Count Yorga, Vampire

Count Yorga, Vampire is a 1970 horror movie that stars Robert Quarry as the titular vampire. The story takes place in Los Angeles, where a mysterious count named Yorga has recently arrived from Bulgaria. He has taken up residence in a gothic mansion and is attending various social events in the city's high society.

The movie begins with a group of friends attending a séance led by a medium named Donna. After the séance, Donna decides to give Paul, one of the attendees, a ride home. While driving, they encounter Yorga's car, which is stranded on the side of the road due to a flat tire. Paul and Donna stop to offer help, and Yorga invites them back to his mansion for dinner. This is the beginning of Yorga's plan to ensnare them.

Shortly after, strange things begin to happen. One of Paul's friends, Erica, becomes ill and dies. Her body disappears from the morgue, which leads Paul to suspect that Yorga is behind her disappearance. He invites Michael, a professor of occult studies, to help him investigate. Michael is skeptical about Yorga's existence as a vampire, but he eventually becomes convinced after witnessing Yorga in action.

As the movie progresses, Yorga begins to target the rest of Paul's group of friends. He seduces and hypnotizes several of them, sucking their blood and turning them into vampires. The final act of the movie is a showdown between Yorga and a group of vampire hunters, led by Michael and Paul.

Count Yorga, Vampire was released during the height of the horror movie boom in the early 1970s. It was one of the first vampire movies to be set in modern times and was considered quite shocking and graphic for its time. There are several scenes of nudity, violence, and bloodshed, which helped make it a cult classic.

Robert Quarry's performance as Yorga is both sinister and seductive. He oozes charm and sex appeal while at the same time displaying a cold and calculating demeanor. The other members of the cast are serviceable, but Quarry steals the show with his performance.

The movie's direction and cinematography are also noteworthy. Director Bob Kelljan employs several eerie and unsettling camera angles, particularly during the scenes where Yorga is using his powers of hypnosis. The gothic mansion where Yorga lives is also a well-designed set, complete with cobwebs and candelabras.

One of the weaker aspects of the movie is its pacing. The first half of the movie is slow and plodding, with too much time spent on the investigation into Erica's death. The movie doesn't really come alive until Yorga's vampire activities begin to ramp up.

Despite its flaws, Count Yorga, Vampire remains an important and influential horror movie. It helped pave the way for other vampire movies that were set in modern times and helped popularize the mythos of the suave and seductive vampire. Its impact can be seen in later movies like Near Dark and The Lost Boys.

In conclusion, Count Yorga, Vampire is a cult classic that still has relevance and impact today. Its strong performances, direction, and cinematography make it an essential watch for horror movie fans.