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True, Son of Dracula is not as good as the 1931 Bela Lugosi film, which is one of the best film versions and has one of the best and most iconic Draculas in Lugosi. But it is(in my opinion) much better than its reputation, and leagues ahead of House of Dracula, it's better made, more atmospherically involving, better acted generally, has a much stronger ending and actually knew what to do with the characters.
Son of Dracula does have its flaws. Some of the story does get a bit draggy and confused, Dracula/Alucard's origins could have been better explored. Am also mixed on Lon Chaney Jnr's title role performance, I did appreciate the idea to show Dracula having an inner turmoil(different, as the character is more associated as evil-incarnate, but interesting) and Chaney does portray that subtly and movingly, if though perhaps too subtly in places. Against all this, Chaney has been more involved before and since and it is a role that doesn't suit him, things have been said about him being too healthy-looking but the bigger problem is that he, like John Carradine in House of Dracula(though Carradine looked the part better)isn't sinister enough and lacked the aristocratic charm.
On the other hand, despite the flaws Son of Dracula has much going for it. It looks great, it's stylishly photographed and has sumptuous costumes and quite impressive special effects(for the time)in the transformation sequences but it's the swamp/misty sets and that make the biggest impression. The music is suitably eerie, there's a clever script that doesn't get bogged down by too much talk and doesn't try to do too much and the story mostly is atmospherically compelling with some memorable scenes. The scene in the swamp with Dracula emerging from it on a coffin is beautiful and very haunting, though the scene with Queen Zimba and the lead up to it is one of the creepiest of any Universal horror film and the ending was unexpected and quite emotional. The direction takes a film-noir-ish approach which was incredibly effective, most of the pacing is a long way from dull and the support acting is very good. Particularly good are Robert Paige who plays a tortured character sympathetically and poignantly and Louise Allbritton on entrancing and icy form, but Evelyn Ankers while having little to do is good and Frank Craven and J. Edward Bromberg have fun as the Doctor and Professor.
All in all, a long way from flawless but better than it's given credit for. 8/10 Bethany Cox
8/10
