[BELL RINGING]
[GRUNTING]
[SHEEP BLEATING]
[SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]
[BIRDS CAWING]
[CHUCKLES]
[WIND BLOWING]
[BATS SCREECHING]
[SPEAKS IN CHINESE]
[SCRAPING]
Who dares to disturb the sanctity of Dracula?
Who are you?
IN CHINESE: My lord
IN ENGLISH: Wretch! I do not grant favors.
I do not accede to the requests of minions.
Know you not Dracula commands...
...even from the confines of this miserable place?
This miserable place.
Yet you can serve me, Kah.
IN CHINESE: My Lord Dracula
IN ENGLISH: I need your mortal coil.
I need the form of your miserable carcass.
I need your vile image.
IN CHINESE: No!
IN ENGLISH: I need to walk this Earth again, freed from these walls.
Freed from this mausoleum.
I will return to your temple in your image, Kah.
I will recall the seven golden vampires as my own host.
Tools of my vengeance on mankind.
I will take on your mantle.
Your appearance.
IN CHINESE: No! IN ENGLISH: Your image!
IN CHINESE: No!
[DRACULA LAUGHING]
[KAH GRUNTING]
[KAH SCREAMS]
DRACULA'S VOICE: Your image, Kah! Kah, your own image.
But beneath the image, the immortal power...
...of Count Dracula!
[SPEAKING IN CHINESE]
VAN HELSING: The legends of ancient China...
...have their roots in the mists of time.
Some are awesome and terrifying in their implication.
Some are real and have their foundation in truth.
There is a doomed village somewhere in the vast center of China...
...that becomes cursed each year at the time of the seventh moon.
It cringes in fear as it listens to the half-heard cries of souls in torment...
...and the terror strikes deep into the hearts of the inhabitants.
The whispered word is "vampire." And the horror is real and very close.
Once in a while, throughout the ages, some brave man...
... tortured with grief and angry frustration...
... will fight and conquer his own fearful dread...
... and venture outside the walls of his village...
... to do battle with the monsters that torment his people.
Some years ago there was such a man.
A poor farmer who had lost his most treasured possession to them.
His name, so they say, was Hsi Tien-en.
[WIND BLOWING]
[WOLF HOWLING]
[WOMEN SCREAMING]
[SCREAMING]
[YELLS]
[GONG CHIMING]
[YELLS IN CHINESE]
[VAMPIRES YELLING]
[HORSES GALLOPING]
[GRUNTING]
[WOLF HOWLING]
[YELLING]
[HSI TIEN-EN YELLING]
[SCREAMING]
VAN HELSING: I believe the legend to be true.
I believe that this is the way the farmer died, and in dying...
... he destroyed the seventh vampire.
One of the cursed creatures that live enshrouded in an aura of fear and terror.
I do not know the location of this village or where it can be found.
But I know it exists, still cursed, still doomed.
For of the seven vampire creatures, six still survive.
Now, my studies and research into this subject...
... and my own confrontation with an arch-vampire...
... leave me in no doubt whatsoever as to the validity...
... of this particular story.
If vampirism exists in Eastern Europe, and I can assure you it does...
...there is no reason to question its existence in other parts of the world.
Its foundation, its very beginnings, may have stemmed from ancient China.
No one knows better than you, the faculty of Chinese history...
...at this renowned university, that many of your legends...
...are based on truth and documented experience.
Professor Van Helsing, we have heard of your research in Transylvania...
...and the reports of your confrontation with a certain Count Dracula...
...an undoubted madman.
Excuse me, sir. Dracula was not a madman.
At least not in the accepted sense.
He was the most grotesque creature, the arch-vampire...
...lord of the undead.
These monsters may find sanctuary in the imagination...
...of the peasants of Transylvania...
...but China has a sophistication that has flowered and bloomed...
...over the course of more than 3000 years.
You cannot diminish their sophistication with vacant tales...
...of devil monsters and grotesque fiends.
- Credit us with some intelligence, sir. VAN HELSING: But I do.
