Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (U.K., 1968, Warner Bros., Blu-ray, G, 92 min.). This Hammer Productions film marked the third time that Christopher Lee played Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula vampire. While atmospheric at times, there generally is not too much mayhem going on – Dracula’s victims can be counted on one hand – probably a result of its G rating. The action ending makes up for some of the earlier slowness.

It begins with a young man (Norman Bacon), while cleaning in a church, finding blood dripping along the bell rope and then a woman’s corpse up above. Question: Why, if she were Dracula’s victim, did he leave any blood behind?

Jumping forward a year, narrator Monsignor Ernst Muller of Keinenberg (Rupert Davies of “The Spy Who Came in from the Cold”) visits the town for a routine inspection of the parish, only to find the people still terrified of Dracula, pointing out the shadow of his castle touches the church in the evening. Monsignor Ernst decides to perform an exorcism on the castle and seal it with a giant cross, which he does. However, the accompanying Priest (Ewan Hooper of “Kinky Boots”) falls and his blood reaches Dracula below ground and resuscitates the vampire.

Upset with the cross blocking him from his castle, Dracula vows revenge on Monsignor Ernst and makes the Priest his slave. Dracula then disappears for a while, as Monsignor Ernst returns home to meet his niece Maria (Veronica Carlson of “The Horror of Frankenstein,” “The Ghoul”) and her would-be fiancé, pastry clerk Paul (Barry Andrews of “The Spy Who Loved Me,” “The Blood on Satan’s Claw”). Paul is an atheist, though, which scandalizes the Monsignor. Back at the tavern where Paul works and stays, bar maid Zena (Barbara Ewing of “Eye of the Needle”), has a roving eye and makes a move on Paul.

Zena also is the perfect type for Dracula, who interrupts her move on a drunken Paul, bites her and later directs her to lure Maria to him in the tavern’s basement.

Cinematographer and occasional director Freddie Francis, whose visuals can be seen in both “Dune” and “Cape Fear,” directs, as Terence Fisher, who handled the previous three Dracula films, was injured in a car accident. Thus, the cinematography often outdoes the weak script by Anthony Hinds (writing as John Elder) that underutilizes Dracula. Grade: film 2.75 stars

Rating guide: 5 stars = classic; 4 stars = excellent; 3 stars = good; 2 stars = fair; dog = skip it

Purchase link for some titles: https://moviezyng.com?bg_ref=ApLKdWV51k

Demon Hunter: Time 2 Kill (Ireland, 2024, X4 Pictures, Blu-ray, NR, 97 min.). In this sequel, wise-cracking, motorcycle riding demon hunter Taryn Barker (Niamh Hogan of 2016’s “Taryn Barker: Demon Hunter”) needs to find the two parts of the ancient Necrox artifact to reduce the amount of demon activity in the world. Trying to stop her, Elysia Cronika (Lisa Wilcox of 2 “A Nightmare on Elm Street” films), CEO of Illumini Industries and leader of the Stygian Cult, sends Barker back to 1987.

At the same time, a group of six young people, heading for Camp Beaver, also are sent back to 1987 and that is a bad time to be at Camp Beaver because serial killer Lucien Krull (Lar Mclachlan of TV’s “Vikings: Valhalla”) is active then. It is up to Barker, a member of the Knights Against the Illuminati Cult, to defeat Krull and recover the second piece of the Necrox. Not all of the young people sent to 1987 survive, however. The ending is a complicated, quick time-shifting, special effects battle between Barker and Cronika.

The film was written and directed by Zoe Kavanagh (“Demon Hunters”). Grade: film 2.5 stars

The Spoilers (1942, Universal, Blu-ray, NR, 87 min.). This was the first of two films released in 1942 that starred Randolph Scott (1898-1987; 123 IMDB credits, including many Westerns) along with Marlene Dietrich (“Morocco,” “Touch of Evil”) and John Wayne (“True Grit,” “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance”). It was directed by Ray Enright (“Naughty But Nice”) and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Art Direction – Interior Decorations).

The film takes place in 1900 Nome, Alaska during the gold rush. New Gold Commissioner Alex McNamara (Scott) is part of a scam, cheating miners out of their discoveries. Saloon operator Cherry Malotte (Dietrich) goes to McNamara to successfully get Flapjack Sims (Russell Simpson of “The Grapes of Wrath,” “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”) gold mine claim, but this sparks McNamara’s interest in her.

