The Kiss of the Vampire (1963)

Very disappointed :(

Lack of good storyline.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

An above average Gothic adventure from Hammer, in their finest tradition. While the story - honeymooning couple falls foul of vampire cult - may be nothing new, the typical trappings and good acting help to make this a refreshing spin on the tale, a rare film where everything gels together to become one. Don Sharp, who later went on to helm the FU MANCHU series, does a good job in directing his first horror film, and the pacing is great. No scene ever gets too boring, and there are a number of shocks and jump scenes to enjoy, and action too. The Gothic surroundings and style is spot on, making this a fine example of Hammer's output. Not the best, perhaps, but certainly solid.The cast all do their jobs, although nobody is really a match for the sorely missed Cushing and Lee. Edward De Souza and Jennifer Daniel are capable leads as the innocent young people caught up in the happenings. Noel Willman is pretty solemn and emotionless as the head vampire, but his acting is suited to the role, and he's believably evil. Clifford Evans is no match for Peter Cushing, but he's okay, although lacking in natural charisma. The film doesn't really have many special effects, apart from the usual fangs. The swarm of bats which is involved in the relatively exciting climax are good fun but blatantly fake, and not realistic in the least, unfortunately. This ruins the atmosphere somewhat. While generic, KISS OF THE VAMPIRE has enough correct ingredients to pass the time amiably enough.

This has got to be the most boring and unscary vampire film I have ever seen. The only scene worth watching is the opening scene which lasts maybe 5 minutes after that it is all down hill. Nothing happens after the opening scene except one part where a man is bitten by a vampire and then the ending. The movie is 88 minutes long and out of that only 10 minutes of it is worth watching - if that long. I'm all for subtle horror but this movie really does not have it - it's just a bunch of dressed up people standing around talking about nothing throughout most of the film. I was bored to tears with this movie.The ONLY thing this movie has going for it is the theme music - and that is it! The music is the only reason to rate this film besides the fact that it is a Hammer and Universal film.Update: I've rewatched this one again, and I will raise my rating up 2 points. It's a little better the second time around but I'm still finding I'm bored with it generally speaking. I really want to like this film but I'm still finding it just *meh*. 4/10

Kiss of the Vampire (AKA: Kiss of Evil in a truncated TV version) is directed by Don Sharp and written by John Elder. it stars Clifford Evans, Noel Willman, Edward de Souza, Jennifer Daniel, Barry Warren, Brian Oulton and Jacquie Wallis. Out of Hammer Film Productions in Eastmancolour, cinematography is by Alan Hume and music by James Bernard.Honeymooners Gerald (de Souza) and Marianne Harcourt (Daniel) stop over in a remote Bavarian village and fall prey to a suspicious family headed by Dr. Ravna (Willman).Planned as a Dracula sequel by Hammer Films, Kiss of the Vampire eventually followed in the vein of Brides of Dracula by bringing vampires into a social situation without the famous Count as the figurehead. With no Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Terence Fisher or Freddie Francis involved, it does on the outside seem it should be a lesser Hammer Horror picture. Thankfully that isn't the case at all.There's some wooden acting, less than great effects work in the finale and a lack of blood for the gore hounds, but this is still a wonderful Hammer picture. Ripe with atmosphere, beaming with glorious Gothic set design and beautifully photographed, it's a film begging to be discovered by the vampire faithful.Essentially a reworking of Edward G. Ulmer's The Black Cat (1934), the narrative follows the familiar vampiric formula so beloved by horror film makers, especially the house of Hammer, which is no bad thing really since they do it so well. In fact it should be noted that the finale to this one is a departure from the norm and is rather exciting, if just a little abrupt in the context of plotting.A bevy of beauties adorn the frames while suave aristocrat type gentlemen glide around the Ravna abode, this is very much a film rich in that Hammer style. Ignore claims of it being slow, for this is considerate to setting up the characters, and ignore the butchered American TV version, for Kiss of the Vampire is a treat for like minded Hammerphiles. 7.5/10

There is so much that is good about this film that it is such a shame that it is brought down from what might have been an excellent movie, by poor leads and a slowness after the good opening. Edward de Souza and Jennifer Daniel as the newlyweds in peril sleepwalk the first half hour and their lack of charisma, not helped by crass writing, is almost enough to crash this venture before halfway through. However, this is beautifully shot, with fantastic sets and costumes and there are excellent scenes. The opening is effective, the masked ball entrancing and the final denouement is sensational even though the bats aren't particularly well executed. Well worth seeing, but it could have been so much more. I'm not sure I buy the story about the film's release being delayed because of the similarity of the bat attack and a similar scene in Hitchcock's, The Birds. It makes no sense to me for this to have been made first then have it's release delayed till after that for the Hitch film. Maybe I'm missing something but I reckon this might have been thought to be too horrific but then released after The Birds had got away with it.