Small-town doctor Paul Beecher (John Beal) is called to the home of ailing scientist Matt Campbell (Wood Romoff), who has been conducting experiments on vampire bats in a bid to induce man's primitive instincts with the aim of reversing them and thereby advancing human intellect (standard horror movie scientific claptrap). A rambling Campbell gives Beecher the results of his work, some tablets, and promptly carks it.
Later that day, Beecher experiences a headache and asks his young daughter Betsy (Lydia Reed) to fetch his migraine tablets. No prizes for guessing what she actually gives him.
As a result of taking Campbell's highly addictive drug, Beecher turns into a hairy, drooling, blood sucking creature (who looks more like Mr. Hyde than a vampire) at 11.00pm every night. Will the good doctor find a way to reverse the process before too many innocent people die? And will cop Buck Donnelly (Kenneth Tobey) crack the case before Beecher gets his claws on his gorgeous nurse Carol (Coleen Gray)?
Mark of the Vampire (AKA The Vampire) is forgettable B-movie hokum, a rather talky affair with little to offer in the way of suspense and scares, and a distinct lack of decent monster action (although given how laughable the creature is, maybe that's a good thing). The tag-line 'It Feeds on the Blood of Beautiful Women!' is misleading, the 'vampire' killing as many men as women, with one of the female victims an old lady. At just 75 minutes, the whole thing is fairly undemanding nonsense, with the lovely Ms. Gray making the going a lot easier, but it's not one I would go out of my way to watch.
A mediocre 5/10.
Later that day, Beecher experiences a headache and asks his young daughter Betsy (Lydia Reed) to fetch his migraine tablets. No prizes for guessing what she actually gives him.
As a result of taking Campbell's highly addictive drug, Beecher turns into a hairy, drooling, blood sucking creature (who looks more like Mr. Hyde than a vampire) at 11.00pm every night. Will the good doctor find a way to reverse the process before too many innocent people die? And will cop Buck Donnelly (Kenneth Tobey) crack the case before Beecher gets his claws on his gorgeous nurse Carol (Coleen Gray)?
Mark of the Vampire (AKA The Vampire) is forgettable B-movie hokum, a rather talky affair with little to offer in the way of suspense and scares, and a distinct lack of decent monster action (although given how laughable the creature is, maybe that's a good thing). The tag-line 'It Feeds on the Blood of Beautiful Women!' is misleading, the 'vampire' killing as many men as women, with one of the female victims an old lady. At just 75 minutes, the whole thing is fairly undemanding nonsense, with the lovely Ms. Gray making the going a lot easier, but it's not one I would go out of my way to watch.
A mediocre 5/10.