review for Kiss of the Vampire on AllMovie

This non-Dracula entry in Hammer Films' collection of vampire films is a prototypical example of the studio's trademark approach to the horror genre. The Anthony Hinds script delivers a solid, traditional take on the vampire mythos that delivers plenty of scares as it gradually builds toward an impressive climax. Don Sharp directs the tale in a confident style, playing up its gothic atmosphere and consistently ratcheting up tension to draw the viewer in. He also pleases genre fans by turning in a number of effective setpieces throughout the film: highlights include the opening, in which a funeral goes horrifically wrong, and a masked ball that slowly shifts from elegant to unnerving as the sequence progresses. Performances are all strong across the board: Edward De Souza makes a charming protagonist but the attention-getting work comes from Clifford Evans as the obsessive vampire hunter and Noel Willman, who offers a quietly creepy turn as the vampiric Count. Also worthy of note is Barry Warren, who manages to be menacing in a subtle manner as the Count's son. The resulting film doesn't break new ground for the genre but it is a skillful programmer that offers the kind of moody style and chills that genre fans will enjoy. As a result, Kiss Of The Vampire is worth a look to anyone who enjoys the Hammer take on the genre.