Kiss of the Vampire [DVD] [1964] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

!!!WARNING. CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!

I would just like to start by stating that this is a review for the film not this particular release, as the release I have seen is a German Region 2 by Koch Media. A very excellent release it is too, if not the cheapest.

Newlyweds Gerald and Marianne Harcourt(Edward DeSouza and Jennifer Daniel) whilst spending their honeymoon travelling through the European countryside, run out of petrol and are forced to make an impromptu stop at a remote German village. It's hardly the most hospitable place either, as the owners of the hotel where they end up staying seem very guarded and cautious with regards to their new guests. The only other guest at the hotel, the irascible Professor Zimmer(Clifford Evans), goes even further by basically telling Gerald to get lost. Thankfully, not all of the locals are so unfriendly, as the couple get an invitation from the wealthy Dr Ravna(Noel William) to dine at his luxurious home. Seduced by the hospitality of Ravna and his family, the Harcourts are blind to the fact that there are more sinister motives behind their hosts seemingly friendly advances, motives that soon become horrifyingly apparent when the couple are seperated during a masked ball.
Until I managed to get hold of a German Region 2 release, I hadn't seen this film for over 25 years. I had very vague recollections of it. Watching it again, I found myself increasingly impressed by this largely forgotten Hammer. Whilst it might be lacking the usual Hammer leads of Cushing and Lee, and it might present itself on a smaller scale than usual, it is in fact a beautifully shot, stylish and atmospheric foray into the vampire mythos. It moves along at quite a pace too.
There a couple of interesting aspects I would like to discuss. Firstly the Cult of Dr Ravna. We only have Ravna's word that the 'family' he introduces the Harcourts to are his own flesh and blood. I like to think of Ravna as a predatory monster who has ensnared Carl, Sabena and the others over the years. Ravna's adopted family are a very loyal brood. This film also mixes vampirism and Satanism, with the cult meeting as a sort of decadent coven.
The second main point of interest is the interesting anti-hero we are introduced to in the form of Professor Zimmer. He's moody, an alcoholic and treats the Harcourts with some hostility. Although he warns them of dangers ahead, he basically steps aside whilst the Harcourts get themselves up to thier necks in trouble, only coming to thier aid when Marianne is in mortal danger. Zimmer has other things on his mind, basically getting revenge on Ravna and his cronies, and even uses the same evil that they use,to defeat them at the climax.
There are wonderful sequences throughout the film. The masked ball is a triumph, the facade coming to an abrupt end once Marianne is ensnared. Of course, it is difficult to watch this portion of the film without bringing 'Dance Of The Vampires' to mind, as Polanski undoubtably takes inspiration from this paricular sequence. Equally impressive are the scenes where an increasingly frantic Gerald is met by a wall of silence when attempting to find his missing wife. There is an agreeably paranoid atmosphere to these scenes as Ravna and his family even go as far as denying she exists. Finally, one must mention the climax, a real tour-de-force as the cult of Ravna come to a sticky end when they are attacked by a horde of vampire bats, conjured up by the vengeful Zimmer.
As for the acting, well DeSouza and Daniel are suitably bland as the romantic leads, Noel William the very epitome of suave, decadent evil and Evans superb as the tormented Zimmer. I think special mention must be made of Barry Warren who plays Ravna's 'son' Carl. The way he transforms overnight from polite host to cold, hostile stranger is made chillingly real by Warren's performance.
So altogether a bit of a triumph, and hopefully Kiss Of The Vampire will one day get the recognition it surely deseves. A minor classic from Hammer studios. 5 out of 5

This Final Cut release under licence from Universal is a rather forgotten gem. As other reviewers have done much better than I could re the plot, I'll just say that the print is excellent, particularly the colour, and the direction by Don Sharp is spot on - The ballroom/party scene is tremendous. The acting is as good as you get with Hammer tho sadly I agree with other reviewers that perhaps Noel Willman isn't best cast as the Vampire in chief, but Clifford Evans is good and I somehow feel if Cushing had been cast it would have been a copmletely different character. Someone else has also mentioned Isobel Black, who gets low/small billing yet features 3 times on the back cover of this release and steals the film in my opinion from Jennifer Daniel, tho she did grow on me. All in all a good Hammer Horror full of atmosphere, colour, and suspense. On another day I might give it 5 stars.

Chris Lee and Peter Cushing's battles through several of Hammer's Dracula films really burned into people's thinking that Hammer Vamps meant these two in their clash of the Titans - Dracula and Van Helsing. However, Hammer did a handful of vampire flicks with a more sensual quality, like Lust for a Vampire and this gem, The Kiss of the Vampire. Because viewers missed the formidable presence of Lee and Cushing having at it again, I think this film was rather dismissed. It really needs a second -- and third -- look.

It's moody, atmospheric with a sensual quality stronger than the Lee-Cushing Drac flicks. I think it's mostly undermined by Noel Willman as the head vampire. Had they had someone of the raw sexuality of the commanding Lee, this likely would have been considered one of the best Hammer Vamps. Willman just does not imbue the film with that pull -- the repulsion against the bloodsucking ways, but the power that draws against all. He just doesn't put it over like Lee. But then few men could! Alas, where was Ian McShane when you needed him?

Willman is a nobleman - what else - over a tiny hamlet where he is actually doing rather better than Drac ever did. His castle is richly appointed and full of fellow vamps. Old Noel has his own Vamp Camp going. Naturally, the villagers live in terror as not only do they have a master vamp in residents, they have to fear all his vamp friends, too. Rather a large drain on the locals.

When a young honeymoon couple's car breaks down outside the castle, they come under the control of the evil vamp Count. You have the counter balance of evil with Professor Zimmer played, again, with less flair than Cushing, by Clifford Evans.

Despite Zimmer's warnings the couple come under the control of the Vamp master and his cronies, who have decided the young bride would make a delectable feast and new member to Happy Vamp Camp. Zimmer is fairly strong as his Van Helsing type role than Willman is as head vamp. The plot while predictable is lavishly filmed, complete with costume ball.

Because the lack of the two Hammer legends and the "we've been down this road before" causes people to initially dismiss the beauty of this film.

Give it a chance. Don't compare it, just judge it on it's own merits, and I think you will find it a richly done, impressive film that is very underrated.