Reading some of the reviews for this movie below, it becomes readily apparent that the reviewers are referring to some other, later movie--- not the 1963 Hammer "classic". I'll take their word for it that whatever later film entitled "Kiss of the Vampire" they saw was awful. The 1963 version isn't.

I hesitate to refer to the Hammer film as a "classic" but it's certainly one of the better (if not the best) vampire film to come from Hammer. It was never one of the ones I saw on TV as kid (although I've read that a truncated version of it was shown in some U.S. TV markets), and it's more low-key than the Christopher Lee films, and more "believable" (if vampire films can be considered "believable").

The vampires in this film are members of a "cult" led by the charming, urbane Dr. Ravna (Noel Willman) and his 2 children. Unlike the versions with Lee (which, don't misunderstand me, I've enjoyed over the years-- but they're generally not put together well), Ravna isn't a snarling, feral creature with red contact lenses, but he does occasionally display a smiling, subdued sadism (such as his discussion of peasants crushing grapes for wine with their dirty feet as his "guests" prepare to partake) that hint at greater, more profound depths than ever displayed by Lee's sexy, sinister cartoon villain.

The human couple involved in the drama-- played by Edward De Souza (I saw him recently guest-starring in an episode of "One Foot In The Grave") and Jennifer Daniel--- are far more believable, and appealing, than any I've so far seen in a Hammer production. For a change, you'll actually care what happens to them.

Clifford Evans, filling Peter Cushing's shoes, seems perfectly unhinged from the first moment we see him on the screen. Considering his daughter was a victim of the vampiric cult, that seems perfectly understandable. And pretty Isobel Black as another innocent-turned-evil-predator is very sexy...in an Undead sorta way.

It may not be a "classic" in the same way "Nosferatu" was, but it's different and inventive and engaging, and if Hammer had made more movies like this (or "Brides Of Dracula") it may have lasted longer as a viable studio than it ultimately did.

Please dont waste your time, the first 5 minutes are the only good part in the movie, the rest is like the 1st black and white dracula.... boring

I was mildly excited to see this movie when I rented it. As a vampire and overall horror movie fan, I believed this would be an enjoyable vampire horror fest type of B movie. Boy was I in for a surprise. The movie is about a vampire who falls for a human, then decides he wants to be cured of vampyrism so he can share his life with this woman. Well, this woman is not very attractive, making me wonder why a vampire would want to give up immortality and sex with one of his sexier vampire friends to be with this much older looking girl who he has absolutely NO chemistry with.

As for the vampires, if you like a bunch of people with fangs on standing around growling like jaguars and not really doing anything, this movie is for you. They can't fight, jump, or move. They just stand there with their arms up like if they're trying to climb an imaginary wall. Then there are the fight scenes, which are not very well choreographed, having people stand around to get hit while the vampire performs a roundhouse kick that takes about 2 hours to connect.

The acting is horrible, and my first warning came early, when the heroine's dad is punched by her drunk fiancee. He gets punched and falls down the steps without a hint of concern from his daughter and wife, who just stand there. Theres also the poor man's "antonio banderas" who you will recognize if you see this film. Oh yeah, theres a midget who comes out dressed as an undertaker, I could keep going and going...

Just when I thought things could not possibly get worse, there was the "space scene". I could not believe what I was watching... I told my wife about this scene and she was so bewildered that I had to show her. If you've seen this movie you will know what I'm talking about.

Anyway, if you feel like a good laugh and have 2 hours to spend, or if you're stoned and want to laugh hysterically, this movie is for you. If you want to see a good movie, avoid at all costs. Why anyone would greenlight an attrocious movie like this is beyond me. The only good thing about it were some of the locations.

This movie was horrendous. I could not believe how horrible the acting was, how predictable the plot was and how down right dumb the movie was. I say was..as I'm destroying my copy rather than try to sell it to someone else. I wouldn't want to put someone else through the pain. The vampires in it were idiotic..there was absolutely NO character development. Someone in a different review mentioned how it should not be compared to Underworld because of the difference in budgets. Well, the difference in budgets is not the problem. The writing, acting, directing and producing are the problem. I don't care about the special effects..but come on...this was ridiculous. Vampires that sound like lions and stand around roaring. There was no chemistry between the love interests..oh how I could go on. It just plain bit...excuse the pun. I would rate it negative 5 stars if I could, as it actually took away from my intelligence rather than being enjoyable or showing me something new.

Don't buy. But if you must see this...please please rent it. You'll thank yourself in a couple hours..if you make it that far.

The opera scene with the opera singer was a wonderful opening for this film. I am not a big vampire fan, but I thought parts of the movie were well done and entertaining. I enjoyed some of the costumes and locations used for scenes.

This was fun! Vampire movies are pretty predictable - but this is creepy and scary just the same. The opera singer is fabulous.