Red Dragon

In 19th century London, a Scotland Yard detective investigates a series of brutal murders. He believes the killer is a Chinese sorcerer who uses a mythical beast to carry out his evil deeds. The detective enlists the help of a former colleague, an expert in Asian folklore, to track down the sorcerer and his mystical accomplice before more lives are lost.

Red Dragon (also known as 'The Hand of Power' or 'The Witches Mountain') is a lesser-known horror film from 1965, often overshadowed by more prominent genre films of the era. Its reception was generally lukewarm, with critics pointing to its slow pacing and somewhat convoluted plot, though the atmospheric direction and performances, particularly from Christopher Lee, received some praise.

• Atmospheric and moody, though at times slow-paced.

• Christopher Lee delivers a commanding performance.

• Plot can be difficult to follow, relying heavily on atmosphere over clear narrative.

Google audience: Audience reviews are scarce for this film, but general sentiment points to it being a film that has a dedicated cult following due to its vintage horror atmosphere and Lee's presence, despite its narrative shortcomings.

This film was originally released in the UK as 'The Hand of Power' and in Italy as 'The Witches Mountain', before being re-released in the US under the title 'Red Dragon'.