Evil of Dracula

So after subscribing to Arrow Video service on Prime (initially started to watch the move Spanish movie REC) I was looking through their Asian movie catalogue. This is where I was introduced to Michio Yamamoto. The concept is great and the acting and pacing is good too. It reminded me of Hammer horror films. There is a lot conveyed in the short runtime of the movie.

While I did enjoy the film, there was a lot of back and forth in the scenes which I personally thought wasn't necessary. I think I would've enjoyed more focus on the back story of the occult, rather than a quick glance over it.

But this has started my exploration into the Yamamoto universe.

"Professor Shiraki" (played by Toshio Kurosawa) arrives from Tokyo to a new school for teenage girls in a small Japanese village. Upon checking in he learns that the principle's wife died a couple of days earlier and that a student named "Keiko Nonomiya" (Tomoe Mari) went missing about the same time. That night he has an encounter with a vampire that matches Keiko's description but dismisses the incident as nothing more than a dream. Not long afterward another student named "Kyoko Hayashi" (Keiko Aramaki) faints in his classroom and is taken to the school's doctor, "Doctor Shimimura" (Kunie Tanaka). During Kyoko's examination two small "needle pricks" are discovered but neither Professor Shiraki nor Doctor Shimimura are able to figure out their significance. Since she appears to be tired, they send her back to her dorm room to recover with her two roommates, "Yukiko Mitamura" (Mio Ohta) and "Kumi" (Mariko Mochizuki) promising to take care of her. All hell breaks loose after that. Anyway, having outlined the first part of the story, I'll stop here so I won't spoil everything for any viewers who wish to see the rest. Now, although this is a "standard" vampire story, the fact that it is entirely Japanese results in a few curious details. For example, a white rose is seen by the bedside of each of the females who have been bitten. Once they drink blood the rose turns red. I thought that was an interesting touch. Having said that though, I thought there were a couple of faults as well. First, the dialogue was awful. But the movie I saw was originally in Japanese and dubbed in English and it is quite possible that much had been simplified or even lost in translation. Likewise, the acting was also quite bad. Even so, this film had a different flavor than most other vampire movies and I thought some of it was actually quite good. Obviously, there will be people who might not like this film. Like I said, it has its flaws. But I think fans of this genre might be pleasantly surprised.

The last part of Yamamoto's Vampire Trilogy has been described as the worst, but it's still very entertaining. The main problem is that it obviously tries to copy the Hammer Vampire movies, and the man with the cape always looks a little bit out of place. Otherwise, most 'scary moments' are carried out in the `Kaidan Eiga'- fashion with slow camera movements and impressive lighting. Here, and in some beautiful long shots, it shows that some skill was involved, and that the movie could have become a minor classic if it had stuck to the Japanese tradition of the Horror Film. The sound track sounds too European, too and the dubbing is a total nightmare, but I think, a subtitled version recently got released in the U.K. Recommended viewing for fans of offbeat seventies horror.

Third of the trilogy of Hammer inspired Japanese 70s movies. Not quite as good as the first, this is an improvement on Lake of Dracula, with much better photography helping this become a very good looking film and adding interest to some of those middle sequences. Starts very well indeed and the finale certainly has some vigour, even if you are urging someone to construct a crucifix to bring things to a more urgent ending. Actually, total absence of use of the crucifix to save the day is presumably something to do with the Japanese not wanting to elevate the importance of such alien paraphernalia, but thats just a guess. So, bit more action here, bit more colour and a bit more sexed up too with small amount of nudity here and there.

The 1974 Japanese horror film "Chi o suu bara," or "The Evil of Dracula" in the West, is an intriguing entry into the vampire genre. With a unique blend of influences and a distinct style, this film is an oddball yet entertaining addition to the vampire canon.

"Chi o suu bara" is the final installment of Toho's 'Bloodthirsty Trilogy,' directed by Michio Yamamoto, and it certainly has a flavor all its own. The film draws heavily on the Hammer Horror vibe, with a touch of Italian flair and even a hint of Godzilla-esque monster movie thrown in for good measure. This eclectic mix of influences gives the film a unique tone and style that sets it apart from its contemporaries.

The story follows the classic battle between good and evil, with Shiraki and Kumi facing off against Dracula and his undead minions. While the plot is somewhat predictable, the film has a certain charm and offers some fun, gruesome special effects. The ending, in particular, is abrupt yet satisfying, delivering on the vampire action that audiences crave.

One of the most memorable aspects of the film is its aesthetic. With a mix of wide-screen presentation and Eastern trimmings, the film has a retro 70s cheese factor that is hard to resist. The lead villain, Dracula, sports an unusual Ralph Bates-inspired bouffant hairstyle, adding a touch of humor to the horror.

The cast, including Toshio Kurosawa, Kunie Tanaka, and Katshuhiko Sasaki, deliver solid performances, though it is the unique blend of genres and the film's overall strangeness that truly shine. This film will appeal to those who enjoy weird and wonderful genre pieces that embrace their oddities.

While it may not be the scariest entry into the horror genre, "Chi o suu bara" is an enjoyable watch and a refreshing take on vampire lore. It embraces its B-movie status with gusto and provides a unique cultural twist on a familiar tale.

For fans of vampires and retro horror, this film is worth a watch, if only to experience a different take on a familiar legend. While it may not be a masterpiece, "Chi o suu bara" is an entertaining and memorable addition to the world of Dracula.