Vampire Circus (1972)

Plot Outline: A village is relieved when a circus breaks through the quarantine surrounding it to take the minds of the locals off the deadly plague which is rife amongst them. But what they don't know is that the circus is home to a group of vampires who are relatives of the late Count Mittenhouse, a vampire whom the villagers killed years earlier and who promised to resurrect himself using the blood of their children!

The Review: Having exhausted most of the possibilities for Count Dracula (and having finally bored the hell out of the public who were growing tired of the same Dracula flicks), Hammer basically flogged a dead horse and tried to use the vampire element in other non-Dracula horror films. Most of these did work however and films such as Twins of Evil were some of the best Hammer ever made, avoiding the pitfalls of the likes of Dracula A.D. 1972. Vampire Circus certainly falls somewhere in a middle category. It's got an interesting set-up, the vampires do get to feast quite a bit and there are some excellent set pieces. But it's a bit muddled at times, especially towards the end. Lacking star power in the cast (No Cushing, Lee or even an up-and-comer like Ralph Bates), it was left to a group of Hammer character actors and unknowns to carry the film and most of them work. Actors like Thorley Walters were the backbone of Hammer films for years and it's good to see the guy get a chance for a leading role. Other actors like David "Don't Call Me Darth" Prowse pop up (albeit it as the mute strongman - but he still looks freakin' massive) and hold their own, whilst newer stars manage to make good impressions. Also lacking some major star names behind the scenes, it was down to first-time director Robert Young to bring this tale to life (no Terence Fisher or Freddie Francis in sight here). He creates some good tension from the scenes, especially the finale inside the cavern. But as I've already touched upon, one of the real treats here is that the vampires are well fed. There's plenty of neck-biting going on and plenty of blood as a result. Another key ingredient of Hammer at this time is here in abundance - breasts. The film has plenty and it does really show how desperate Hammer were getting to resort to such things. As with all things circus-related, there is a mysterious, unnerving tone throughout the film - the little clown dwarf proves that point quite well - and it's unsettling to think we actually watch these weirdos perform for us in real life.

Final Verdict: Another quality Hammer film from the undisputed masters of the genre, Vampire Circus adds just that little bit of extra life to the flagging vampire story. It deserves a higher place in the Hammer pantheon but for some reason, it is not. See for yourself and watch an interesting vampire film unfold before your eyes.

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