That's why I am here now.
I would like to continue my research with your help.
To use your knowledge, your facilities.
Work with you, have access to your documents.
Vampires do exist. I know they exist.
I beg of you to listen to me, take me seriously.
I am an outsider, I accept that...
...but I have experienced the horror.
And the aftermath.
MAN: No one has a greater respect for Professor Van Helsing than I, Leyland.
But your father is a dedicated, outspoken man.
I fear he is becoming unpopular with the university people.
Because of his theories on the vampire legends?
Well, these are difficult times.
As the British trade consul here, I have to warn compatriots to tread carefully.
I'm allowed to remain by the grace of the local authorities.
Any embarrassment could destroy all the goodwill I've built up.
And when there are people like Leung Hon in the city...
- Who is he, sir? - A sort of Tong leader.
- Awful blackguard. - How very jolly!
Hmm. Unfortunately, I cannot pick and choose my guests these days.
LEYLAND: There must be some you did choose, sir.
Ah, yes. Mrs. Vanessa Buren. A Scandinavian lady.
Her husband died about two years ago, I believe.
- Left her well-provided-for. - Evidently.
- The earrings must be worth a fortune. MAN: She's on a world tour.
Actually traveling alone. Can't say I approve.
I mean, dash it all, they'll want the vote next.
She has mine, sir.
I do wish she wasn't wearing all that jewelry.
If I were a thief, it wouldn't be the diamonds I'd covet.
There are some here who would covet both the jewels and the lady.
I'll introduce you.
Mrs. Buren, meet Mr. Leyland Van Helsing.
- How do you do? - Delighted to meet you.
You are the son of the famous Professor Van Helsing?
I am so very interested in your father's work.
Many people in my country respect his reputation.
He'd be delighted to hear that, Mrs. Buren, at this time.
I'd so much like to meet him.
I'm afraid we're leaving Chungking soon.
- But before he leaves... - He's here?
Yes, if I could meet him.
I read his books about Count Dracula and his travels in Transylvania.
To meet a vampire catcher in person...
Actually, Mrs. Buren, my father is primarily an anthropologist.
And I fear one does not catch a vampire.
[CLOCK TICKING]
[DOG BARKS]
[OWL HOOTS]
[CLOCK CHIMING]
VAN HELSING: Who's there?
Who are you?
What is it you want?
My name is Hsi Ching, professor.
I come to apologize for the behavior of my countrymen.
Their ignorance is to be pitied and then dismissed.
Ah, you were at the lecture.
I was.
And I listened most attentively to your words.
- Well, thank you. - The truth deserves respect.
You believe the legend of the seven golden vampires?
Of course.
I imagine you are the only person in town who does, Mr. Hsi.
Forgive my intrusion into your rooms.
I want to speak to you alone.
Please, sit down.
- May I offer you some refreshment? - Thank you. No.
I understand you are soon to leave Chungking.
Yes. I shall go to Hong Kong...
...and catch the packet boat back to Europe.
Had you heard the story of the vampires before?
The name of the farmer who destroyed the seventh golden vampire...
...was Hsi Tien-en.
The name of the village is Ping Kwei.
Hsi Tien-en? Hsi!
That is your family name?
Hsi Tien-en was my grandfather.
Ping Kwei is my ancestral village.
And the vampires still rule it.
I don't think I disapprove of ladies traveling unaccompanied...
...but it has its hazards, Mrs. Buren.
Danger and excitement are like food and drink to me.
And I am fortunate, I can indulge myself.
- I shock you? - Not at all.
Come, now. If I were an English gentlewoman...
I grant you that might be different.
I'm sure I shock our gracious host.
- Perhaps just a little. - I beg your pardon, ma'am.
"Mr. Leung Hon extends his most cordial and respectful wishes...
...and begs the honor of escorting Mrs. Buren to her lodgings.
And allowing her the benefit of his company and protection."
Would you give Mr. Leung Hon my sincerest apologies...
