Search - Dracula, Prisoner of Frankenstein on DVD

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Elliot James | Miami Florida | 10/02/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I don't bemoan spending the 15 bucks on this DVD even though it lacks the repeatability factor of other Franco bang-outs. More a snooze-fest than a monster mash, Dracula, Prisoner of Frankenstein surprisingly wastes its cast of sexy actresses, unusual for Jesus, who has been filming the same sado-erotic fantasies over and over for more than 40 years. The best part is the sensational Nicolai/White music, a retread of the score from Franco's Dracula bomb with Chris Lee. The only interesting characterization is the Howard Vernon Dracula, portrayed as a mindless, animated cadaver who does nothing but sleep or feed on both male and female victims. His unblinking stare and frozen, wax dummy stiffness is actually pretty scary because it reminded me of the medium in Mario Bava's Black Sabbath, a depiction of Dracula never seen in any other film. The werewolf make-up is the absolute worst in movie history. How he could have approved it is beyond me. But even bargain-basement Franco is more entertaining to me than 75% of the boring, expensive dreck on cable."

Subtle Genuis

Collin J. Rae | Treasure Island, CA | 09/09/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Many things have been written and said about Mr. Franco...some true some well..who knows...what I can say is this particular film stands with the best of Jesus's works. His approach to imagery and abstraction in this particular film is in a word remarkable. It's a film whose story is secondary to the atmosphere and dialogue. Simply put it's a film whose visual importance and potentcy is absolutely under appreciated. I would consider this film to be one of the top 5 Franco works. Essential to any fan of the more off beat kind of horror films."