Count Yorga was something of a departure for vampire films in the seventies due to the fact that it's star isn't a bloodthirsty maniac, but rather a dapper and respectable rich bachelor, who happens to be a vampire. Really, the film is an update of the classic Dracula story, only with more of a seventies horror swing to it. Most of the clichés of the vampire sub-genre are here, and it's only really the setting that has been changed. Seeing Dracula in seventies Los Angeles makes for a rather different atmosphere surrounding the tale, but it's definitely a welcome one and one that has influenced many films since the release of this one. The film is very talky at the start, which can be a little bit annoying as the pace is very slow - but what Yorga is saying is interesting, and it really isn't long before the film starts properly. The story is classic vampire stuff, and basically we follow Count Yorga as he involves himself with various other members of high-class society. The story starts properly once he has bitten one of the young women, who is later found with massive blood loss...and feasting on the family cat...
Robert Quarry stars as the enigmatic count, and does an excellent job of it. This is the role that made him and the fact that he hasn't had another role in this kind of volume since shows that fact quite clearly. His voice and his mannerisms aptly reflect the character he is portraying, and it's really easy to believe that this man is a vampire. The actual horror of the film takes something of a backseat to Yorga's account of being a vampire; but the way that the film does this differently from other vampire movies helps it to retain it's element of originality. The film looks lovely throughout, and while the colour scheme isn't as robust as some of Hammer's vampire films; the style isn't out of place, and it helps to reflect the title character himself. I loved the way that the film placed the vampire in with the top class of Los Angeles' people. The film isn't too far away from being one of Woody Allen's films, with a vampire in it! On the whole, while I don't rate count Yorga as one of the out and out must see vampire movies, it's a very good one and fans of vampire films - especially Dracula and the like - will like this.
Robert Quarry stars as the enigmatic count, and does an excellent job of it. This is the role that made him and the fact that he hasn't had another role in this kind of volume since shows that fact quite clearly. His voice and his mannerisms aptly reflect the character he is portraying, and it's really easy to believe that this man is a vampire. The actual horror of the film takes something of a backseat to Yorga's account of being a vampire; but the way that the film does this differently from other vampire movies helps it to retain it's element of originality. The film looks lovely throughout, and while the colour scheme isn't as robust as some of Hammer's vampire films; the style isn't out of place, and it helps to reflect the title character himself. I loved the way that the film placed the vampire in with the top class of Los Angeles' people. The film isn't too far away from being one of Woody Allen's films, with a vampire in it! On the whole, while I don't rate count Yorga as one of the out and out must see vampire movies, it's a very good one and fans of vampire films - especially Dracula and the like - will like this.