The story unfolds in 19th-century England, where a retired military man and his companion with a hunchback (played by Horst Janson and John Cater) are brought in to eliminate a type of vampirism that’s stealing the vitality from young women. Caroline Munro appears as an attractive woman accompanying them, while Shane Briant and Lois Daine portray the delicate children of Lady Durward, portrayed by Wanda Ventham. Filmed in 1972 but not seen until 1974, "Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter" exists within the same universe as Hammer’s Karnstein Trilogy—namely, "The Vampire Lovers," "Lust for a Vampire," and "Twins of Evil"—all released between 1970 and 1971. Tigon's "Witchfinder General," also known as “The Conqueror Worm,” from 1968, is similarly positioned. The film ranks among the strongest entries in this style and was initially planned to launch a series of films. Sadly, Hammer’s popularity was waning at that point, and only six more Hammer productions would surface before their later return thirty years on. "Captain Kronos" combines outdoor action-adventure with unsettling Gothic horror elements, some original depictions of vampirism, and a touch of camp—though not excessive. Janson is impressive as the principled protagonist, Munro looks lovely as always, and Cater provides comic relief. There’s a collection of striking women in the cast, something Hammer was known for. The natural settings are gorgeous, and Durward manor is lavishly presented. In particular, the scenes at the inn are quite engaging. It's hard to understand why this movie isn’t more widely recognized. The film has a running time of 1 hour and 31 minutes and was shot in Black Park Country Park, just west of London, along with Elstree Studios, located northwest of the city. GRADE: B+/A-

Source on TMDB