Photo Blog: “Horror Of Dracula” Relived-Part II- Van Helsing Is On The Case

In part two of my photo blog about “Horror Of Dracula” from Hammer Films we pick up with Van Helsing learning of Jonathans fate at Castle Dracula.  Van Helsing picks up the case and sets out to destroy Dracula. Dracula has set out on a mission of his own. He is going to meet Miss Lucy.


Van Helsing heads to the local watering hole on his way to meet Jonathan Harker. It is here he learns of the fear these people hold toward all things Dracula.


The locals are not too pleased to see yet another stranger make their way into the fearful community.


Fear smells like garlic. Van Helsing meets the locals and realizes the superstitious nature and suspicious minds of the people.


Van Helsing’s inquiries about his friend are met with lies and cryptic interactions from the townies.


Van Helsing confronts the bar keep and makes it very clear he knows they are lying to him.


The bar maid drops Van Helsing a clue. She hands the doctor the diary of Jonathan Harker.


Van Helsing is nearly ran over by Dracula’s carriage as he enters the castle grounds.


Van Helsing searches for answers to Jonathan’s whereabouts in the castle and comes across the frame with a missing picture.


He soon discovers the staked female vampire in the crypt below Castle Dracula.


It isn’t long before the fate of young Jonathan Harker is revealed to Van Helsing



Meet The Holmwoods: Returning to the home of Harker’s betroved, Van Helsing tells of Jonathan Harker’s death.


Miss Lucy falls ill mysteriously and the family decides not to tell her about Jonathan’s death.



Lucy has a secret. A stranger is calling on her in the dead of night. Dracula has her under his spell.


Meanwhile Van Helsing is going over the writings of Harker, learning of Jonathan’s findings and the ways to kill a vampire.


Van Helsing takes time to post a letter and finds out that his man-servant thinks he is crazy.


It ain’t Karaoke! Van Helsing uses his recorder to document his discoveries about vampirism.


As Van Helsing plays with his recorder Dracula is playing with Lucy.


Dracula makes his move and goes in for one more taste of poor Miss Lucy.


The young Tania has a question for the family doctor. Why can’t you make Lucy better.


Mina gets a second opinion from Van Helsing and asks him to look in on Lucy.


Van Helsing makes a house call. He evaluates the young Miss Lucy to find what is causing her illness.


Van Helsing discovers what is causing Lucy to be weak. He notices the marks of the vampire on the young lady’s neck.


Van Helsing warns Mina of how serious the situation is without really telling her. He only demands that she place garlic flowers in the room and keep all outside accesses closed.


Lucy, of course, flips out over the garlic flowers and cries out for help.


She gets help from the maid who agrees to take away some of the flowers so that Lucy can rest.


The maid takes away the garlic and opens the door. Yeah look who is an accomplice.


Lucy dies ………or does she?!


Van Helsing confirms the fact that Lucy is indeed dead and faces the realization that people cannot follow instructions.


Mina and Arthur grieve the death of Lucy. …


Van Helsing confronts the Holmwoods to find out just what happened and why they could not seem to follow his simple directions.


Arthur tries to put the blame on Van Helsing. Van Helsing seeks to enlighten the Holmwoods by handing over the final writings of Jonathan Harker contained in his diary.

Photo Blog: “Horror Of Dracula” Relived- Part I–Jonathan Harker Meets Dracula

“Dracula” is a 1958 British horror film. It is the first in the series of Hammer Horror films inspired by the Bram Stoker novel Dracula. It was directed by Terence Fisher, and stars Peter Cushing, Michael Gough, Carol Marsh, Melissa Stribling and Christopher Lee. In the United States, the film was retitled “Horror of Dracula” to avoid confusion with the 1931 film “Dracula” starring Bela Lugosi.

After Jonathan Harker attacks Dracula at his castle (apparently somewhere in Germany), the vampire travels to a nearby city, where he preys on the family of Harker's fiancée. The only one who may be able to protect them is Dr. van Helsing, Harker's friend and fellow-student of vampires, who is determined to destroy Dracula, whatever the cost.


This is part 1 of my three part photo blog of “Horror Of Dracula”-Jonathan Harker Meets Dracula.



The image of Dracula’s name plate on his sarcophagus drips with blood. It is the first time we see the very icon color of red stuff that becomes synonymous with Hammer Films.


Jonathan Harker travels to Castle Dracula to meet with Count Dracula.


Johathan sets his sights on Castle Dracula and the enormous space it encompasses.


Jonathan Harker enters Castle Dracula for the first time. There are no servants to greet him.


Harker awaits Dracula’s greeting while sitting at the table that has already been prepared with food and drink.


Jonathan Harker meets a mysterious woman. While in the dining hall Jonathan makes a mess. As he cleans it up a mysterious woman enters to plea for his help.


Dracula makes an entrance. Soon after the mysterious lady leaves Harker meets Dracula for the first time.


Dracula and Harker finally make their introductions to one another before Jonathan is escorted to his room.


Dracula sees Jonathan to his room before leaving for the evening.


Dracula notices the photos of Harker’s fiancé Lucy then excuses himself for the evening.


Harker is shocked to hear that Dracula has locked him in his room for the night.


Dracula leaves the castle to feed assuming that Harker is secure in his room.


