The other half and I just did a lovely Christmas Eve gothic double-bill of Terence Fisher's Dracula: Prince of Darkness (Blu) and William/Eva Hyuck's Messiah of Evil (Code Red SE DVD).
Dracula looks terrific of course and is a fine return to form for the count, although this time he remains silent throughout (apart from some howls). The blood is upped, with a gruesome slaughter leading to the count's resurrection. The performances are fun too - I particularly enjoyed Barbara Shelley's transformation from buttoned up English lady to sultry vampiric temptress.
Messiah of Evil is an American production with an Italian look and feel. A supernatural, zombie, body-snatchers amalgamation by way of Argento, MOE is delightfully oddball with some incredible set design - namely the house where our glamorous lead resides, complete with creepy, wall high murals of shadowy figures and a cool swinging bed, beautifully shot by Stephen Katz. Marianna Hill (The Baby) stars and Writer/Directors Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz later penned such titles as American Graffitti and Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom. Huyck also directed Howard the Duck!
A great way to see in Christmas. We even watched the extras on both!
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