THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER

Dracula!

THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER (2023). Director: Andre Ovredal.

Taking its cue from references in Bram Stoker's classic novel "Dracula," Demeter examines what happens on that ship when Dracula, inside a box filled with Transylvanian dirt, is transported to London, feeding on the crew all the while. This is certainly a neat idea for a movie, but the execution is something else again. What could have worked as a 30 or 60 minute TV show is stretched out to two hours, and the movie is s l o w www. 

Corey Hawkins

This is unfortunate, as Last Voyage of the Demeter boasts impressive scenic design and some excellent performances, especially from lead Corey Hawkins as the black ship's doctor (no, this character does not appear in Stoker's novel), Liam Cunningham as the captain planning on retirement, and little Woody Norman as the ill-fated cabin boy, Toby, although the entire cast is effective. Dracula himself is depicted in his half-human, half-bat stage with wings and grinning maw. He shows up way too late in the game. The film is on occasion illogical and often underlit. The closing theme music by Bear McCreary has the energy that is completely lacking from the movie itself. 

Verdict: Good idea pretty much frittered away. **1/2. 

TWINS OF EVIL

Madeleine and Mary Collinson

TWINS OF EVIL (1971). John Hough. 

Gustav Weil (pronounced "vile") -- played by Peter Cushing  of The Beast Must Die -- is a witch hunter who cares nothing about putting innocent women to death by burning. He has his hands full when his two nieces -- Maria and Freida (Madeleine and Mary Collinson) -- become his wards, as at least one of them has no intention of staying pure and virginal. Indeed she is fascinated by the decadent Count Karnstein (Damien Thomas), who is not only a vampire but offers sacrifices to Satan. The choirmaster, Anton (David Warbeck), intervenes when the wrong twin is accused of being in league with Karnstein. Two sides of the same coin, Weil confronts Karnstein in the climax, but it's a question as to which of these loathsome creatures will ultimately win. 

Damien Thomas as Karnstein

Twins of Evil is a highly entertaining and well-mounted Hammer horror film. Peter Cushing offers his customary excellent performance, but while he gets away with being overwrought, the same is not true of some of the actors playing the church elders. The Collinson twins, who I believe posed for Playboy years ago and go bare-breasted in this, are certainly attractive and deliver adequate performances, although all of their dialogue was dubbed by unknown British actors. Damien Thomas is strikingly effective and simply wonderful as Count Karnstein, but although he had many other subsequent credits and is still working today, he never did another horror film, more's the pity. Warbeck, Kathleen Byron [Profile] as Weil's wife, Dennis Price [The Horror of It All] as Karnstein's associate Dietrich, are all notable as well. It's never explained how Karnstein, whose image can't be seen in a mirror, can walk about in broad daylight. This is the final film in the trilogy consisting of The Vampire Lovers, Lust for a Vampire, and Twins.

Verdict: Blood, vampires, witch hunters, and boobs! ***. 

THE CURSE OF NOSTRADAMUS

German Robles as Nostradamus

THE CURSE OF NOSTRADAMUS (1961). Director: Federico Curiel. 

The Curse of Nostradamus was originally a 12 episode serial that played in theaters in Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries. An enterprising producer decided to have the serial dubbed into English, divide it into four films (consisting of three chapters each) and sell it to American television. If you remember this film that's where you first saw it. This movie has Professor Duran (Domingo Soler) telling party guests that there are no such things as vampires and that he is forming an organization to debunk the supernatural. Unfortunately that very evening a man calling himself Erikssen (German Robles) shows up in Duran's parlor and announces that he is the 400-year-old son of the infamous seer Nostradamus. 

Julio Aleman 

Nostradamus -- for that is his true name -- is also a vampire who can control men's minds and transform into a large bat (although in this installment at least, he never drinks blood and only bares his fangs once). Nostradamus wants Duran to acknowledge who he is to the world so that he can recreate his father's cult. Until Duran agrees to do so, he will murder his colleagues. One poor man is hypnotized by Nostradamus into a death-like state and winds up buried alive. With the help of his handsome young associate, Antonio (Julio Aleman), the professor tries to save Nostradamus' future victims. Nostradamus finally resorts to kidnapping Duran's daughter, Anita (Aurora Alvarado), and the two men must affect a rescue.

The Curse of Nostradamus is a little slow-paced and decidedly low-budget, but also atmospheric and well-acted. German Robles, who has real presence, makes an effective vampire. This was followed by the oddly-titled Monsters Demolisher. Between the three of them, Robles, Soler and Aleman amassed literally hundreds of credits in Spanish-language films and television productions. 

Verdict: Minor but nevertheless intriguing horror flick. **1/2.