By DR. BENNY GRAVES
The Seventies! A groovy time of excess, but also of decidedly un-groovy horrors: flammable and carcinogenic house decor, a brazen lack of caution when it comes to contraception and the seeding of sociopolitical circumstances that will lead to our current capitalist hellscape. What could scare the devil-may-care youths of the time? How about the prince of darkness himself!
DRACULA A.D. 1972 was a reunion of sorts for the two kings of Hammer Horror. The last time Peter Cushing had played Van Helsing was The Brides of Dracula in 1960, so this was his grand return to the role of the multi-generational vampire hunter. His real life friend, (seriously, look up any videos detailing the friendship between Lee and Cushing and try not to catch some feelings) Christopher Lee, clasped on his cape, slipped in his fangs and returned to the mantle of cinematic adversary Count Dracula. The wrinkle in the usual rivalry is not only a one century time jump but also the inclusion of Satanic ritual as a mechanism by which Dracula is resurrected. In retrospect, pairing a Seventies-set film with Ol’ Scratch was like combining peanut butter and chocolate.
The early Seventies were the beginnings of an explosion with respect to interest in the occult and, more specifically, Satan. We are talking about a post-Rosemary’s Baby, Black Sabbath and Aleister Crowley world. A world where, in the same year that this movie is released, TIME magazine releases a cover featuring a figure in a cowl emblazoned with the sigil of Baphomet. The headline proclaimed “Satan Returns.” Oh, how we reaped the cinematic benefits. It’s an interesting detour to consider that this period’s fascination with the occult was, in part, a consequence of societal rebellion against past history. The idyllic Fifties Formica had worn, and beneath it was the festering rot of blatant sexism and racism. The Vietnam War had done nothing for morale when it came to faith in humanity, an exercise in hubris that was grisly when explored by the candid eye. In our current year of 2025, interest in the occult is again at an all time high. Now, what could we possibly have to be upset about?
In 1872, Lawrence Van Helsing (Cushing, always firing on all cylinders. The name works since he is British but imagine the American Larry Van Helsing … woof) gives his life to triumph against the undead scourge that is Dracula. However, an acolyte of the Count arrives on the scene, collecting the remains of his master and burying them at a nearby church. Cut to a party crashing scene (come for the Seventies vibe overdose, stay for old British people pretty much having monocles pop out of their eyes) where we meet an edgier take on the Scooby gang, including Jessica Van Helsing (Stephanie Beacham of Dynasty fame) and dangerous bad boy Johnny Alucard. Johnny is bored with the usual cocktail of sex, drugs and Mama Cass. He proposes a group outing that has some real teeth: a black mass at a century-old desecrated church. It may shock you to discover that our boy Johnny is a descendant of Dracula’s acolyte, and the ritual resurrects the Count who then makes a meal out of raven-haired Laura Bellows (Caroline Munro, hachi machi). The rest of the group escapes, but not for long. Not knowing what to do, Jessica turns to her uncle, Lorrimer Van Helsing (yep, Cushing again), who must take up the mantle of his ancestors as a hunter of the undead.
I’m not here to tell you that DRACULA A.D. 1972 is the jewel in the Hammer crown. It can be tremendously corny at times and doesn’t really take advantage of the notion that Dracula is out and about in foggy London town, instead confining him to the church. (Though I suspect budget was a factor in that limitation.) With that in mind, the strength of this movie is that it overflows with charm. The Satanism element makes for some awesome visuals and the ritual scene feels like an Electric Wizard music video. Christopher Neame (who looks uncannily similar to Robert Webb of Peepshow) is having a ball as the nefarious Johnny Alucard, and the rest of the cast are game for the undead antics. Obviously, every scene with Lee and Cushing is a delight and their showdown at the climax of the film fills me with unadulterated joy. Both of these actors are legends and their presence has a gravitas that I’m not sure will ever be replicated. So what kind of giggle juice cocktail would pair well with the notion of Dracula tearing apart Austin Power’s wise-ass jugular? Kitty Bernardo, head bartender at New York’s Paradise Lost, had the answer:
“I was thinking of the Dominicana because of its rich, deep inky black color, but the coffee liqueur is a sleeper hit. Stronger than you’d expect but with enough booze and caffeine to wake and shake the senses. The float of cream on top lures you into a false sense of security, assuming this would be just as easy as an espresso martini. But this drink holds so much more complexity than that and even more of a punch.”
The Dominicana:
1.5oz Aged Rum
1.5oz Cafe Lolita
Hand whipped cream float
Add all ingredients to chilled boston glass, add cracked ice and stir for approximately 25-40 seconds, strain into chilled glass.
Kitty Bernardo is head bartender at Paradise Lost and a master of spirits (both liquid and otherworldly). She is responsible for gifting me a copy of Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows on VHS, which I suppose I can forgive her for.
Paradise Lost itself needs no introduction when it comes to the evolving sub-culture of the Tiki Bar. Rapidly becoming an East Village, NY institution, the bar is named for Milton’s epic poem concerning Satan and the fall of man. Let me assure you, Paradise Lost does not shy away from its diabolical origins. With tiki drinks like Chaos Magick and Archfiend and plenty of cocktails involving fire, the Cenobites of bar alchemy at this institution demand respect. The bar and its staff are also extremely aware of the problematic history of tiki when it comes to cultural appropriation and have made it a point to cater the experience to acknowledging the rightful background of tiki bar origins. They already had me at a Satanically infused tiki bar, but I think Milton said it best: “Better to reign in Hell than to serve in Heaven.”
