Like Bela Lugosi and Christopher Lee before him, Shin Kishida would go on to portray history’s most famous vampire in Lake of Dracula, the second film in Toho’s Bloodthirsty Trilogy, all of which were directed by Michio Yamamoto, the first of which was Fear of the Ghost House: Bloodsucking Doll/The Vampire Doll. Like those horror icons, Kishida would put his own stamp on the character, being both frightening and imposing with his pale, white skin, his yellow eyes and gaunt-looking frame. For most of the film, he would have little to do, but by the end, Kishida would be front and center, looking to claim Akiko, played by Midori Fujita, as his bride.

Though the film is the second in a trilogy, it has absolutely nothing to do with the first movie except for the fact that they both feature vampires. Lake of Dracula is essentially the story of Akiko, who as a child stumbled upon an old rundown mansion where she had her first encounter with the undead and specifically, Dracula himself. With a little help, she was able to escape and now years later, believing it all to be a dream, she is starting to experience strange phenomena – namely vampires who are out to get her, one of them even being her sister Natsuko. With the help of her boyfriend played by Chôei Takahashi, she manages to stay alive until they both come face to face with the man behind it all and an outcome that is just a little uncertain.

For the most part, the film is successful in what it wants to do, though it tends to meander for a while making it just a little overlong. The first and third acts are the strongest and with a little careful editing or perhaps a stronger script, the middle could have been just as compelling. As it is though, the film looks beautiful with a very eerie atmosphere throughout and some really good shots courtesy of cinematographer Rokuro Nishigaki. The film radiates horror and while it is not altogether frightening, it is perfect for late night viewing and those looking for something dark and moody. Kishida is especially good as Dracula and that first time you see him is as memorable as the first time you saw Lee or Lugosi as the monster. If there is anything that will send a chill down your spine, it is Kishida who is not someone you would ever want to meet except in the very brightest of daylight.

Lake of Dracula is not the best Dracula film you will ever see, or even the best vampire movie, but it is serviceable, if not enjoyable. Japanese vampire films are quite different than the European variety or even those from America, aiming more for style over substance and that is not a bad thing as nobody wants to see the same thing multiple times over. It would have been nice to have a stronger story in place and while some might complain that Dracula was not in the film quite as much as he should have, keeping his time onscreen to a minimum helped to create a sense of mystery around him and only served to increase the horror of his existence. Ultimately, the film is entertaining and worth it just to see Kishida deliver a very fine performance.

3 out of 5