THE 31 DAYS OF HORROR-WEEN: PRIME EVIL: LEGACY OF DRACULA: THE VAMPIRE DOLL (1971) ***

Kazuhiko (Atsuo Nakamura) arrives at a spooky old mansion on a dark and stormy night looking for his girlfriend Yuko (Yukiko Kobayashi).  He is devastated to learn from her mother Shidu (Yoko Minakaze) that she died in a car accident days before.  She invites him to stay the night and almost right away, he begins seeing the supposedly dead Yuko roaming the hallways and fields accompanied by a soft howling sound.  Eventually, Kazuhiko disappears, and his concerned sister Keiko (Kayo Matsuo) comes looking for him.

Distributed by Toho, this simple, but effective amalgam of vampire tale and ghost story offers atmosphere aplenty.  It’s a very different take on the vampire legend, sweeping away a lot of the traditional lore and utilizing such ingredients as hypnotism and family curses to explain the bloodsucker’s affliction.  (There’s still no substituting a good old-fashioned stake through the heart though.)  The blue-faced, shiny-eyed vampires are rather cool too and help give Legacy of Dracula:  The Vampire Doll its own distinct identity.

Since Psycho is one of my favorite movies of all time, I enjoyed seeing how much it cribbed from the plot of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic.  It gives you a bit of the old Psycho switcheroo in terms of swapping out its lead character early on in the film.  It’s also like Psycho in that the main character is investigating the disappearance of their sibling.  Other Psycho-inspired moments:  The longwinded explanation scene and at least one big scare directly lifted from Hitchcock’s playbook.   

Director Michio Yamamoto doesn’t limit himself to merely ripping off Hitchcock.  He also draws inspiration from Mario Bava and the Hammer horror films of the ‘60s.  Seeing a Japanese director handling the material in such a European way makes for a memorable experience. 

Things never really kick into overdrive or anything, but Legacy of Dracula:  The Vampire Doll remains a solidly entertaining chiller throughout.  Despite the many familiar elements on display, it all still manages to feel rather fresh and vibrant.  The brisk pacing and short running time certainly help make for a satisfying night of bloodsucking fun.

AKA:  The Vampire Doll.  AKA:  Legacy of Dracula.  AKA:  Bloodsucking Doll.  AKA:  Fear of the Ghost House:  Bloodsucking Doll.  AKA:  The Ghost Mansion’s Horror:  A Bloodsucking Doll.  AKA:  The Night of the Vampire.