The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires

The Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires marries two disparate genres - the period horror film and the martial arts film - with surprisingly entertaining results. It features a lovely performance from Peter Cushing, as Professor Van Helsing, who is travelling around China trying to convince its people of the worldwide threat of vamprism in 1904. Not many of the Chinese academics believe him, but one young man does.... he comes from a village in the Chinese interior cursed by seven deadly vampire warriors. He hires Professor Van Helsing to travel with him to this desolate place to rid it of its vampire curse. Guess who the main vampire is behind the horrid happenings in the village? Well, it wouldn't be a Peter Cushing/Hammer horror film without everyone's favourite Count Dracula, would it?

The film is badly acted by everyone except Cushing. Julie Ege plays a Norweigan noble woman, but her performance sucks. The Chinese and Hong Kong actors look distinctly uncomfortable in the talky scenes, chatting away about Transylvanian vampire lore but struggling to get their tongue around much of the dialogue. However, when the martial arts action kicks in, they are good value for money. It's a shame Christopher Lee wasn't available to play Dracula in this one.... I'm not sure who the guy is playing the evil count, but his performance is an embarrassment.

The Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires is unusual enough and fast-paced enough to be entertaining. However, it's not a classic, so don't expect it to be.