Hammer Horror! THE SATANIC RITES OF DRACULA Now Available on Blu-ray from Warner Archives

Transfers of the final Peter Cushing/Christopher Lee Dracula collaboration (which I saw at the theater in 1978 under the title COUNT DRACULA AND HIS VAMPIRE BRIDES) have always looked like unholy Hell, but Hammer Horror fans will be relieved to know that has been remedied thanks to Warner Archives. Ordering information for their THE SATANIC RITES OF DRACULA Blu-ray can be found HERE

THE SATANIC RITES OF DRACULA is finally available in this transfer that George R. Reis at DVD Drive-In calls “a revelation….A new 2018 HD transfer was utilized here, presenting the film in 1080p in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. The film nicely opens with the original 1970s era Warner logo; detail is primarily sharp and the image is extremely clean. The bold color palette and color separation shine here, with the filmic grain levels remaining attractively consistent yet never obtrusive. Black levels are properly deep, textures are precise, and the extra level of detail not seen before in standard definition transfers really adds something” (read all of George’s review HERE)

Christopher Lee’s final Dracula performance wings its way on lush leathery batwings thanks to this new high definition transfer that serves up these satanic rites as  never been seen. 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. This is only the first layer of a labyrinth of horror. Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee pair up for the final Hammer Dracula in this follow-up to Dracula AD 1972. In this go-round, the Count (Christopher Lee, naturally) pursues 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 viewer is glad that Peter Cushing is on hand to solidly anchor the more outré elements as the effortlessly expositioning Dr. Van Helsing. Lee, in turn, is given more dialogue as Dracula than is the norm, and ratchets up the evil to the nth degree. Joanna Lumley (Absolutely Fabulous) co-stars. Also known as Dracula and his Vampire Bride. 16×9 Widescreen.