Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter

Plot synopsis:
When his village is plagued by mysterious deaths marked by highly accelerated aging, Dr. Marcus calls in his army friend, Captain Kronos. Kronos and his companion, the hunchback Hieronymus Grost, are professional vampire hunters. Grost explains to the initially sceptical Marcus that the dead women are victims of a vampire who drains not blood but youth, and that there are "as many species of vampire as there are beasts of prey." The discovery of another victim confirms Grost's explanation. Along the way, Kronos and Grost take in a local barefoot gypsy girl, Carla, who had been sentenced to the stocks for dancing on the Sabbath. She repays them by helping them hunt the vampire; she later becomes Kronos' lover.
Grost and Kronos conduct a mystical test that indicates the presence of vampires. Their findings are contradicted by an eyewitness who claims to have seen "someone old, very old", whereas a youth-draining vampire should appear youthful.
Marcus visits the family of his late friend, Lord Hagen Durward, and speaks with Durward's son, Paul (Shane Briant), and his beautiful sister Sara (Lois Daine). He must leave before speaking with the bed-ridden Lady Durward. While riding through the woods, Marcus encounters a cloaked figure that leaves him shaken, and he finds blood on his lips.
At a tavern, Kronos defeats thugs led by Kerro, who were hired by Lady Durward's coachman to murder him. Kronos, Grost, Marcus and Carla set up a network of alarm bells in the woods to announce the passage of vampires. Meanwhile, a large bat attacks and kills a young woman. Marcus realises that he has become a vampire and begs Kronos to kill him. After various methods (including impalement with a stake and hanging) fail, Kronos accidentally pierces Marcus's chest with a cross of steel that Marcus had been wearing round his neck.
Having thus determined the vampire’s weakness, Kronos and Grost obtain an iron cross from a cemetery. They are accosted by angry villagers who believe that they murdered Dr. Marcus. Grost forges the cross into a sword while Kronos conducts a knightly vigil. After seeing the Durward carriage flee the scene of a vampire attack, Kronos suspects Sara as the vampire.
Carla seeks refuge at Durward Manor to distract the household while Kronos sneaks inside. The "bedridden" Lady Durward reveals herself as the newly-youthful vampire, and she hypnotises Carla and the Durward siblings. Lady Durward has raised her husband Hagen from the grave. She offers the mesmerised Carla to her husband, but Kronos erupts from hiding. Kronos uses the new sword's mirrored blade to turn Lady Durward’s hypnotic gaze against her. He kills Lord Durward in a duel, and then destroys Lady Durward.
The next day, Kronos bids Carla goodbye, before he and Grost ride on to new adventures.

Tags: good versus evil, action, gothic

Review:
I wholeheartedly recommend 'Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter' to every horror fan..
I'm a big Hammer fan and have been wanting to see 'Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter' for a long, long time.
Anyway, German actor Horst Janson plays Captain Kronos, the enigmatic, sword wielding, dope smoking action hero, and John Cater ('The Abominable Dr. Phibes') is his hunchback assistant Professor Grost.
The gorgeous Caroline Munro ('Maniac') is a gypsy girl who falls for Kronos, John Carson ('The Plague Of The Zombies') is Kronos' old doctor buddy, Shane Briant ('Frankenstein And The Monster From Hell') is a local young gentleman, and Wanda Ventham (Colonel Virginia Lake in the cult series 'UFO') plays Briant's invalid mother Lady Durward.
I think it's a forgotten horror classic, and why anyone would even bother contemplating watching the likes of 'Blade' or 'Van Helsing' when 'Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter' is sitting on the shelf waiting to be rediscovered is beyond me!
Captain Kronos:Vampire Hunter was initially planned to be Hammer's next big franchise but sadly poor box office put an end to that which is a huge shame as it is truly a classic of 70s Horror and a film that all Hammer enthusiasts should see..
Among the least known of the Hammer Studios horror output, Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter is also one of its most interesting and unusual productions.
Now, in the company of his good friend, a hunchbacked academic and authority on vampire lore who drives a wagon loaded with tools of the vampire-killing trade, the Captain roams the region hunting the undead.Captain Kronos is played by the German actor Horst Janson who, with his grave, nearly too-nordic features, balanced by eyes that seem to constantly smile, brings a nice sense of mystery to the role.
It manages to be both serious and tongue-in-cheek, both atmospheric and visceral, and thus operates on a whole other level than earlier Hammer vampire flicks which I find very formulaic.Captain Kronos is a swashbuckling vampire hunter, a mixture of the spaghetti western cool anti-hero and the antagonist of evil that is usually the Van Helsing character.
