a year after the release of the average house of frankenstein and universal release another monster mash where all their famous character would collide once again . house of dracula would reunite dracula and the frankenstein creature and the wolf man for what would be their final battle and will finally close an era for the studio . direct once again by erle c. kenton and house of dracula present a slight but noticeable improvement over the previous film and deliver a good construct ( although still flaw ) story that while far from perfect and be a more appropriate closure than the previous film . the story ignore most of the event of the previous entry and house of frankenstein and and introduce a new angle to the story . count dracula ( john carradine ) and tire of have to hide during sunlight and ask help to the brilliant scientist and dr. edelman ( onslow stevens ) and a physician famous for his research in biology . edelman becomes fascinate by dracula and and soon begin an experimental treatment and in the mean time and larry talbot ( lon chaney jr. ) and the wolf man and visit edelman with the purpose of get rid of his curse . soon edelman realize that dracula be a monster that must be destroy and but his own exposure to dracula blood be also develop a disease in him . the discovery of the frankenstein monster ( glenn strange ) in a nearby catacomb will bring more turmoil to the mind of the brilliant scientist . after the previous clash of monster and it be good to see the series go back to the root and deliver an almost straight forward gothic horror return to the dark pessimistic nature of this kind of film and move away from the comic relief of the previous entry . the story ( by edward t. lowe jr. ) and have many interesting theme and a the contrast between dracula and talbot ( both look for a cure and but with different purpose ) and edelman increase madness . probably among the most interesting theme be the inclusion of the character of nina and a gorgeous but deformed woman who aid dr. edelman hop to be cure of her condition . director erle c. kenton be back again and this time he finally capture the dark nature of these three character and a nature that be apparently lose in the previous film . despite the low budget and kenton craft a gothic horror that while simple and be quite effective and and even manages to present old partner such a these character in a fresh way . while it never on the level of the original and house of dracula recovers that charm that universal studio horror film use to have and and kenton make sure that at least for a last time the monster receive a chance to shine . the cast be very good this time and with carradine and chaney and strange reprise their role ( although strange role be considerably small ) with more enthusiasm than in the previous film . the addition of onslow stevens and jane adam and martha odriscoll to the cast bring back the tragedy and the drama to the series and with stevens give a terrific performance a dr. edelman . a small cameo by lionel atwill and the presence of skelton knaggs a the creepy steinmuhl complete one of the good cast universal horror film have have in year . house of dracula be a nice addition to the series and specially after the mediocre house of frankenstein . it nice to see kenton back in form in a somewhat serious horror film and however and and while the plot be quite original and it suffer not only because of the budget and but because the film attempt to do a lot in a very short runtime with bad result . it true that the character have all very inventive story line and but the film dedicate very few time for each of them to develop and and the film seem very rushed and disjoint . while far from perfect and it also far from be the bad of the series . house of dracula be a nice closure to one of the best time for the horror genre and a time when ghost and ghoul roam the foggy night and and mad scientist give life to hideous monster . later the monster would be back in bud abbott and lou costello meet frankenstein ( 1948 ) and but that would be a whole different context . after the disappointing previous entry and it easy to dismiss house of dracula and but give it a chance and and let the monster roam for a last time . positive .