Malotte actually is the girlfriend of Roy Glennister (Wayne), but she gets upset when Glennister returns with pretty Helen Chester (Margaret Lindsay of “Jezebel,” “Scarlet Street”), who obviously is romantically interested in Glennister. Probably not coincidentally, Chester is the niece of Judge Horace Stillman (Samuel S. Hinds of “You Can’t Take It with You,” “It’s a Wonderful Life”).

The viewer soon learns that the judge is in cahoots with McNamara and their next target is the Midas gold mine owned by Glennister and Al Dextry (Harry Carey of “Red River,” “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington”). By putting a 90-day hold on Stillman’s hearing to determine mine ownership, McNamara plans to pull out $250,000 worth of gold while his men “guard” the mine. Meanwhile, the romance between Glennister and Malotte has grown rocky. The action ending features a locomotive collision, a large shootout and a lengthy fistfight between Glennister and McNamara that basically ruins the saloon, including them both going through a window. Grade: film 3.25 stars

Pittsburgh (1942, Universal, Blu-ray, NR, 91 min.). This has a bit more complicated plot, but still has Marlene Dietrich’s character wanted by both Randolph Scott and John Wayne’s characters, and Scott and Wayne have another fistfight, this time in a rising coal mine elevator. The film is directed by Lewis Seiler (several Tom Mix Westerns, “Girls Gone Wild”)

Charles “Pittsburgh” Markham (Wayne) rides roughshod over his friends, his lovers and his ideals in his trek toward financial success in the Pittsburgh steel industry, only to find himself deserted and lonely at the top. When his crash comes, he finds that fate has dealt him a second chance.

In the beginning, Markham and Cash Evans (Scott) are coworkers in a mine. During a night out, Josie Winter’s (Dietrich) rental car splashes water on Markham’s new, unpaid for suit. They all go inside the event, where Markham makes Evans box Killer Kane (Sammy Stein of “Modern Times”) for $100, if he can last 3 minutes. A brawl breaks out as Killer Kane’s manager, sensing he might lose $100, flashes a light in Cash’s eyes.

Another key player is Doc Powers (Frank Craven of “Our Town,” “Barbary Coast,” “Son of Dracula”), who eventually develops more than 200 products that use coal tar. The night of the boxing, there is a mine cave-in and Josie helps Pittsburgh rescues Doc.

Pittsburgh finally comes up with the idea to sell coke, made from coal, to Morgan Prentiss’ (Samuel S. Hinds of “The Spoilers”) steel company, at a savings compared to Prentiss just buying coal. That launches Pittsburgh, Cash and Winter, who formed a partnership, on the way to riches.

Pittsburgh’s romance with Josie eventually breaks up and he starts dating Prentiss’ daughter Shannon (Louise Allbritton of “Son of Dracula,” “The Doolins of Oklahoma”), eventually marrying her. And the inevitable partnership breakup with Cash occurs when Pittsburgh does not fulfill promises to their miners. Yes, the three had begun buying up mines as well.

As the film opens and closes, the trio and Doc have reunited to produce arms and other things needed for World War II. Grade: film 3 stars

Colt .45 (1950, Warner Archive Collection, Blu-ray, NR, 74 min.). This is one of the more than 60 Westerns Randolph Scott made. He stars as Sam Powell, a salesman for the new Colt .45 repeating pistols that fire six shots instead of one. The new style guns had been successfully used in the war with Mexico.

As he tries to make a sale to a sheriff, a prisoner transfer goes very wrong, with prisoner James Brett (Zachary Scott of “Mildred Pierce,” “The Mask of Dimitrios”) stealing two the guns and shooting the sheriff. Brett then goes on a 4-month holdup spree, with his .45 Gang. Powell, finally released after being held for the sheriff’s murder, goes after Brett to get his guns back.

When he finally is close to Brett, he comes across some Native Americans the gang has shot, as they intend to pretend to be Indians (term used here) when they rob a stagecoach. Powell does help Chief Walking Bear (Chief Thundercloud of “The Lone Ranger,” “The Prairie”), who becomes his friend.

