The Kiss of the Vampire (Kiss of Evil) (1963)

83% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
63% of users liked it
(1,097 ratings)

Producer Anthony Hinds used the alias John Elder to pen the screenplay of Kiss of the Vampire. Dr. Ravna (Noel Willman), an early 20th century Bavarian, entices a British honeymooning couple, Gerald and Marianne (Clifford Evans, Jennifer Daniel), to accept his hospitality. Once ensconced in Ravna's… More Producer Anthony Hinds used the alias John Elder to pen the screenplay of Kiss of the Vampire. Dr. Ravna (Noel Willman), an early 20th century Bavarian, entices a British honeymooning couple, Gerald and Marianne (Clifford Evans, Jennifer Daniel), to accept his hospitality. Once ensconced in Ravna's chateau, the couple discovers with horror that Ravna, Bavaria's biggest fan of Count Dracula, is the leader of an enthusiastic vampire cult. Clifford Evans plays the Van Helsing counterpart, Professor Zimmer, a vampire expert who first tries to warn the couple out of the area and then saves Marianne. Not as horrific as the title suggests, Kiss of the Vampire concentrates on the seductive, sensual side of vampirism, especially in a surrealistic masked-ball sequence. Though it contains far less bloodletting than most Hammer productions, Kiss of the Vampire was severely cut for its American TV release (and retitled Kiss of Evil). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: Don Sharp, Freddie Francis
Genres: Drama, Horror, Classics

In Theaters: Sep 11, 1963 Wide
On DVD: Aug 5, 1998

Critic Reviews

Ian Berriman, SFX Magazine
A faint tang of the perverse is such an unusual flavour that it distracts you from the complete absence of Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing - and the bought-from-Woolworths plastic bats...
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
A beautifully photographed film.
Staci Layne Wilson, Horror.com
The Kiss of the Vampire is a palm-rubbing good time for fans of gothic vampire stories!
, Film4
Director Don Sharp's first major feature was one of the studio's more subtle efforts and far more effective for that, with an intelligent script and striking use of colour.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Some will doubtless argue the point, but Don Sharp's The Kiss of the Vampire (1963) may very well be the best of all the Hammer horror films.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Bruce B

A movie from the Hammer Collection. This is an awesome movie for having been filmed in 1963. The color throughout the movie is excellent. About a young British couple traveling through the countryside when they run out of gas and stay at a local inn that nobody wants to stay at,… More
A movie from the Hammer Collection. This is an awesome movie for having been filmed in 1963. The color throughout the movie is excellent. About a young British couple traveling through the countryside when they run out of gas and stay at a local inn that nobody wants to stay at, reason being a vampire lives close by, and he invites this newly married couple into his home for dinner, no pun intended. So starts the typical Vampire steals girl away story, but its worth every bit of 4 stars.
Michael G

Despite a strong opening, Kiss of the Vampire was a sort of jagged bore for the first hour or so. Most of the elements of a Hammer classic were there but it just wasn't coming together. Fortunately the last half hour saved this movie in spades. The story is as bare bones as you… More
Despite a strong opening, Kiss of the Vampire was a sort of jagged bore for the first hour or so. Most of the elements of a Hammer classic were there but it just wasn't coming together. Fortunately the last half hour saved this movie in spades. The story is as bare bones as you can get but the atmosphere is with any worthy Hammer movie great. The last half hour was great and made the entire dull first half completely worth it. The effects in the climax were to put it politely, dated. But the images were great. Definitely worth it.
AJ V

This is a simple, but effective vampire movie. The story is simple but really good, the actors are pretty good, although I'm not familiar with them. Still, I really liked this movie, it's a good vampire flick.
Stephen M

Hammer's third vampire movie, though not part of the 'Dracula' series. Of interest for the representation of vampirism as a religious cult. Not one of Hammer's most memorable casts; only Noel Willman, as the vampire hunter, and Isobel Black, as a vampire, impress.… More
Hammer's third vampire movie, though not part of the 'Dracula' series. Of interest for the representation of vampirism as a religious cult. Not one of Hammer's most memorable casts; only Noel Willman, as the vampire hunter, and Isobel Black, as a vampire, impress. Well directed and photographed all the same, and better than all but the first three 'Dracula' movies. Excellent climax.
Emily B

A Hammer vampire film which doesn't feature Christopher Lee or Peter Cushing but still rather enjoyable. The finale with the bats is hilarious! <a href="http://s135.photobucket.com/albums/q156/bozley04/?action=view¤t=140585734_ea81225e84.jpg"… More
A Hammer vampire film which doesn't feature Christopher Lee or Peter Cushing but still rather enjoyable. The finale with the bats is hilarious! <a href="http://s135.photobucket.com/albums/q156/bozley04/?action=view¤t=140585734_ea81225e84.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q156/bozley04/140585734_ea81225e84.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>