Countess Dracula

Polish actress Ingrid Pitt became a cult figure for her portrayal of the notorious Hungarian Countess Elizabeth Bathory in this Hammer horror film. Bathory finds that bathing in the blood of virgins restores her youthful beauty, and she enlists her servant (Nigel Green in a standout performance) to ...more

This is one of the more underrated films from the latter days of the Hammer Films dynasty. Countess Dracula is often unfairly viewed by fans and critics as a poor relation to The Vampire Lovers but it's an effective little chiller in its own right. Jeremy Paul's script plays fast-and-loose with the facts of the real-life case that inspired this story but it delivers a well-modulated mix of chills and sauciness at a fast pace. It also uses its 'royals-victimize-the-peasants' storyline to make ...more