Doctor Dracula (1978)

The plot is almost impossible to comprehend: a Satanic cult comprised of reincarnated souls who have taken over living bodies are looking to make their reincarnation permanent and become immortal through a ceremony that requires human sacrifice. Their "mystic energies" are fading, and they'll die soon if the ritual isn't completed.

Dr. Wainwright (Larry Hankin), who has just written a book on reincarnation, finds his body inhabited by the soul of none other than Svengali. A struggle for control of his own body ensues, and Wainwright finds himself falling in love with the very young woman whom Svengali and his colleagues in Satan have targeted for human sacrifice, effectively making them all immortal.

Gregorio, meanwhile, is a vampire psychologist (which is to say he's a vampire AND a psychologist, not one who counsels vamps) busy sucking up young women, when he meets Stephanie, who is obsessed with solving the murder of her mother, who was seduced and turned by the sanguine therapist.

Gregorio also harbors resentment against the cult, calling them charlatans and fakes, and a struggle ensues. Complex dialog explains the plot about 2/3 of the way through, but it's too late to make any sense of the narrative.

The film is surprisingly tame. There is no nudity, though a woman undresses and bathes as her killer approaches, strategic camera placement ensures no naughty bits are left unexposed.

There is also surprisingly little blood and gore. Bite marks bleed, but not much else. The twisty ending is terrifically abrupt, with no real falling action, as an explosion leads right into "The End."

Co-star John Carradine is a longtime TV and B-movie actor; Hankin is probably best known as Carl, who ultimately inherited Adam Sandler's dad's company in "Billy Madison."

Several actors stumble over their lines, most notably Carradine, who at times appears drunk and seems to struggle remembering his lines. This provides most of the prurient enjoyment of this film, as the narrative for the most part is stodgy and dull.

Best line honors fall to a busty blonde (and particularly randy) victim: "Your place really is spooky, Doctor. It's as though it were decorated by the Devil. What's in here? Something forbidden and positively naughty, I bet...Oh...I've always wanted to make love in a coffin."

Final Analysis: There's not much that's memorable in this tepid vampires-and-satanists thriller. Imdb.com's profile of the film reports that the film was made in 1975, but sat on a shelf until 1981, when Al Adamson filmed additional scenes and released it.