Action Figure Review: Count Dracula (Horror of Dracula) from Hammer House of Horror by NECA

 

 He's not Jason Voorhees, but I didn't want to let Friday the 13th pass without giving you something spooky... 

  NECA's focus on classic horror (let's say pre-Halloween) has been one of my favorite things over the past year and I'm really excited to see it continue. They've released plenty of Universal Monsters action figures, have been delving into other horror icons in their Classis Monsters range, and now they're getting into the Hammer films! I've seen a few Hammer films over the years but not all of them. After I finish my watch through of the Universal classic horror films (my most recent watch was 1946's House of Horrors) I'm thinking about making my way through either Vincent Price's filmography or all of the Hammer releases. One of the films I've certainly watched from Hammer's expansive catalog is 1958's Dracula, or Horror of Dracula, as it was titled in the United States. Starring Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Melissa Stribling, and Michael Gough (Alfred Pennyworth!), the film was a success with eight sequels, six of which saw Christopher Lee returning to the role of Count Dracula. If NECA goes all in for the Hammer House of Horror line, they could produce some incredible figures. I'm pretty sure Peter Cushing as Van Helsing is on the way and I'd surely be down for Ingrid Pitt and Madeline Smith from The Vampire Lovers, Raquel Welch from One Million Years B.C., Cushing and Lee as Baron Frankenstein and the Creature, and perhaps the Collinson twins from Twins of Evil. Plus Hammer's takes on a variety of horror standbys like the Phantom, Dr. Jekyll/ Mr. Hyde, and the Mummy? This line could really have some legs. I think Christopher Lee's Dracula was absolutely the right choice for an initial figure, though. Sir Christopher is no stranger to action figures with multiple Saruman and Count Dooku action figures out there, as well as a few previous Dracula figures based on his portrayal. Ready to discover the Horror of Dracula? Then join me after the break...

The Facts:

Height: 7 3/8ths

Articulation: Double swivel/hinge ankles, swivel/hinge knees, swivel thighs, balljointed hips, balljointed waist, swivel/hinge shoulders, swivel/ hinge elbows, swivel/hinge wrists, balljointed neck, and a barbell jointed head.

Accessories: 5 interchangeable hands, 3 portraits, cape, shovel, and two candles.

Non-Scalper Price: $35- $38 dollars

The Positives:

* As I mentioned in the Vincent Price review earlier this week, NECA has really gotten some mileage out of a basic suited body with new jackets and new portraits and hands. While Christopher Lee stated that he didn't watch any film portrayals of Dracula prior to filming though he absolutely went and read Bram Stoker's novel. Lee felt that the films were unfaithful to Stoker's novel and tried to channel what elements of the character he could into the scripts provided him. While he wasn't in favor of Dracula as a dapper individual, he did try to make his Dracula erotic." According to Lee: "He had also to have an erotic element about him, and not because he sank his teeth into women. It's a mysterious matter and has something to do with the physical appeal of the person who's draining your life. It's like being a sexual blood donor... Women are attracted to men for any of hundreds of reasons. One of them is a response to the demand to give oneself, and what greater evidence of giving is there than your blood flowing literally from your own bloodstream? It's the complete abandonment of a woman to the power of a man."

* The portrait fantastically captures the dashing Christopher Lee. He's a nice looking guy, though very austere. I think while Lee as trying to play a Dracula that was closer to Stoker's take, Hammer obviously had Bela Lugosi's portrayal in mind. It's really incredible how lifelike the portrait is, especially around the eyes. Lee mentioned wanting to incorporate sadness into his take on Dracula, viewing the character as one afflicted with "the loneliness of evil." Dracula hates his existence, but is compelled to hunt, feed, and go on living. Knowing Lee's take on the character, I feel like it's been captured in the sculpt and expression.

* The second portrait for Count Dracula shows him after feeding and showing off his fangs and teeth. Blood is dripping down the sides of his face (Hammer wasn't afraid to show blood by any means) and his eyes have a bloody red appearance to them. The first portrait is mild; this on is absolutely intense. His hair is also just a bit less sleek and slicked back here, too. 

* Third up is full on vampire attack and kill mode. Red eyes, an open mouth, and an intense expression of absolute rage on his face make this a pretty terrifying look for Dracula. They'd better release that Dr. Van Helsing figure pretty soon as it's not advisable to have this guy on your shelf unsupervised. I'm a Universal fan for sure but it's amazing how much more frightening Hammer's films could be just a short time later. Released in 1958, Horror of Dracula came out right at the end of the classic Universal Studios horror era. 

* While Count Dracula later adopts a lack cape with red lining, in the first film he is sporting a solid black cape. This is a nice soft goods cape with a more rubbery mantle/ collar that fits over his neck. Just pop the head off, place this on, and pop Drac's head back on. It stays on nicely and just look rather impressive when on the figure.

* If you're collecting other figures from NECA's Classic Monsters or Universal Monsters lines then you know what to expect for the articulation on Dracula. This certainly isn't a Marvel Legends figure, but Dracula looks excellent in both more nuanced and more expressive poses, especially using his hands and arms. The articulation is quite good overall and everything feels sturdy with nothing that concerns me; NECA has been producing really durable figures over the last number of years, a big change from the past. The jacket and coat cover the Count's torso, so they're inhibited a bit, but his legs can move freely, allowing him to be fairly mobile. 

* There are five swappable hands so you can really give some Dracula some life. Well, he's undead, so maybe life's not the right word. Anyways, you do get a nice selection: Grasping hands, a pair of tight grips, and a right hand in something of a beckoning motion. Dracula's little silver ring is also present on the left hands.

* Count Dracula is a good host and he greets his guests while holding a candelabra. This is the basic one with a tiny flame, wax dripping down the sides of the candle, and a fairly ornate base with lots of spooky charm.

* Next up is the same candle, but the flame has spread down the side of the candle and the base. I think there's a scene where Dracula enters the room and the candle flame kind of goes wild, reacting to his evil presence. It looks like NECA's Van Helsing will come with the candlesticks that he puts into the shape of a cross when battling Dracula, so fans of candlesticks have a lot to look forward to in this line.

* Also included is the shovel which Dracula uses when attempting to bury Mina alive. The paint and sculpt are so impressive that this really looks like a real shovel scale down. It's rusty and look like it's spent a bit of time in the elements. 

   NECA has really been pleasing me this year and some of my favorite figures have come from them, especially in their classic horror lines. Christopher Lee as Count Dracula is a staple of Hammer Horror and NECA did an incredible job. He's not as loaded with extras as some of their releases, but I don't think anyone will be disappointed by him. The portraits are incredible and the accessories really make him fun to display, pose, and repose. He's a Great figure and really starts the Hammer House of Horror line off with a bang. 

   Looking for more of Count Dracula? For more reviews check out the NECA Dracula (Transylvania), the Funko ReAction Dracula, Super7's ReAction Bela Lugosi as Dracula, Count Dracula from Operation: Monster Force, the McFarlane's Monsters Dracula Playset, Jada Toys' Bela Lugosi as Dracula, the Playmobil Take Along Haunted House 9312, the Big Bucket of Monsters Dracula, Mezco's Tower of Fear, the Wendy's Frosty Bite, and Dracula from the original Playmates Monster Force line.