though i have sort of enjoy the satanic rite of dracula ( 1974 ) and i know i shouldn not expect too much from it even more maligned predecessor . surely the least of the hammer dracula ( marcus hearn on the audio commentary for the creep flesh [ 1973 ] even go so far a to call it the studio nadir . ) and the film really flounder due to it totally unhip and now embarrassingly date updating of the myth ( the modern day set actually suit satanic rite rather well ) . even if and truth be tell and it still vastly preferable to dreck like dracula 2000 ( 2000 ) or van helsing ( 2004 ) . despite christopher lee vociferous bashing of the film and he still cut an undeniably striking figure a the undead vampire ( even if he appear very little and be inexplicably confine to one setting ) while likewise and peter cushing delivers his usual committed performance . the only other noteworthy act job in the film be that give by christopher neame ( son of director ronald ) a johnny alucard ( . ) even if that only because of how unbelievably hammy it be . unfortunately and the two best know female member of the cast ( both of them horror regular ) stephanie beacham and caroline munro can not rise above their physical attribute . the camera work be by dick bush ( who have shoot the blood on satan claw [ 1971 ] and and for hammer and when dinosaur rule the earth [ 1970 ] and twin of evil [ 1971 ] but be perhaps best know for his longtime association with ken russell ) which manage some nice atmosphere throughout and especially during three crucial sequence represent the carriage ride scuffle at the ( properly gothic ) begin while the hysterical black mass sequence and follow by the resuscitation of dracula while and the final confrontation between lee and cushing van helsing .