toothbreaker:

Frankenstein Hammer Films

monsterman:

The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1974)

freshmoviequotes:

Frankenstein Created Woman (1967)

spookshowvixens:

1972′s Vampire Circus was one of the final nails in the coffin of the Hammer Vampire Cycle.  Standing apart from all of the other films along with Kiss of the Vampire and Countess Dracula (which wasn’t really a vampire film) it is neither connected to or part of either their Dracula series or the Karnstein Trilogy.

As such, it is allowed to be its own film and do things differently.  Being one of their early 70s productions the nudity and bloodshed content are cranked up from the heaving (but clothed) bosoms and splashes of bright crimson that permeated their earlier vampire films. In fact, I would venture to say this one is probably their goriest and most sexual films (though The Vampire Lovers is a STRONG contender for the latter).

It is very striking visually with the circus performers having unique, fascinating looks and the travelling performance itself taking on an aura of enticing menace. I really would recommend this one to anyone looking for a Hammer Film that’s a little off the beaten track but still holds enough of the old magic to make it feel less like a product of their waning days and more like a lavish gothic fever dream of old.

But man, vampire clown, that’s kind of gilding the horror lily right there.

brody75:

Satanic Rites of Dracula (1974)

strangerx666:

COUNTESS DRACULA 1971