His sidekick is the witty vampire expert Professor Grost and along with Carla, a gypsy girl they pick along the way (played by Caroline Munro), they're called upon to solve a case of vampirism in rural England.What strikes me about Captain Kronos is the exceptional cinematography.
There are also some very chillng moments (like the hooded vampires in the forest and a very creepy old lady), so don't be mistaken: Captain Kronos might take its cue from action movies, but it's still essentially a horror flick at heart.Of course it's not without its flaws.
And in 1973, Hammer tried to start a swashbuckling super hero vampire hunter with the film Captain Kronos, Vampire Hunter.
"Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter" is far and away one of the most interesting productions to ever come from Hammer Films.
The twists it puts into vampire lore, as well as the genre crossing (the film is a combination of period horror and swashbuckler), make all the difference.
Fans of the hit 1960s TV series "The Avengers" will not be surprised to learn of what a marvelous movie "Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter" turns out to be.
It concerns a swashbuckling swordsman, late of the Infantry Guard, who--with the help of a hunchbacked professor, an ex-Army doctor friend, and a gypsy girl that he meets on the highway (played by yummy cult actress Caroline Munro)--journeys around what looks to be late 18th century England, hunting and slaying vampires.
"Kronos" turns out to be another wonderful entertainment from the House of Hammer, with extremely handsome sets, lush outdoor photography, and one of the most interesting sword fights this side of "Scaramouche." It is remarkably imaginative throughout, and directed by Clemens with great style and panache.
While few of the Hammer horror films took themselves too seriously it was in the 1970s when the cycle became almost a parody of itself and "Captain Kronos, Vampire Hunter" is perhaps the best example of this.
Although it is a little known film it is certainly one of the best horrors, largely due to its original take on the vampire theme and imaginative, albeit risky, casting.Rather than offer the audience another Christopher Lee dominated vampire flick, "Kronos" features Horst Janson in the title role and he is essentially the Clint Eastwood character from the Sergio Leone Spaghetti Westerns.
This means Kronos is unstoppable with a sword and can kill several men with one quick swish of his blade, best displayed when the brilliant Ian Hendry and his mob make the mistake of picking a fight with him.It is important not to take the film or the cast too seriously as this is essentially a comedy-horror.
There are several very amusing scenes such as when Kronos and his hunchbacked helper struggle to find a way to destroy a particularly nasty vampire, making light of the many and varied ways to supposedly kill one of the undead.Like all Hammer Horror films "Kronos" benefits from having a short 90- minute running time, concentrating more on action and bloodletting than the idle chat that typified Francis Ford Coppola's "Bram Stoker's Dracula".
It is also good to see a vampire film in which the hero is dangerous and unpredictable and not entirely wholesome such as the Van Helsing character often is.Anyone who found "Blade" to be too noisy and over-the-top (karate and vampires do not go together) should watch "Kronos" which is essentially the same film but far more subtle - like the difference between using a scalpel and a chainsaw..
Damn, the man looked good!Horst plays Captain Kronos, a man who wears a snappy uniform and hunts youth-draining vampires in the company of an affable hunchback.
Aside from the bag-wearing part, he's a solid action hero, and it's a shame that Hammer never turned this good little movie into one of its long-running franchises.The acting is a highlight: John "don't call me Johnny" Carson gives one of his typically likable and neurotic performances as Doctor Marcus, Wanda Ventham makes a lovely villainess, and Ian Hendry has an amusing cameo as an obnoxious thug (how the mighty had fallen, though -wasn't he a star at one point?).
Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter is written and directed by Brian Clemens.
Out of Hammer Film Productions, music is by Laurie Johnson and cinematography by Ian Wilson.Swashbuckling vampire slayer Captain Kronos (Janson) answers the call of his friend Dr. Marcus (Carson) to investigate the mysterious goings on in the village of Durward.
Aided by his trusty hunchbacked assistant, Professor Grost (Cater), Kronos' search for the truth takes him to the Durward family estateOne of the last great Hammer Horror movies, Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter has done well to rise through the decades as a sort of culty camp horror classic.
Thankfully the advancements in home entertainments have ensured it a deserved place in the upper echelons of Hammer's output.The film is a collage of genres, part horror, part comedy, part swashbuckler adventure and part saucy seaside postcard romp, but it all works so well in the pursuit of making the audience have a good time.
He even gets sparky performances from his cast, managing to sexualise Munro without flashing the flesh and turning Janson's stiffness into one of the film's assets!Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter, a ball of fun that sticks its tongue firmly into its pulpy bloody strewn cheek.
Sexy Horst Janson is Captain Kronos, a mysterious, no-nonsense man who travels the countryside with his hunchbacked assistant, looking for Vampires to kill.
