Zoltan… Hound of Dracula
Written by Frank Ray Perilli
Directed by Albert Band
Starring Michael Pataki, Reggie Nalder and Jose Ferrer
Runtime 87 minutes
Available from Kino Lorber on 4K, Blu-ray and DVD here

by Rosalie Kicks, Old Sport and Editor in Chief

Back of the box synopsis:
There’s More to the Legend Than Meets the Throat! When the Russian army unearths the vault of Dracula, they accidentally unleash his undead human slave (Reggie Nalder, Mark of the Devil) and the Count’s vampire hellhound Zoltan. But these friends need a new master and head for Los Angeles to find Dracula’s last living descendant, family man Michael Drake (Michael Pataki, Grave of the Vampire). With the help of an international vampire hunter, Inspector Branco (José Ferrer, The Sentinel), can Drake destroy Zoltan and his pack of blood-crazed devil-dogs—before “man’s best friend” fetches the final soul of the damned? Also known as Dracula’s Dog, this ferociously fun horror film was directed by Albert Band (I Bury the Living, Ghoulies II) and features makeup effects by the legendary Stan Winston (Parasite, Aliens).

Features that make it special…

Audio commentary by Film Historians Lee Gambin and John Harrison
Dracula’s Dog radio spot
Theatrical trailer

Why you need to add it to your video library…
The concept of Dracula having a canine companion thrilled me and I could not resist imagining that this scenario could also be my reality. Therefore, I jumped at the chance to review the release Kino Lorber’s release of Zoltan… Hound of Dracula, due to it being of great importance in my research of reanimation.

Me and my precious pup friend, Li'l Foxie

I too am a vampire, and many moons ago I had a precious pup friend. It has been a year and some change since I lost my best friend, Li'l Foxie (aka Mother Bates). Being that we were cut from the same cloth, she too was a nocturnal creature that enjoyed flouncing about in the shadows. After a long coffin break we would come alive in the twilight, don capes, and skulk about under the pale moonlight in the fog. With this glorious 4K restoration compliments of Kino Lorber, I was seeking tips of how to resurrect my dear old chap so that we could once again partake in a midnight bite together.

Zoltan… Hound of Dracula may not be a masterpiece of cinema, yet I still found it to offer insight into the necessary steps of resurrecting a vampire of the dog sort. Beyond this, there is not much to behold. The acting is subpar, the camerawork is adequate and in terms of story there is much to be desired. An accidental bombing in a Romanian subterranean crypt of the Dracula Family shakes loose a once buried coffin. Upon opening the bunk, a Romanian soldier discovers a dog’s corpse and stupidly removes the wooden stake from it’s heart. This act awakens the Doberman Pinscher known as Zoltan who inevitably rouses his master, Veidt Smit from his slumber. Together the two go on a murderous rampage via a “funeral car” as the film refers to what most people know as a hearse. And, I must say that making it to the end of this picture is truly worth it as the final frame is what dreams are made of.

Overall this is movie that falls into a category of what I refer to as a “party picture”. By this I mean it is something to throw on in the background (preferably muted) with an alternative soundtrack chosen by the host during a soiree. The crisp imagery due to the restoration would be most satisfying to guests. And with the director’s fancy for zooming in, it is without a doubt that viewers will be pleased as punch to find that each and every pixel is pristine. It truly excites me that a B-movie such as this receives an all star treatment in terms of a release. I adore that it not only has a slipcover, but a reversible case cover insert with exquisite artwork. Without a doubt, Kino Lorber is truly doing the lord’s work in terms of physical media distribution.

Check back next week for a new installment of Kino Lorber creature features! During the month of October Rosalie Kicks will share some of the spooky critter offerings presently available from Kino Lorber.