Horror Extreme Movie Catalog

Whilst this isn't a classic a Hammer film by any means, it does make for strangely compelling viewing. The film was obviously made on a very small budget, and I suspect it was filmed soon after Dracula: Prince of Darkness as the cast is very similiar and some of the same sets look the same.

Rasputin is a drinker and womaniser who has healing powers. Using these he becomes the trusted Doctor to the Zsars wife. However his motives are suspect.. Christopher Lee plays the title role (based on a real historical person and in part true) and is the best and worst thing about the film. Without Lee's screen presence this simply wouldn't have worked. However in places I found his performance a little over the top (dare I say even a little hammy).

In the UK on region 2 this is available as part of "The Hammer Collection" boxed set of 21 films. If you're a fan of Hammer films it would make sense to buy it in that set if you can get it at the right price. Having seen the film once or twice before I bougght the DVD I knew what to expect from this. Overall it is an entertaining film but I don't think it will hold up to repeated viewings.

By no means is this Hammer's greatest picture, but it is nevertheless a vintage piece of grand guignol from Britain's most famous horror studio.

Christopher Lee turns in one of his finest performances as the monk who uses his hypnotic and shamanistic skills to manipulate his way into the royal household in pre-revolutionary Russia. The concern isn't so much with historical accuracy -- most of the plot is fictional, although some details are based loosely on the "true" story -- as with suspense and terror.

Hammer afficionados will delight in spotting how the sets were ingeniously revamped from Dracula, Prince of Darkness, made only weeks previously (1965) with the same cast.

Bonus commentary with cast members Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley, Francis Matthews and Suzan Farmer is riveting, and there's a World of Hammer episode (basically twenty-five minutes of Hammer clips) thrown in for good measure.

A good buy.