A truly inventive and original vampire film from Hammer and Brian Clemens.
I can't say enough how much I enjoyed what writer/director Clemens added to vampire lore for his little world in this film, from the suggestion of different types of vampires requiring different methods to dispatch them and ideas for detecting vampires, which I hadn't previously encountered in other films.Basic plot: Kronos is a vampire hunter who, in addition to a wealth of knowledge of (previously unknown) vampire lore, uses a Japanese katana as well as European style swords and a variety of methods to battle his nemeses with the help a his hunchbacked sidekick.
Most modern vampire films aren't as good as "Captain Kronos".
Let's just hope the newest upcoming attempt at bringing Richard Matheson's classic story "I Am Legend" to the screen doesn't suck as badly as I fear it will.I highly recommend this film to all vampire and Hammer fans.
By 1974, the whole glorious cycle of Hammer Horrors, the long weekend four-horrors-beginning-at-midnight cycle was losing its audience, turning to slicker and more expensive Hollywood productions.Captain Kronos, infused with the campy pop-culture verve and schlock aesthetic of the late sixties/early seventies British sensibility, was, with it's comic-book feel, also ahead of its time, a completely new and inventive take on the whole vampire ethos.
"Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter" of 1974 is certainly not one of the most brilliant films from the immortal Hammer Studios, but it is definitely a stylish and highly memorable immensely entertaining vampire flick, a typical product of the 70s, and a little gem of super-cool macho cinema.
This very humorous horror flick that doesn't take itself very seriously may lack the extreme creepiness and haunting Gothic atmosphere of Hammer's masterpieces, but it features a lot of originality, great action, a great sense of humor and one of the coolest vampire hunters in motion picture history - Captain Kronos - in exchange.The eponymous hero is played by the German actor Horst Janson.
Janson may not be a great acting talent, but he greatly fits in his role of the ass-kicking vampire-killing-machine Captain Kronos, and his thick accent makes the character even cooler.
Especially considering the movie its concept and premise, I can't help to regard this movie as a disappointing one, even though it's still an above average genre movie from the Hammer studio.The movie and its main character might sound cool at first sight but fact is that "Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter" isn't exactly a very terribly exciting movie, aside from some good old fashioned sword fights.
This great example of self-parody from Hammer, home of cinematic Gothic horror in the UK, not only has one of the coolest titles ever but is also one of the best offerings from 'the studio that dripped blood'.Captain Kronos (Horst Janson) is a vampire hunter who is summoned by his old pal Dr. Marcus when local girls turn up dead, drained of their youth.
Aided by his hunchbacked assistant, Hieronymos Grost (John Cator), and sexy wench Carla (the amazingly sexy Caroline Munro), the dashing captain sets out to discover who or what is responsible.Eschewing the serious tone of many of Hammer's vampiric offerings, writer/director Brian Clemens opts for a slightly tongue-in-cheek approach that sits perfectly with his comic book style of storytelling.
The lead characters were originally devised by Clemens with a series of Kronos movies in mind, and it is a great shame that this never happened.Standout moments include a very funny run-in between Kronos and a band of thugs in a tavern, and the scene where our heroes 'experiment' with different methods of killing a vampire.
Hammer studios were on their last legs when this story of vampire hunting was produced, but yet they have still managed to prove themselves as the premier source of horror during the time period in which they existed.
Captain Kronos isn't the usual, classy vampire hunter in the style of characters like Van Helsing, and instead he's a womanising pretty boy that is just as at home smoking dope as he is slaying vampires.
The film features several moments of humour, however, which keep it flowing nicely and it also benefits from a nicely over the top musical score.Captain Kronos is far from perfect, and the lead character isn't quite as cool as his name.
Two self-proclaimed vampire hunters investigate a series of attacks on young women in this unusual Hammer horror film with lots of swashbuckling and no Peter Cushing or Christopher Lee. The plot is a bit more complex than just that as the attacks have not lead to the young women dying (or being turned into vampires) but rather have resulted in them being drained of their youth.
Horst Janson is a tad bland in the lead role, and other than Ian Hendry (who is barely on screen) and Caroline Munro, this is not an especially well acted affair, nor does it have the deep characters that may have rendered it a more memorable Hammer production.
Captain Kronos is a little different for Hammer, but a worthy addition to their canon of films.
Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter is way ahead of its time as a hybrid of horror and action, throwing in elements from western and samurai films.
Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter is one of my favorites of the later Hammer films, as well as being one of the most well made also.
CAPTAIN KRONOS VAMPIRE HUNTER (4+ outta 5 stars)I always figured I was going to like this movie but I never imagined how much!
