Horror Movie Reviews
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Title: Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter (2003) |
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Review of Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter
- Inia small villageiin theiremote English countryside several young maidens have been found dead - their beautiful faces horribly aged almost beyond recognition. Suspectingia supernatural evil at work theilocal doctor calls oniArmy friend andifamed vampire hunter Captain Kronos an expert swordsman formerly of theiKing's Imperial Guard. Aided byihis expert assistant Professor Grost theitwo quickly confirm theigruesome murders are theiwork ofia unique type of vampire one who drains its victims not of their blood but of their youth! After forgingia lethal new sword from an old graveyard cross theivampire hunters set outito put an endito Evil's reign of terroriin this Hammer Films horror classic. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: HORROR UPC: 097360848441 Manufacturer No: 084844
Product Description
- Forget Van Helsing. Captain Kronos is the great swashbuckling vampire hunter. Hard-faced Horst Janson is the brooding Kronos, a rangy, sword-wielding soldier who hunts the vampire scourge with his jovial hunchbacked partner, Grost (John Cater), and his earthy peasant girl lover, hazelnut eyed beauty Caroline Munro. Director-writer Brian Clemens, who so entertainingly put genres in the blender on the TV series The Avengers, imaginatively rewrites vampire lore from the film's haunting first scene: a shrouded, shadowy predator (looking more like death incarnate than a traditional vampire) drains a comely maiden of her very youth, leaving the girl an aged, wizened husk. Clemens lacks the budget and the cinematic snap to bring his visual ideas to full fruition, but his well-wrought characters, inspired ideas, and swashbuckling swordfights make this entertaining reinterpretation of the vampire movie a cult classic. --Sean Axmaker
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Comments for Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter
- Posted on 2007-10-03
CORNY, RIDICULOUS, SILLY MOVIE.
DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME ON THIS STUPID MOVIE. IT IS AS CORNY AS CORNY GETS.
Score: 1
- Posted on 2007-09-23
Kronos: Good Action but Missing a Hammer HaveTo Have
Saw Kronos when it was on the horror circuit in Nashville right after it came out and again several times since. First time, I assumed it had been censored for US (by then odd but still possible). Later found Munro did not do nude scenes - strongly suspect that had a good bit to do with lack of success (R-rated, '70s, no nudity!!??!!).
On the other hand, the pub fight scene was wonderfully accurate as to the near certain result of three local toughs troubling a trained fighter with a quality sword. Quite much fun!!!
Score: 4
- Posted on 2007-09-03
Captain Kronos is the "The Man from La Mancha"
Not a "cookie cutter" traditional vampire movie. Blood is not the essence of the "undead's" existence, but rather draining youth from the young. Alternate ways on destroying vampires are explored. While viewing this film, I was struck by two themes. Firstly, the universal quest that addresses what beauty and ugliness are. Professor Heroemus Grost exemplifies this by saying, "Am I so terribly ugly to provoke such mockery, am I? And the beautiful Caroline Munro counters with, "Beauty fades eventually, but a kind soul remains forever, my mother taught me that." Is perhaps an evil of our time the value of 'veneer' rather than cultivation of universal tolerance and a 'good heart'?
The second appealing theme was the embodiment of heroism in the character of Kronos. His quest for destroying the evil of oppressing the weak by the powerful such as "stealing of youth from the young" (on a humorous note, is this why our youth create a style so "off beat", so as not to be copied or "stolen by the old"). Kronos is kind and gentle yet a skilled Samurai swordsman against the powers of darkness. The characters are rich, the story line thought provoking and direction by Brian Clements superb. Truly a quality "off beat" Hammer creation that will stand the test of time.
Frank Austan, LRCP
Score: 5
- Posted on 2007-05-20
Hunting a different sort of Vampire...
1974's "Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter" stands out from the flood of formulaic horror movies released by Hammer Films in having a distinct twist on the vampire legend and in having a low-key but effective approach to a well-worn theme.
The vampire plaguing a small village seems to feast on young women, draining them of their youth along with their blood. Enter our heroes: Captain Kronos, grim, swashbuckling vampire hunter and former soldier; Professor Grost, a hump-backed source of humor and vampire-killing weapons, and an attractive peasant girl along for the ride. Their opponents: suspicious villagers, a haughty and mysterious lord-of-the-manor family, and the vampire itself.
Director Brian Clemens apparently lacked the budget for special effects, but makes up for it with suggestive camera-work that creates excellent suspense by relying on the viewer's imagination. The sword-wielding Captain Kronos, a clear ancestor of the Wesley Snipes character of the "Blade" franchise, is played with brooding grim purpose by Horst Janson as a man with both a mission and his own secrets. Professor Grost provides the necessary commentary for the taciturn Kronos; the two are an effective team. A scene in a bar in which Kronos must fend off suspicious locals defines their unique partnership. Caroline Munro is effective as a peasant girl both attracted and repelled by Kronos, who will play a vital role in the resolution of the mystery.
This movie is highly recommended to viewers looking for a different kind of vampire movie, minus the gory special effects but featuring more subtle direction than is usually found in this genre.
Score: 4 - Posted on 2006-07-16
Woeful
I unfortunately bought a dud. A diehard vampire fan will watch just about anything in that genre and while I realised this was from a particular genre (not necessarily being vampire), I was very very disappointed with the whole thing. Not much point picking it to peices cause it is just my opinion but a stronger, more realistic (to the role) and appealing (not necessarily typically attractive) and just interesting leading man would have helped immensely. I was not thrilled, chilled, suspense filled or eventually even interested in continuing watching it cause it was just boring and a bit ridiculous. I didn't like it.
Score: 1