Hammer Horror for Halloween from Showbox
24 September 2007

As Halloween looms and genre devotees mourn the lack of decent new horror movies, a perfect opportunity to catch up on some favourites from years past, and where better to start than the golden age of Hammer and their famed Dracula and Frankenstein series.

The Evil of Frankenstein (1964) was the third of Hammer's Frankenstein films (following 1957's The Curse of Frankenstein and 1958's The Revenge of Frankenstein) and the first to be directed by cinematographer turned director Freddie Francis. Peter Cushing once again stars as the Baron, who returns to the family castle in Karlstaad with his assistant Hans (Sandor Elès) to continue his experiments, this time with the aid of hypnotist Professor Zoltán (Peter Woodthorpe). All goes well until Zoltán's greed and desire for personal vengeance puts the revived creature to the sort of use that is guaranteed to attract the attention of the authorities and townspeople.

The Brides of Dracula (1960) was Hammer's first sequel to its phenomenally successful Dracula (aka The Horror of Dracula, 1958) and still regarded as one of the best of the series, despite the temporary absence of Christopher Lee. Peter Cushing revives his role as vampire hunter Dr. Van Helsing, but this time he is seeking to destroy the handsome young Baron Meinster (David Peel), who has targeted the beautiful Parisian schoolteacher Marianne Danielle as his next victim. Handsomely directed by Terence Fisher, Brides of Dracula is a true Hammer classic that also stars Martita Hunt (Bunny Lake Is Missing),Yvonne Monlaur (Circus Of Horrors), Freda Jackson (The Valley Of Gwangi, Die, Monster, Die!), Marie Devereux (The Naked Kiss, Shock Corridor) and David Peel (They Who Dare) who, in the role of Baron Meinster, proved to be one of the most memorable and eerily charismatic vampires ever to grace the screen.

Both films have been long overdue for a UK DVD release, but that will be put right on 22nd October 2007 when both films are released on UK DVD by Showbox Home Entertainment at the RRP of £12.99 each. Special features will include trailers and a photo gallery.