...and tell him I have already offered to escort Mrs. Buren to her home.
- Do you think he understands? - Oh, yes.
He understands, all right.
I'll get my shawl.
You realize what you've done?
You've caused Leung Hon to lose face.
Here that is an unforgivable crime.
Well, in that case, sir, could I trouble you for an escort?
We need your knowledge, your skill, to fight the curse of Ping Kwei.
Well.
I'll give you all the information I can.
You do not understand, sir.
We wish you to journey with us to Ping Kwei.
We need to take you back with us.
- We? - My brothers and I.
We are pledged to rid our people of the vampire curse.
We must lift the terrible shadow from our village.
But we cannot do this alone.
An expedition into the hinterland would require an army of bearers and guards.
And quite a lot of money, for equipment and so forth.
I have very little.
Are you and your brothers rich men, Hsi Ching?
We have nothing, sir.
Except our strength and our willingness.
You have no need of guards with Hsi brothers at your side.
Now, you saw and heard the reaction to my lecture at the university.
Nobody believed me except you, my friend.
Now, in the mountains of Transylvania...
...the vampiric legends are very strong.
You can almost feel the terror. It has a tangible quality.
But here...
...perhaps even I need proof.
And you would join us if you had that proof, professor?
Yes, if the expedition could be mounted.
Yes, I would indeed join you.
Behold, then.
The golden medallion taken from the seventh vampire of Ping Kwei.
[CHURCH BELLS RINGING]
VANESSA: Oh, stop. Stop here, please.
Perfect night for walking, don't you think?
I get so tired of sitting around.
I am not a retiring English rose, Mr. Van Helsing.
I don't blush and I certainly don't faint away...
...at the first improper suggestion.
Whether it comes from a Chinese rogue or a very proper English gentleman.
The totally emancipated female.
I think you might like your women more fragile, perhaps.
- Perhaps. - Oh, dear, I am embarrassing you.
Let's change the subject.
I particularly want to talk about your father.
I find him totally fascinating.
[YELLING]
[SCREAMS]
[GROANS]
- Are you all right? - Yes, thank you.
IN CHINESE: Are you all right? IN ENGLISH: Yes. Thank you.
HSI CHING: Ever since you arrived in Chungking...
...you and your son have been under our protection.
No harm could befall you.
Already your son has witnessed the skills of my brothers.
Kwei, the bowman, and Ta, the axman.
There are four others...
...each one a master of the martial arts...
...ready to guard you.
Well, one thing is certain, Father. We can't stay in Chungking.
Maybe this trip would be the answer.
It would need a great deal of finance.
- How much? - I'm sorry, madam?
How much would this expedition cost?
We would need stores and provisions.
Ping Kwei is a long way away.
I think...
...perhaps 10,000 Chinese dollars, madam.
- You have it. - What?
I'll finance the trip to this village...
...on one condition. - And what is that?
That you take me along too.
I think a vampire hunt sounds exciting.
Mrs. Buren, it is quite out of the question.
A woman couldn't possibly make such a hazardous trip.
We'd be going to unknown territory. Areas that are unmapped.
The countryside abounds with robbers and brigands.
I know.
I also have to leave Chungking.
I suspect the fate Mr. Leung Hon has in store for me...
...is rather more colorful than what he plans for your son.
Hsi Ching, perhaps you will explain to Mrs. Buren.
The dangers are many.
Yet if you could believe that my brothers and I...
...will be beside you every moment of every day...
Then I'm sure I have little to fear.
I really must protest...
It won't do the slightest bit of good, Father.
The lady has a will of her own.
HSI CHING: We have a sister.
Her name is Mai Kwei.
It means "as beautiful as a rose."
It would be her honor to attend you.
So now all is in the hands of the gods.
We should be ready to leave Chungking by the first light of tomorrow's dawn.
[LAUGHS]
IN CHINESE: Attack!
[YELLING]
[SPEAKS IN CHINESE]
VANESSA: Oh, my God!
