Dracula's Daughter (1936)

Released by Universal Pictures, Dracula’s Daughter (1936) is a chilling vampire horror film that serves as a sequel to the popular 1931 movie, Dracula. Directed by Lambert Hillyer and written by Garrett Fort, the story follows Professor Van Helsing who has just defeated Count Dracula. However, his victory is short-lived when he is apprehended by two Whitby policemen named Sergeant Wilkes and Constable Albert. They had stumbled upon the body of Dracula, with a stake through its heart, as well as Renfield’s lifeless body with a broken neck in Carfax Abbey’s cellar. Van Helsing is brought to Scotland Yard where he clarifies to Sir Basil Humphrey that while he did kill Dracula, it cannot be considered murder since the vampire had been dead for over five centuries.

Instead of seeking legal aid, Van Helsing turns to a former star student of his – psychiatrist Dr. Jeffrey Garth – for assistance. Meanwhile, Dracula’s daughter, Countess Marya Zaleska, arrives at the jail. With her jeweled ring, she mesmerizes Albert and has the assistance of her manservant, Sandor, in stealing her father’s body. After sprinkling salt on the pyre, the Countess performs a ritualistic burning of Dracula’s body in hopes of breaking her vampiric curse. However, Sandor discourages her as he sees a hunger for death in her eyes. Unable to resist her thirst for blood, the Countess resumes hunting and uses her alluring jeweled ring to mesmerize her victims once again.