Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Billy the Kid Versus Dracula Blu-ray Movie Review

An entertaining B-movie that's far better than expected

Hollywood can be an interesting idea-house sometimes. As if the idea of the blood-sucking Dracula by himself was not enough to entice audiences back to the cinema (after all, it was already adapted!) then surely throwing Billy the Kid and his pistol into the mix would convince audiences to fork over some extra dough at the local box-office. Thus Billy the Kid vs. Dracula was born: mixing in classic Gothic frights with some old fashioned cowboys-and-Indians fun. This was Hollywood's recipe for a new B-movie extravaganza. Does it work? That's an excellent question!

For a “bad” movie, the good news is that I had a total blast with this ridiculous and over-the-top event film. Audiences who are looking for something that is genuinely scary will probably hate it on some level but those who are aware that this outing is pure-camp will find a goldmine of ridiculous (and entertaining) one-liners and odd interactions between the rather creepy and beedy-eyed Dracula as he swoons over the young 18 year old Betty (Melinda Casey). Betty is engaged to William “Billy the Kid” Bonney (Chuck Courtney) yet the pervy old Dracula just can't keep his eyes off of her. Too bad Dracula messed with the wrong gun-man as Billy the Kid is there to save the day!

"How do you like 'em onion rings? Tossed or stirred?"

Dracula decides to pretend to be the good relative James Underhill but all he really wants to do is suck Betty's blood. Relatives interfere repeatedly with Drac's dastardly plans and consistently find ways to try and prevent his diabolical ideas from succeeding. (By the way, does this sound somewhat like an episode of Scooby-Doo to anyone else? Minus the dog. And the meddling kids.)

The film goes back-and-forth between several outlandish attempts from Dracula to thwart everyone else around him (with a rather questionable and wobbly strung-by-string bat flying around the sky before transforming into the “slick” Dracula) and a somewhat conventional drama about the perils facing the relationship between Billy and Betty. Will the sweethearts survive Dracula and his mean-spirited interference? (Tune in next week!) Meanwhile, the backdrop of the film is a standard western: there are sequences of traditional cowboys versus Indians encounters. They entertain even if they are nothing special.

In some respects, one could say that Billy the Kid vs. Dracula is an awful film. (It wouldn't be totally wrong to say that.) Yet the film is ridiculously entertaining for such a poorly-constructed B-movie. Expectations can play a big role in that perception. Viewers looking for some simple entertainment (and with the film's title what else can one expect from this: an art house masterpiece?) will find the film an enjoyable matinee diversion. It's worth a watch for the fun face-off between Dracula and Billy the Kid. The ending even left me smiling.

Billy the Kid Versus Dracula Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray for the first time from distributor Kino Lorber, Billy the Kid vs. Dracula has a 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 widescreen. From a 35 mm print (utilizing Pathecolor color reproduction), the film looks remarkably clear and impressive in high-definition. Though the film print still has some minor specks of dirt or debris, this is a great transfer overall. I was astonished to see such a nice scan for this certified B-movie. The film has received a huge boost with its high-def debut: colors appear far richer and more rewarding, skin tones look appropriate, and the level of detail in the image is superb. This is a naturally filmic transfer that hits all the right notes and the only drawback is the minor specks and scratches seen fleetingly throughout the presentation.

Billy the Kid Versus Dracula Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release arrives on Blu-ray with an impressive sounding DTS-HD Master Audio mono presentation. This is a great audio track with excellent dialogue clarity and far more impressive sounding bass than I expected given the type of film and age of the source. Though its just a mono audio track, Billy the Kid vs. Dracula sounds pretty terrific from start to finish and the use of sound effects is impressive for a low-budget B movie. Optional English subtitles are provided.

Billy the Kid Versus Dracula Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by film historians Lee Gambin and John Harrison

Trailers for other nightmare-inducing releases from Kino Lorber: The Astro-Zombies (SD, 2:17), Black Sabbath (SD, 2:23), The Premature Burial (SD, 2:32), The Black Sleep (SD, 1:36), and House of the Long Shadows (SD, 2:28).

Billy the Kid Versus Dracula Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I honestly had remarkably low expectations for this "B" grade horror-western combination confection. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this rather old-school outing is actually a total blast (as a genre film). It's a riot to see Billy the Kid face up against Dracula. The film is outlandish and ridiculous but that's exactly what audiences are signing up for with this. I enjoyed the exaggerated effects, the over-the-top acting, and the concluding face-off was worth the wait. A quality Blu-ray release from Kino makes this a great title worth picking up for genre fans.