Powell does manage to disrupt the robbery, by shooting several members of the gang, but realizes the sole passenger (Ruth Roman of “Strangers on a Train” as Beth Donovan) has signaled the attackers. Her husband Paul (Lloyd Bridges of 2 “Airplane” films, TV’s “The Loner,” “Sea Hunt” and his own show) is Brett’s second-in-command. Paul actually has a successful mine, but he wants he and Brett to take over the town and make money off of area miners and other visitors.

Aiding Brett is crooked Sheriff Harris (Alan Hale of “The Adventures of Robin Hood,” “The Sea Hawk”), who deputizes Powell. Meanwhile, Chief Walking Bear and his men help Powell.

Extras include Joe McDoakes’ “So You Want to Have a Party” (10:36); and the Bugs Bunny cartoon “Hillbilly Hare” (7:26). Grade: film 3.25 stars; extras 2 stars

Under California Stars (1948, Leomark, Blu-ray, NR, 72 min.). Released eight days before I was born, this Republic Pictures film stars Roy Rogers as himself, just completing his 10th year of starring in films, with cameras filming the opening scene. He then heads back to his ranch with horse Trigger and plans a celebratory radio broadcast. Awaiting him is Cookie Bullfincher (Andy Devine of “Stagecoach,” “Robin Hood,” “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance”), who has hired several of his relatives in Rogers’ absence.

Among those hires is Cookie’s niece, Caroline Maynard (Jane Frazee of “Calendar Girl,” “Buck Privates”), as the horse trainer. Also present are Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers as singing ranch hands, with Cookie playing the piano. The film features six songs, with the title song sung twice.

The area of Rogers’ ranch has been plagued by men rounding up wild horses on the open range, men who work for Pop Jordan (George Lloyd of “Rings on Her Fingers,” “A Slight Case of Murder”) and are led by Ed (House Peters Jr. of “Flash Gordon,” “Waco”), with whom Rogers (or his stunt double) has a lengthy fight.

Also joining the Rogers ranch is young Ted Carver (Michael Chapin of “Wild Horse Ambush,” “Strange Bargain”) who has a wicked stepfather in Lige McFarland (Wade Crosby of “Westworld,” “Tales of Robin Hood”). Stepdad would not pay for an operation on the boy’s leg, leaving him with a limp. McFarland is in league with Pop Jordan and comes up with the plan to kidnap Trigger the night of the radio broadcast. The ransom demand is $100,000, although Ed tries to double cross Pop Jordan by offering to reveal Trigger’s location for only $10,000.

Ted has a dog named Tramp that likes to steal and hide things, but eventually leads Rogers to Trigger. Ted also is forced by the bad guys into keeping silent about seeing Trigger taken.

The film, directed by William Whitney (“The Crimson Ghost,” “Mysterious Doctor Satan”), is entertaining in the usual Rogers’ wholesome style. Grade: film 3 stars

Fuze (U.K., 2025, Sony Pictures, Blu-ray, R, 96 min.). In this British film – hence the different spelling of the word fuse -- construction workers in London unearth an unexploded WWII bomb with 500 kilograms of explosives, forcing a large evacuation of Paddington Basin. Thieves use the chaos as cover for a heist, drilling from the basement storage area of an apartment building through to the bank vault next door. However, the movie abounds in twists, leaving the viewer’s knowledge to be false.

Rather early on, one of the bomb disarmament crew, a corporal, tells leader Major Will Trantor (Aaron Taylor-Johnson of “Nowhere Boys,” 2 “Kick-Ass” films) he believes the bomb may be newer than WWII, something seemingly confirmed when the crew discovers a ticking timer on the bomb, which could go off anytime up to 48 hours. Trantor works with Police Superintendent Zuzana (Gugu Mbatha-Raw of “Belle,” “Beauty and the Beast”), who is in charge of the evacuation.

With the idea of the bomb being newer put forth, it more and more seems the timing of the bank heist is not a coincidence, but rather planned. The bank gang is led by Karalis (Theo James of “The Divergent Series” films, TV’s “The White Lotus”), who has a brutal partner in X (Sam Worthington of “Clash of the Titans,” “Terminator Salvation,” 3 “Avatar” films).

As expected, the bomb explodes 33 minutes into the film, leaving just over an hour left, an hour filled with surprises, double-crosses and a 10-minute ending that goes back 10 years and shows how the three heist masterminds first came together.