HSI CHING: Stop.
From here we go on foot.
[HORSE NEIGHING]
I said no harm would befall you on the journey.
It was the most fantastic display. I've never seen anything like it.
My brothers would die in your defense.
This is our way.
You should know more of the others.
And perhaps keep their names in some corner of your memory.
My twin brothers, the swordsmen, Sung and San.
Their blades are of burnished silver.
Chi-Tao, the massive one, keeper of the mace.
And he has the strength of 10 oxen.
Po-Kwei.
Many years ago, he chose the short stabbing spear...
...and is now its master.
Ta the axman and Kwei the bowman, you already know them.
And we must not forget Mai Kwei, our little sister.
May I predict that your son will not easily forget her name.
And what of you, Hsi Ching? How did you really find me?
Wasn't chance that brought you to the university, was it?
You are a famous man, professor.
Oh, no. No, I'm not famous.
Perhaps in academic circles I'm regarded as an authority...
...in some specialized field, but no more than that.
Then I put it to you, professor:
Did I find you? Or were you sent to us?
You have fought the arch-vampire.
And you are the final authority.
And you will vanquish the demons.
My knowledge, so far as it goes, is limited to the European hemisphere.
I had hoped to learn something of the East...
...from the faculty of Chinese history.
But as you witnessed, the professors were not forthcoming...
...to say the least of it.
When the time comes...
...when we meet the creatures face to face...
... you will know what to do, professor.
[YELLING]
[WOMEN SCREAMING]
[YELLS]
[GASPING]
VAN HELSING: We are not dealing with mortal beings.
What you must understand is that they are already dead.
They are cursed creatures...
... forever craving human blood for their very existence.
They are immensely strong...
...and possess black powers that are far-reaching.
Now, fall before them...
...and you too will be eternally damned.
Yet they can be destroyed?
Oh, yes, they can.
They abhor anything that has a holy significance.
They fear the word of the Lord.
In Europe, the vampire walks in dread of the crucifix.
But here...
...it will be the image of the lord Buddha.
These are our protection.
But how to destroy them?
A wooden stake...
...driven deep into the heart.
Or better still, a silver shaft.
Fire.
What of fire?
Not in Europe. In the East, perhaps. I don't know.
There are many things I don't know yet.
But one thing I do know:
Now, this golden medallion...
...is the symbol of their undead life force.
The remaining six vampires will do anything they can to retrieve it.
Once it's in their hands again...
...they can reincarnate the seventh vampire.
They know we are coming.
[WOMEN SCREAMING]
[NEIGHS]
[WATER BOILING]
VANESSA: She's very beautiful.
Hmm? What?
Oh, Mai Kwei.
"Who?" he says, as she gives him such a smile.
Back in my country, that is an open invitation to help with the dishes.
It's a strange night, isn't it?
Do you think they could be falling in love, out here in this desolate place?
I think it is most likely.
How nice.
They're lucky.
They'll always remember this moment, whatever happens.
Are you afraid?
Yes.
And yet I'm glad I'm here.
Isn't that strange?
[WOMEN SCREAMING IN DISTANCE]
[WOMEN SCREAMING]
[GROWLING]
[WIND BLOWING]
HSI CHING: It will be dark soon.
We must find shelter before the sun goes down.
The nights are very cold here.
I'll never take another country walk as long as I live.
There are some caves up ahead.
We can rest there.
[VAN HELSING GRUNTS]
PO-KWEI: I'll take that, professor.
VAN HELSING: Thank you.
LEYLAND: I haven't seen a living creature for over three hours.
No birds, no insects, not even a lizard.
Oh, it's a godforsaken place.
That's a very apt description. Godforsaken.
VANESSA: I'd like a bath, lots of warm water, perfumed soap.
Oh, my poor feet!
I could do with some sleep. About 10 days' worth.
I don't like it.
I hate it, professor.
Oh, no.
I mean the atmosphere. There's something malignant here.
I don't think we'll find a village in this wilderness.
