DRACULA'S WIDOW
US, 1988, 85 minutes, Colour.
Lenny Van Dohlen, Sylvia Krystel, Josef Sommer.
Directed by Christopher Coppola.
Dracula's Widow is a small-budget light exploitation film - capitalising on the popularity of vampires as well as the familiarity with the Dracula story, as well as doing some send-ups.
Lennie van Dohlen (Electric Dreams) runs a museum in Hollywood and imports material for a Dracula exhibition, including the dead wife of Dracula, played by Sylvia Kristel. (Sylvia Kristel is overdressed in the film, wearing the same suit all the time - only appearing to disadvantage with the make-up experts get to her and she is in need of blood and in a fury against her enemies.) Josef Sommer takes time off from his serious portrayals to portray a stereotyped Los Angeles detective.
The familiar ingredients are there: Dracula's widow arising during the night, drawing blood from her victims, killing people - especially a group of Satanists in Los Angeles. the caretaker is an expert on horror material, with posters and watching horror films, taken to be her slave - but fortunately rescued at the end. His girlfriend, Jenny Harker, remains faithful to him. There are various assorted characters in the museum as well as portrayals of smug police officers and detectives.
Nothing particularly new but quite competently done.
1. The popularity of vampire films? Audience familiarity with the Dracula story?
2. Los Angeles settings, stylish photography? Special effects and make-up? Musical score?
3. The title and the focus on Dracula's widow, Sylvia Kristel in the role? Transported to Los Angeles, waking up, Raymond as her victim and slave? Her killing the man in the bar, the Satanists? Her turning into a monster? Stalking the night, Raymond's betrayal, her eventual death?
4. Raymond and his museum, encountering Dracula's widow, being bitten, serving her? His relationship with Jenny? Watching Dracula's widow in action? The police? The final dilemma and his destroying Dracula's widow?
5. The police inspector, the stereotype of the detective, his investigations? The authorities?
6. The various minor characters - the robbers in the museum and their destruction? The people of Los Angeles?
7. Van Helsing's grandson, the confrontation with Dracula's widow, his being vampyrised?
8. Serious treatment of the themes? Blended with spoof and send-up?