The director is David Mackenzie (“Hell or High Water,” “Starred Up”) and the writer is Ben Hopkins (“Simon Magus”). Grade: film 3 stars

Last Summer (1969, Warner Archive Collection, Blu-ray, R, 97 min.). The film, directed by Frank Perry (“Mommie Dearest,” “David and Lisa”) and written by his then-wife Eleanor Perry (“David and Lisa,” “The Swimmer”), based on Evan Hunter’s novel, is a psychological tale of the cruelty of teenagers, centering on four teens who are spending an idle summer on Fire Island, minus any apparent parental supervision.

The four include best buds Peter (Richard Thomas of TV’s “The Waltons” in his second feature film after a bunch of TV work) and Dan (Bruce Davison of “Longtime Companion” in his acting debut) and the sultry Sandy (Barbara Hershey of “Black Swan,” “Insidious” in her third feature film, after some TV work). A late comer to their group is Rhoda (Catherine Burns of “Red Sky at Morning, also with Richard Thomas, in her feature film debut). So, the cast was young and fearless, with quite a bit of improvisation.

Peter and Dan first meet Sandy on the beach as she is tending to a wounded seagull that turns out to have swallowed a fishing hook. The boys remove the hook and the three start hanging out together all the time, including playing a truth game while drinking beer. One time they go see a foreign movie and Sandy unites the boys’ exploring hands with hers.

They first see Rhoda when she comes along and objects to Sandy’s treatment of the seagull. After more encounters, Peter decides to teach Rhoda to swim. She is afraid of the water, for a particular reason that we learn later in a moving speech that helped win Burns an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Dan and Sandy watch two gay men make out on the beach and, with Peter, try out Dan’s parents’ marijuana. Their most fun scene is when they wash each other’s hair with lots of excess suds.

In addition to Sandy’s cruelty toward the seagull, she is usually unkind to Rhoda, culminating in forcing Rhoda to pretend to be her and going on a computer-picked date with Anibal (Ernesto Gonzalez of “The Possession of Joel Delaney”) and treating both badly. All three friends end up being cruel to Rhoda in the tragic ending.

The film comes with audio commentary by Golden Globe-winning screenwriter Larry Karaszewski (“Ed Wood,” “Man on the Moon”), who helped resurrect the film from its missing-in-action status of 40 years. He also writes the 3-page booklet essay and hosts post-screening interviews with Hershey and Davison from March 29, 2026 (29:46) and with Thomas from May 3, 2026 (34:36). There also is a deleted scene (3:43) in which Ralph Waite plays Peter’s drunk father, whom Peter has to put to bed. Of course, Waite went on to play Thomas’ father in TV’s “The Waltons” for nine years and 196 episodes. Another interesting fact is that Hershey adopted the last name Seagull for several years after making the film; one of the birds used died. Grade: film 3.25 stars; extras 3.5 stars

The Keyhole (1933, Warner Archive Collection, Blu-ray, NR, 69 min.). Socialite Anne Brooks (Kay Francis of “Trouble in Paradise,” “Mandalay,” “One Way Ticket”) has a problem. A former lover (Monroe Owsley of “Indiscreet” as Maurice Le Bun) never went through with the divorce he promised. In the meantime, Anne has married wealthy and elderly Schuyler Brooks (Henry Kolker of “Holiday,” “Mad Love”). She already has paid Maurice $10,000, but now he wants $50,000, having sent her a fake suicide note to draw her to him.

Consulting with Schuyler’s sister Portia (Helen Ware of “The Virginian”), Anne decides to take a boat to Cuba to not only get her divorce/annulment, but also to draw Maurice out of the United States, as he is an alien and Portia can have his visa revoked once he is out of the country. However, Schuyler is suspicious of the sudden trip and hires private eye Neil Davis (George Brent of “Dark Victory,” “Jezebel”) to watch her on the boat and in Cuba.

Accompanying Neil on the trip is his coworker Hank Wales (Allen Jenkins of “Dead End,” “Destry Rides Again”), who falls for con artist Dot (Glenda Farrell of “Blondes at Work,” “Mystery of the Wax Museum”). Hank is mostly used for comedy, including him taking an alcoholic drink every time he hears the ship’s horn.

Unfortunately for Neil’s mission, he spends a lot of time with Anne and falls in love with her.

Extras include the cartoons “Buddy’s Day Out” from Looney Tunes (7:32) and Popeye the Sailor in “Wild Elephinks” (6:09). Grade: film 3 stars; extras 2 stars