Maybe they've forgotten their way back.
We could be miles from where we should be.
- You are a great comfort to me. - I'm sorry, but I...
No. We're on the right track and heading in the right direction.
- I'm sure of that. - How do you know, Father?
Instinct, perhaps. That "I've been here before" feeling.
You've never seen the place...
...yet every detail is crystal clear.
It's strange, unaccountable, but it happens occasionally.
You know just what's around that corner...
...the moment before you turn.
Do you know what is around this corner?
We are approaching the village of Ping Kwei...
...and the lair of the vampires.
Well, as long as they don't come out to meet us.
HSI CHING: There will be food soon.
Well, I never thought I'd be happy to sleep in a cave.
We shall be safe here.
Wild animals will not venture into the cave.
My brothers will keep watch throughout the night.
Wild animals?
We haven't seen a thing that moves or breathes for the last 20 miles.
Sometimes...
...it is the darkness that brings them out.
[SCREECHING]
[GASPS]
HSI CHING: Huh? Eh?
[YELLING]
Strike at their hearts!
[SCREAMING]
[GROANING]
[YELLS IN CHINESE]
[SCREAMING]
[WOMEN SCREAMING IN DISTANCE]
You're like a beautiful porcelain kitten...
...then suddenly you're a fighting tigress.
It's incredible.
- It displeased you? - No, it amazed me.
There's three of them.
There are three vampires here.
HSI CHING: Those creatures?
VAN HELSING: They are their victims. The undead.
Their slaves throughout the ages.
My brothers cannot survive another attack, professor.
We've destroyed half their number.
Three still remain.
Just three demons terrorizing Ping Kwei...
...your ancestral village.
Now, what would you have us do, turn back?
We know these creatures can die!
They're not omnipotent.
We'll make preparations and next time be ready for them.
Ching, remember why you came to see me in my lodgings in Chungking.
Don't give up now.
Over here, professor.
The legend is true.
Every detail.
Over the next hill is the home of my ancestors...
...Ping Kwei.
- This way. VAN HELSING: Uh-huh.
Ching, we must make sure they can't sweep down the far end of this trench.
We will extend it as far as we can...
...in the time left to us. - Good.
Thank you.
Think the trench and the stakes will stop them?
For a while, with any luck.
It's a dismal place.
I think Mrs. Buren quite likes it, you know.
VANESSA: No, thank you.
Romance flourishes in the strangest places.
Doesn't it?
[PRAYING INDISTINCTLY]
[SCREAMING IN DISTANCE]
[WOLF HOWLS]
DRACULA: Hear ye, great demons of hell.
Watch over these, thy disciples.
Thus do we dedicate ourselves to your service...
...and your commands.
[WOLF HOWLING]
[GONG CHIMING]
[WIND ROARING]
[YELLS]
[HSI CHING YELLS IN CHINESE]
[VAMPIRES YELLING]
[YELLING]
VAN HELSING: Light it!
[SCREAMING]
[LAUGHING]
[VANESSA SCREAMS]
[VAMPIRE GROWLING]
Ching, you must destroy her!
[CHOKING]
[HSI CHING CHOKING]
[HORSE NEIGHS]
The temple.
[SCREAMING]
[VAMPIRE GROWLING]
[LEYLAND YELLING]
[VAMPIRE YELLING]
Come on.
Van Helsing, across the globe...
...even to this very place, you plague me!
Dracula.
Count Dracula.
I knew it.
I knew you had to be here.
A curse on you and your house!
Show yourself.
Or must you hide behind the image of another man?
Is the mighty Dracula too frightened to reveal his face to me?
I am Dracula, lord of darkness, master of the vampires...
...prince of the undead, ruler of the damned!
- Prove it. - Right.
Van Helsing...
...you will once more see my face...
...before you die.
Behold, Van Helsing.
Look on me now.
[DRACULA YELLING]
[DRACULA GRUNTING]
[GASPING]
[THUNDER CLAPPING]
Subtitles by SDI Media Group