Dracula II: Ascension

Did someone say Dracula II? Like there haven't been a few hundred Dracula movies already? Oh well: Dracula II: Ascension is a sequel to Dracula 2000, with the ageless vampire again returning from apparent extinction. The twist is that Dracula's blood will be used by a researcher (baroque performance by Craig Sheffer) to reverse the effects of a crippling disease; Sheffer's assistants (read: vampire fodder) will help. Joining this scientific survey is long-haired vampire slayer Jason Scott Lee, who seems to have stalked in from another picture--but never mind Roy Scheider, whose wizened priest might be onscreen for all of 60 seconds. After a reasonably lively opening half-hour, this cheapie devolves into the usual blood-letting and illogical behavior. Some of the vampire lore is pretty diverting (did you know a vampire must untie every knot he sees?), but Dracula II is strictly for enthusiasts of the genre. --Robert Horton