My relationship with vampires is lukewarm at best. My first introduction to Dracula would have been at Halloween. I can still feel the plastic vampire fangs in my mouth and the taste of the fake blood that came in a tube. Why was it equally gross and interesting enough to warrant multiple taste tests? My first Dracula in film would have been The Monster Squad which was a gateway to the more interesting Universal Monsters like The Creature from the Black Lagoon or The Wolfman. Vampires didn’t really do it for me, so I never saw any of the Hammer Films. All I knew was that Grand Moff Tarkin had hunted Dracula years before he blew up Alderaan.
I didn’t want to add this Count Dracula to the collection without finally giving Horror of Dracula a watch. I have to say, I was rather impressed. I had always heard that Christopher Lee’s performance was second only to Bela Lugosi’s and I couldn’t agree more.
Lee’s 6’5” frame was imposing beneath that cape. He was also much more physical than Lugosi’s Dracula, whether it’s running across the room attacking his vampire bride for feeding on Jonathan Harker or wrestling with Dr Van Helsing. He was a dark force that was unrelenting in his thirst for blood.
The details from NECA:
NECA presents the first in a series of action figures from the legendary Hammer House of Horror! Hammer has produced landmark horror since the 1950s, with one of its most famous being Horror of Dracula. The film captured audiences with its mix of vivid color, carnality, and violence, and Christopher Lee’s portrayal of Dracula is considered a benchmark against which other depictions are measured. This Ultimate Dracula action figure stands in 7” scale and includes removable fabric cape, interchangeable heads and hands, shovel, unlit candlestick, and fiery candlestick.
NECA has delivered an excellent Christopher Lee likeness on three separate portraits in varying degrees of bloodlust. I plan on using them to demonstrate my levels of anxiety throughout the remainder of election season. “Today we’re at a calm Christopher Lee, but we’re an October surprise away from going Full on Batshit Crazy Christopher Lee.” The blood on and around the mouth is really well done. It truly brings out the Horror of Dracula.
The fabric cape has good weight and hangs well. I appreciate the plastic collar and permanently tied knot. One thing that drives me nuts about some softgoods is when they leave it up to me to tie a bow or knot. I’m not a sailor or a professional gift wrapper. If you need your shoes tied, I got you. Anything beyond that and I need a YouTube tutorial. Not to mention the fact that my giant hands don’t exactly allow for surgical precision at the 1/10 scale.
The rest of the accessories are serviceable. The candles are fine and the shovel is from a very brief scene towards the end of the film. I’d have preferred a wire in the cape or an additional head portrait, honestly. I probably could have been persuaded into a two-pack with one of the victims turned vampire brides as well. They were much more accessories in the film than either the candles or shovel. It would have been nice to have someone Dracula could sink his teeth into.
Christopher Lee’s Dracula is equally matched in Horror of Dracula by Peter Cushing’s Dr Van Helsing. While Lee might take second place to Lugosi, it’s tough to find a more iconic portrayal of Van Helsing than Cushing’s. Sorry Hugh Jackman. NECA has previously announced the Van Helsing figure for next year. With this figure now in-hand, Peter Cushing’s Van Helsing has shot up a few notches on my most anticipated of 2025 list. Those two are going to look fantastic together.
