Countess Dracula was brought to the screen by Peter Sasdy, with a script from Jeremy Paul. The cast includes Ingrid Pitt, Nigel Green, Sandor Eles, Maurice Denham, Patience Collier and Lesley-Anne Down. It’s a Hammer Film Productions release, featuring music composed by Harry Robertson and Eastmancolor cinematography by Kenneth Talbot. It's puzzling why the title doesn't simply reflect its subject matter—why not Countess Bathory or Elizabeth Bathory? The film has little connection to Dracula or vampires; instead, it presents an adaptation of Madame Bathory’s story, who historically murdered numerous young women in old Hungary due to a misguided belief that bathing in virgin blood would preserve her youth. Hammer concentrates on this particular aspect, presenting a narrative where the Countess seeks the secret to immortality and subsequently orchestrates the kidnapping of her own daughter, assuming her identity. This allows her to pursue a romantic relationship with a younger man, but as casualties mount and the Countess’s suitor and advisor become suspicious, events quickly spiral downward. As a production, it's typical of Hammer films—the costumes, color photography, set design, and acting are all agreeable. However, the story is disappointingly formulaic, and considering its potentially intriguing plot elements, it lacks genuine horror, feeling more like a historical drama punctuated by occasional acts of cruelty. The narrative doesn’t gain any momentum, and the ending feels anticlimactic. Those who appreciate such things will find enjoyment in the presence of Pitt and Down, and Nigel Green seems delighted to share romantic scenes with Ingrid. Ultimately, it's not particularly exciting or frightening; it functions as a decent period drama only if you adjust your expectations accordingly. It earns a 6/10.

Source on TMDB