Hoast Janson,(Captain Kronos),"Singles",'97 TV Series, has a different approach to hunting for VAMPIRES!
CAPTAIN KRONOS : VAMPIRE HUNTER.Be honest, isn't this one of the most powerful and macho sounding film titles you've ever heard?
Kronos certainly is one of the best Hammer productions and they accomplished this even without casting Peter Cushing or Christopher Lee. It's a very intriguing story that can rely on great settings, lovely costumes and a light-headed atmosphere.
Hieronymos Grost ( some sort of variant to Doctor Van Helsing with a hump) and on their way, they free the extremely good looking Caroline Munro ( her character was sentenced for dancing on a Sunday  which gives you and idea of the religious theme in this film ).
Horst Jansen is the striking Captain Kronos and looks and plays the part well with good support from the Dr.Watson-esque John Cater as Grost and, although Caroline Munro looks fantastic, the less said her about her acting the better.
They team up with lovely gypsy (Caroline Munro) as they fight this unique kind of vampire creature that drains youth/lifeforces/souls/energy instead of blood yet also turns people into soul-draining vampires.Brilliant and very original Hammer production!
Hammer had planned CAPTAIN KRONOS: VAMPIRE HUNTER to be a series of films (like their FRANKENSTEIN and DRACULA series), so in a way the existing film is a pilot - and what a pilot.
Captain Kronos rides across nineteenth century Europe accompanied by his associate Professor Grost,seeking out evildoers.His travels lead him to the hamlet of his old army friend Marcus,who tells him that local girls are being found mysteriously drained...not of blood,but of youth.Kronos and Grost immediately suspect a vampire,but how to destroy it?And who is the vampire,anyway?"Kronos" is an excellent horror film.I'm quite sure that "Blade" was influenced by it.Horst Janson as a vampire hunter Kronos is really good and very young Caroline Munro ("Maniac","Slaughter High") isn't bad as well.Lots of suspense,plenty of exciting sword fights,atmospheric sets and lots of beautiful women.Overall,I really enjoyed this one,so if you like British horror you can't miss it.10 out of 10..
Brian Clemens directed this unusual vampire swashbuckling adventure that stars Horst Janson as Captain Kronos, the vampire hunter of the title, who is now in a small village plagued by mysterious deaths of young women who were found drained of youth, rather than blood, though they die soon after.
Captain Kronos(Horst Janson)a sword-wielding hero and his hunchback sidekick are a professional team of vampire killers.
No make up required and unfortunately no acting required eitherI can see what writer/director Brian Clemens is trying to do here and that is bring a new twist on the vampire legend for Hammer studios which by this point in its history was becoming a little bit too old fashioned .
CAPTAIN KRONOS - VAMPIRE HUNTER (Brian Clemens, 1974) ***.
Despite the low-budget, the production is handsome - to which Laurie Johnson's score lends an appropriately rollicking air, but sometimes achieving even an epic feel.The idea of having an enigmatic but resourceful vampire hunter (not to mention some direct references, acknowledged by Clemens in the Audio Commentary) ties the film with both the Western and Samurai genres; in this respect, it's all the more regrettable that CAPTAIN KRONOS did not spin off a series of its own, as most vampire films that followed reverted to the tired old formula popularized by Hammer themselves and Universal before them!
Master swordsman Captain Kronos (Horst Janson of "Murphy's War", "Shout at the Devil", and "escape from East Berlin), along with his trusted hunchbacked assistant, searches for a vampire or vampires whom have been sucking the woman of a small town dry, in this swashbuckling vampire-hunting later day Hammer film.
One of the forgotten Hammer vampire films, "Captain Kronos" was an attempt to revive the genre by rewriting the rules, winking at the audience and introducing a swashbuckling new vampire hunter.
Clemens does a good directing job on this carefully paced - and different - period vampire piece from Hammer, with only the over-long climactic sword fight letting things down in this respect.
Prepare to be hammered by Captain Kronos, Vampire Hunter.
The fact the vampire's face is not shown until the end greatly helps the film, which has little in the way of effects or gore.Today, we have Van Helsing and the late-in-coming Solomon Kane as a sort of modern cinematic Captain Kronos, but that doesn't mean his character couldn't live on in more stories.
Captain Kronos is about as far removed from Hammer's traditional vampire hunter, Peter Cushing, as it's possible to get.
My favourite scene is when the Captain's old friend Dr Marcus discovers that he is turning into a vampire and begs Kronos to kill him.
The Hammer House of Horror movies from the 1960's and 1970's are the best horror movies ever made.Horst Janson plays the handsome and dashing Captain Kronos - the vampire hunter.