The ’70s Vampire Swashbuckling Dark Comedy From The Best Horror Studio Of The Decade
Hammer Studios is responsible for revolutionizing the horror genre in the years following the quick decline of Universal’s quality and star power. Beginning in 1957 with The Curse of Frankenstein, Hammer began a two-decade span where the British studio reimagined classic monsters and brought them to audiences in full, bloody color. One of their last entries, Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter, might not have had the notoriety of any of its predecessors that featured the duo Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, but time has shown that this different twist on vampire lore makes it stand out as one of the greatest films that Hammer created in the 1970s.
Swashbuckling And Vampires
Nearly every vampire in literature and film survives on the blood of innocent victims that they stalk after nightfall. This vital fluid is the source of their eternal life, leading them to kill over and over again to survive. But the vampires in Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter, while needing to replenish themselves frequently to continue to live, are not of the bloodsucking variety.
A Town Beset By Rapid Aging
Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter follows a former military officer who gives the film its name. An old army pal summons Captain Kronos to his small village, where young women are found to be turning into elderly versions of themselves overnight. Kronos arrives with his companion, Dr. Hieronymus Grost, to help Dr. Marcus discover what or who is causing the rapid aging.
A Different Type Of Vampire
Dr. Grost and Kronos are professional vampire hunters. When Dr. Grost explains that he believes a vampire is draining youth from young women, too, he is met with some skepticism from Dr. Marcus. The method behind the vampire(s)’ madness is laid out by Dr. Grost as he goes into detail about many types of vampires that walk among us, and not all of them are bloodsuckers.
Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter sets the duo up for an adventure of a lifetime. They battle angry villagers, witness a close friend transform into one of the undead, and battle a resurrected swashbuckler in a battle to death in the film’s epic climax.
The Cinematography Of A Big Budget Movie
The film has brilliant camerawork, following every action sequence so closely that it seems the audience is dangerously close to every sword fight. Director Brian Clemens was able to capture the horror behind the discovery of every withered victim and establish some of the creepiest shots of the cloaked specter before it latched onto its prey.
Stands Out Among The Hammer Catalog
The acting in Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter was on par with much of what Hammer brought to audiences. Horst Janson plays a leading role in a way that Hammer Horror darling Peter Cushing could not, giving the production a blonde heartthrob who not only delivers lines as a pro but also engages in realistic sword fights and hand-to-hand combat. Then again, Horst Janson quickly faded into obscurity, while Cushing was able to keep going for years after Hammer closed its doors, appearing in Star Wars: A New Hope and Sword of the Valient.
Available To Stream For Free
REVIEW SCORE
Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter is equal parts action and horror. Its unique story and beautiful cinematography earn it 3.5/5.0 stars.
You can watch Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter for free by streaming it on Kanopy. The film is also available On Demand through Prime, AppleTV, Google Play, and Vudu.
