a_baron "Vampire Circus" has received generally high reviews, but it is really nothing more than a run-of-the-mill horror flick on a subject that has been done to undeath. Having said that, it is worth watching. It begins with a young virgin being lured away by a servant of the undead. Virgin as in too young to even mention the word sex. Once inside the castle, her fate is sealed, but one of the villagers manages with some difficulty to recruit a posse to storm the castle and kill the wicked count. No, not that count.With his undying breath he curses them all and vows he will return. Fast forward fifteen years, and the circus comes to town. There is a bit more to it than that, but not a lot more. We see the usual themes: mirrors in which the undead don't reflect, crucifixes, skeptics, and a bit of cleavage for those who are more interested in live women than dead men.

John austin I first saw this movie years ago in a chopped-up edited for television form, although I was recently able to see it in what looks like its complete version.I remember distinctly that Vampire Circus got terrible reviews in the 1970s. Our TV Guide rated it at ZERO stars, but time seems to have softened that harsh criticism of the time, and it's now regarded as a semi-classic.It's got the great look and feel of classic Hammer horror, and it gets by without Lee, Cushing and the rest. David Prowse makes an appearance as the strongman, one of the few times you see him not heavily made up. For what it's worth, the script is actually a little better than some other more highly regarded horror films.While it's not the best thing Hammer ever produced, you'll want to see it at least once if you're a fan of those movies.

tomgillespie2002 After witnessing his wife take a child into the castle of Count Mitterhaus (Robert Tayman), Albert Muller (Laurence Payne) rouses the villagers to his cause, and they stake Mitterhaus, a vampire, killing him. With his last dying breath, the Count curses the villagers, claiming they and their children will all die to bring him back to life. Fifteen years later, the village is riddled with plague, but the arrival of a travelling circus lifts their spirits. During one of their performances, the village is treated to a panther who turns into a man, Emil (Anthony Higgins), a clown dwarf, a strongman (played by Darth Vader himself, David Prowse), and twins that can change into bats. But when the mayor (Thorley Walters) goes into the hall of mirrors, he has vision of the returning Count Mitterhaus.By 1972, Hammer Studios was on the decline. Audiences were gaining more sophisticated tastes, and their lust for blood was being appeased in mainstream films, who were beginning adopt a more realistic approach towards violence. Hammer, naturally, tried to evolve and survive, and were abandoning their traditional period settings (one of the things they were known for), updating things to 'Swinging' London. This led to the catastrophic Dracula, A.D. 1972 (1972), and so they opted to focus more on the sexual side to draw the audiences. Thankfully, they had one good film left in them, which went back to a period setting, and told a slightly macabre, unconventional vampire story, that is rich in both gore and sexual content.This tale of lust-ridden vampires who gleefully kill children amongst a plague-ridden landscape is surprisingly dark given my previous experience of Hammer's output. Not to say previous films are 'camp', but they are played out with such theatrical vigour that they do have elements of camp, and although there are moments of this in Vampire Circus, this has a much more sinister feel to it. However, as lovely as the cinematography is (as always), and as pleasingly twisted the plot happens to be, this is still very predictable fair, most of which has been done far better in the past. But there is a clear reason why this has a strong cult following, it is certainly memorable, and despite it's many flaws, has all the elements present to why I love Hammer.www.the-wrath-of-blog.blogspot.com

felisgris For really solid entertainment, Vampire Circus never fails. It is a B movie with a limited budget, but the sheer imaginativeness and verve with which it is told overcomes any deficiencies.The first ten minutes of the movie already give us violence and nudity with themes of incest, pederasty, necrophilia, bondage, promiscuity and sadism all thrown in - a glorious, twisted romp. The movie goes on to leave no perversion unvisited in a story which moves along swiftly but with the trademark Hammer leisurely camera moves. Also trademark is the fine ensemble cast who give the impression of thoroughly enjoying themselves. The movie is modern insofar as one's sympathy lies largely with the vampires. The acting is largely good with occasional naive performances from young players; Lalla Ward is a standout. The story is inventive at every point and consistently surreal.Never an art movie, this schlock horror is one of the most inventive and artistic of all horror films. Unburdened by aesthetic sensibilities, it is one of the most beautiful and imaginative vampire films. Along with 'Captain Kronos, 'The Vampire Lovers' and 'Twins of Evil', it stands as an example of the late Hammer achievement of films that are lasting examples of fine, enjoyable storytelling. Few films are as much fun.