This low-budget independent film reimagines the Dracula story for a contemporary setting. The narrative centers on three couples living in Los Angeles who hold a séance with an enigmatic immigrant from Bulgaria—a count portrayed by Robert Quarry. After one couple gives him a ride home in their Volkswagen van, they begin to suspect that he might be… a vampire. “Count Yorga, Vampire” (1970) was initially intended to have the title “The Loves of Count Iorga, Vampire,” which accounts for the name displayed during the opening credits of the version I watched. It also explains why some characters mispronounce the Count’s name as "ee-OR-gah." This film was produced by Erica Productions and distributed by AIP. The production cost only $64,000—$50,000 less than “Night of the Living Dead”—yet it surpasses certain Hammer vampire films. It even influenced Hammer's decision to set their subsequent two Dracula movies in the 1970s: "Dracula A. D. 1972" (1972) and "The Satanic Rites of Dracula” (1973). The film also served as a key inspiration for the atmospheric cult classic “Lemora: A Child's Tale of the Supernatural” (1973). Although now largely forgotten, its significance at the time stemmed from effectively transplanting the core elements of the Dracula story to modern times—specifically Los Angeles. This made it more accessible to audiences in 1969, a period marked by events like the Manson murders. Despite its limited budget, the film possesses an unsettling atmosphere and several memorable moments, such as the unwelcome late-night guests who linger on. It takes a deliberate pace and avoids unnecessary haste. Viewers can expect familiar Dracula tropes—albeit presented in a novel way for the time—including the Count’s repulsive servant, his three undead wives, and a character standing in for Dr. Van Helsing (Roger Perry). Christopher Lee's portrayal of Dracula was more devilish but lacked personality, resulting in limited dialogue. In contrast, Quarry’s Yorga is compelling as a person, whether living or dead, similar to Frank Langella’s interpretation in his 1979 version of “Dracula.” The success of "Count Yorga, Vampire" led to a sequel the following year, titled "The Return of Count Yorga." The film has a running time of 1 hour and 33 minutes and was filmed in Los Angeles. GRADE: B

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