After hearing that someone has unlocked his door, Jonathan heads out and discovers the mysterious woman once more, in the library.


During an embrace the female vampire decides to feed on Harker after yet another plea for his assistance in escaping Dracula.


Dracula returns from his feeding to his woman feeding upon Jonathan Harker and is outraged.


Dracula throws the woman across the room in anger.


Dracula sets out to discipline the female vampire for her mistake. The rage surfacing and blood still dripping from his recent feeding.


Harker looks on in worry at the violence taking place in front of him. He clutches the wound suffered at the hands of the female vampire.


Dracula is mad, just look at that vein popping on his forehead. Sadly Jonathan thinks he can halt the assault on the woman and Dracula shows him otherwise.


Harker is tossed to the floor like a rag doll. The blood dripping from the fresh vampire bite on his neck.


Dracula leaves, carrying the female in his arms.


Harker wakes in his room. Jonathan Harker mysteriously finds himself back in his quarters as he comes to after the violent display in the library.


Jonathan Harker realizes his fate. After checking out the bite marks on his neck, Harker becomes all to aware of his predicament.


Jonathan writes the encounter with Count Dracula in his diary. It will be his testament to his own misfortune. He then sets out to complete his mission.


Jonathan Harker leaves a clue. After finishing his report, Jonathan hides the diary in a shrine just outside the Castle walls.



Jonathan enters the crypt that holds Dracula’s not so final resting place. He sets out to end the reign of terror the monster has lead.


Before killing Dracula, Harker decides to kill the female companion.


After Jonathan stakes the woman she reverts back to her true form, showing the years that mystically had been warded by Immortality.


Jonathan discovers that Dracula has fled. His resting place lays empty and the element of surprise is lost.


Jonathan fails to kill Dracula and his fate is sealed as the Master of Death traps Harker in the crypt.

Trailer Released For Psychological Horror “Dark Of Winter”

Check out the trailer for David C. Snyder’s “Dark Of Winter”. A film that warns “ Not For The Emotionally Unstable”. It stars Kyle Jason, Erica Paisley, Ashtyn Neibar, Andy Zibritosky, Kevin M. Hayes, M. Ported Flows, Jacob O’Brien Mulliken and Rob Stone.

Professional assassin John French is in the middle of a complicated new job when he finds out about the parole of Gary Kliest, the man responsible for what happened to his daughter ten years prior. When Sarah, an old friend of his daughter's, shows up unannounced for a visit, John's simple existence becomes a complex puzzle. He must now deal with strange, otherworldly events that are throwing his life into a chaotic mystery that he must solve before it is too late...


Dark of Winter- Trailer 1 (Top Psychological Horror Movies - DARK OF WINTER) from HWIC Filmworks on Vimeo.

“Cloned:The Recreator Chronicles” Releases New Clip

The sci-fi thriller “Cloned: The Recreator Chronicles” has released a new discovery clip as the DVD releases today. The film is directed by Gregory Orr and stars Stella Maeve, Alexander Nifong, Jamal Mallory McCree, John de Lancie, Laura Moss.

Duplicates. Doubles. Recreations. Call them what you will, they are exact copies of Craig, Tracy and Derek, three friends on a camping trip who accidentally trigger a deadly experiment left by the Recreator, a mysterious scientist with a passion for cloning. Threatened by a superior enemy who knows everything about them, will the teenagers out-smart and escape their dangerous duplicates before they are replaced?

Pagan Festival Shout Out: Vinalia Priora

Vinalia Priora was an annual Roman festival that occurred on April 23rd. It was the first of two festivals, the Vinalia Rustica being the second, that took place in Rome regarding the production of wine. Although it is not considered a very renowned Roman festival, it was rather popular amongst the Roman people because it involved every citizen and appealed to one of the most pleasurable aspects of life: their love of wine. The exact origins of the festival remain uncertain, but it is known that the festival was originally celebrated in honor of Jupiter and later became connected to the goddess Venus as well.

In its beginning, the Vinalia Priora was dedicated to honoring Jupiter. This is connected to the myth of the hero Aeneas, who promised Jupiter an offering of wines from Latium if he were to become victorious in a war against his enemies of different regions. Aeneas won the war, and therefore dedicated some of Latium's wine in Jupiter's name. This myth survived throughout the ages by the Romans people during the festival.

The festival later became associated with the goddess Venus because the Temple of Erycinna, a temple in honor of Venus Erucina, was dedicated on April 23rd as well.

On the day of the Vinalia Priora, the casks of wine that had been produced the previous autumn were opened after allowing for fermentation of the wine. Before the wine could be tasted by the Roman people, a libation of the wine, commonly known as calpar, had to be poured as a tribute to Jupiter. Following the offering to Jupiter, the Roman citizens were allowed to taste the wine for the first time. A great amount of celebration followed the offering and the tasting of the wine, in which everyone participated in the revelry. At this time, those who produced wine the previous autumn were finally allowed to bring their wine into the city and sell it to others.

As time progressed, festivites related to Venus were also incorporated into the festival. Prostitutes and other women of somewhat ill repute made offerings to Venus as their protector in the form of burning incense, mint, and myrtle in the Temple of Erycinna. Women of higher classes with better reputations worshipped the goddess on the Capitoline Hill by granting similar gifts to Venus.