horror of dracula (1958)
Arguably the best film from Hammer Film Productions, Horror of Dracula, sometimes simply referred to as Dracula, is a more aggressive and ferocious take on Bram Stoker's unforgettable character. Christopher Lee's characterization of the Count set a new standard for the Dracula franchise. Lee plays a tall, dark and handsome seducer who walks and talks with alluring confidence. In comparison to Lugosi's acting, Lee and the other female vampires convincingly exude the sex appeal needed to illustrate the vampire's magnetic power. The popular use of sex, colour photography and gore through special effects set a new, more vivid, standard for the vampire film. The film was shot in technicolor, which only amplified Dracula's lust for the blood that splashed in bright red on the screen.