Le messe nere della contessa Dracula

I have to agree with others that this film is much better than "Fury of the Wolfman" - in fact it's one of Paul Naschy's best films - specifically his werewolf films. I didn't expect a whole lot from this movie (I expected it to be so-so) but it came as a pleasant surprise - it's good and I like it!

To some, this type of film is considered Euro-trash, tasteless and bad - well the film might be all those things but it's so bad it's good. If you like werewolves and/or vampires then this one is worth watching if you happen to see it on TV or acquire it in a film pack as I did.

The copy that I have came from the Legends of Horror 50 Movie Pack. It's a fairly good copy - but not digitally corrected. The voice dubbing into English is good enough for me to enjoy.

7.5/10

Paul Naschy again with his classic character and frightening to viewer. It deals with Elvira (Gaby Fuchs) and her friend Genevieve (Barbara Capell) travelling through the French countryside in search of the lost grave of a medieval vampire, Countess Wandesa (Patty Shepard) , then things go wrong . The Blood Flows Like Vintage Wine ! . Things happen that have never been seen by human beings ! . The blood flows like vintage wine ! .

Jacinto Molina or Paul Naschy , who recently passed away, was actor, screenwriter and director of various films about the personage based on a fictitious character, the Polish count Waldemar Daninsky. The first film about Waldemar was ¨The mark of the Wolfman (1967)¨ by Enrique Eguiluz , after that ¨Night of Walpurgis¨, ¨Fury of the Wolfman¨ , ¨Doctor Jekill and the Wolfman¨ ,¨The return of the Walpurgis¨, ¨Howl of the devil¨, ¨The beast and the magic sword(1982)¨ that is filmed in Japan and finally ¨Licantropo(1998).

It's a B series entertainment with abundant sensationalistic scenes and a Naif style. The movie has a bit of ridiculous gore with loads of blood similar to tomato . This time Paul Nashy/Jacinto Molina exhibits little breast but he was a weightlifting champion. Here Waldemar takes on Countess Wandessa played by Patty Shepard in some unforgettable slow-moving scenes . Brief nudism and erotic situations in charge of Gaby Fuchs and Barbara Capell . Good cinematography by cameraman Leopoldo Villaseñor is accompanied by a correct remastering . Eerie and atmospheric musical score by composer Anton Garcia Abril .The motion picture was professionally directed by Leon Klimovsky , a slick craftsman who directed all kind of genres, as Terror for Paul Naschy (Marshall of hell, Rebellion of dead one , Orgy of vampires , Werewolf shadow ,Dr Jekill vs. The werewolf) , Warlike (June 44 attack force Normandy , A bullet for Rommel, Bridge over Elba) and Spaghetti/Paella Westerns (Badland drifter , Some dollars for Django , Death knows no time , Two thousand dollars for Coyote). Carlos Aured's assistant direction, who directed the following sequel titled, ¨ The return of the Walpurgis ¨. The flick will appeal to Paul Naschy fans and horror genre enthusiastic. Rating : 6/10 . Acceptable and entertaining.

Although this movie obviously suffered from a lack of budget and resources, it is pretty well done by a crew who made the best of what they did have. I saw this as " The Werewolf vs. The Vampire Women " and despite the ridiculous title there actually were some effective and artfully done scenes, especially with a slow motion, day-for- night cloaked figure lurking in some windy ruins. Also very interesting are the last few scenes, shot in slow motion, of the title's vampire women (who are both really hot and reasonably talented) running from the rising sun.

There were 13 films in which Paul Naschy played Waldemar Daninsky, who was turned into a werewolf. This film is fourth in the series.

Known as Werewolf Shadow or Shadow of the Werewolf, as well as the original title, La noche de Walpurgis. It is a Gothic horror. Very slow moving with plenty of creepy music.

Those used to copious amounts of nudity and gore in the series will be disappointed with this entry.

The final battle between the wolfman (Naschy) and the vampire woman, Countess Wandesa Dárvula de Nadasdy (Patty Shepard) was quick and anti- climatic, but they are both gone for good.

AKA La Noche de Walpurgis, aka Shadow of the Werewolf, aka The Werewolf's Shadow etc. It wasn't until reviewing this afterwards that I realised that I had already seen it many yeas ago but under a different title. Countess Waldessa is revived when a girl cuts herself during an excavation of her tomb & the blood drips on to her skeletal remains. How clumsy! And so begins a battle of werewolf (Naschy) versus sexy looking vampires. There seems to be a lot of full moons here & these vamps must be immune from sunlight but this film drips Gothic horror. It is also a tale of doomed, tragic love. Not a patch on Universal or Hammer horror but good fun none the less. I believe that some prints are cut.