is only a trailer on the Blu-ray.

Well, The Satanic Rites of Dracula is hammer with Cushing and Lee in their usual vampire-conflict roles. That alone has immense appeal. I enjoyed the narrative although it certainly would be in the studio's latter-half in terms of 'greatness'. This 'last gasp' is imperfect, as is the HD image, but fans will certainly crave it. Recommended!

- Gary Tooze