DVD Review: Billy The Kid Versus Dracula

Now on blu ray, Kino Lorber has released this notorious, wonderfully titled, low budget cult film that blends the horror and western genres.

In June of 1965, William Beaudine was hired to direct the low budget feature "Billy The Kid versus Dracula" for an eight-day shooting schedule. It was produced by Carroll Case for Joseph Levine's Circle productions. Beaudine was hired to direct this and another horror-western, "Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter," so that the two films could be paired as a double feature for the Drive-In trade.

Beaudine managed to secure the services of John Carradine for the Dracula role, Carradine having played the Count in the Universal classics House of Frankenstein (1944) and House of Dracula (1945).Harry Carey jr, who had worked with Beaudine on the Spin and Marty series at Disney, signed on, as did his mother Olive Carey. Other familiar names included Virginia Christine, Roy Barcroft, and Charlita, all of whom had worked with Beaudine on other projects. Beaudine wisely chose former stuntman Chuck Courtney as Billy The Kid, his experience allowing him to exhibit the sort of adept horsemanship necessary for certain scenes.

Essentially a horror film set in a western backdrop, "Billy The Kid Versus Dracula" plays mostly as a western with actors who are more noted for the genre, and conflicts that adhere to the western movie clichés (a reformed outlaw, conflict between ranch hands over a girl, an Indian attack). Dracula comes to town and convinces everyone that he is the uncle of a beautiful young girl, but his actions, and the accusations of some travelers, arouse suspicion in her boyfriend, the reformed gunslinger Billy the Kid. The narrative is simple and maintains viewer interest, while the cast play their roles earnestly, letting the story, title, and low budget represent the campiness. While Carradine would later claim this to be the worst movie in which he appeared (it isn't, by a longshot), he chews the scenery with gusto, making his oddball Dracula as outrageous as the original concept.

Olive Carey rises to the occasion in her small part as the town doctor, exhibiting a brashness and toughness that perfectly befits a seasoned veteran of such westerns as The Searchers and Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Carey's career dates back to the early silent era. Roy Barcroft was elderly and overweight by the time he essayed the sheriff role in this movie, but he still offers a solid presence. Virginia Christine is delightfully flustered as one of the settlers who realizes Dracula's identity. And Melinda Casey as the central young blonde ingenue who nearly succumbs to Dracula's curse is competent for the role.

When considering the circumstances of a ridiculously low budget and an eight day shooting schedule, 'Billy the Kid Versus Dracula" is better than it should be. Taking advantage of the wide screen image and the colorful location cinematography, Beaudine puts together a remarkably handsome looking production that belies its budget. The special effects are mostly nil, with a rubber bat on strings and a red light beaming against a closeup of Carradine's menacing face, but then the visual imagery of Dracula unable to be seen in a reflection and his eventual fade into skeletal remains are comparatively impressive.

Billy the Kid Versus Dracula has enjoyed a certain cult status in the annals of bad movies, but it is the sort of bad movie that is nevertheless fun in a disarming manner. Kino's blu ray features delightful and informative commentary by Lee Gambin and John Harrison. It is available at this link: Billy The Kid Versus Dracula