Lake of Dracula (1971)

[bunniefuu]

A TOHO PRODUCTION

Let's go.

We're going, Akiko.

Don't play around after dark.

Leo!

Leo!

Leo! Where are you going?

Leo!

Leo!

Leo! Come back!

Have you seen my dog?

Miss?

LAKE OF DRACULA

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
FUMIO TANAKA

SCREENPLAY BY
El OGAWA & MASARU TAKESUE

CINEMATOGRAPHY BY
ROKURO NISHIGAKI

MUSIC BY
RIICHIRO MANABE

CAST:

CHOEI TAKAHASHI,
SANAE EMI, MIDORI FUJITA

SHIN KISHIDA,
KAKU TAKASHINA, HIDEJI OTAKI

DIRECTED BY
MICHIO YAMAMOTO

Leo! Let's go. Come on!

Leo!

Wait!

To the house. This way.
Let's go.

Hello, Miss.
Finished your picture?

Not yet.

I want to get it finished
over this holiday.

It's busy, being a school teacher.

By the way, Kyusaku,
can you fix my door?

- The lock's broken again.
- Of course.

Leo!

Leo!

Miss! Are you all right?

I'm fine. Thanks.

But that's very unusual,
Leo disobeying you.

Leo!

What's the matter?

NISHIHARA TRANSPORT

- What's this?
- Dunno.

You don't know?

- Who sent it?
- Dunno.

I was just told to deliver it here.

Hey, Stop joking around!

Damn, it's heavy!

I'll come up to your house later, Miss.
After supper, eh?

Thank you.

Leo, come on.

Who could've sent this?

Damn, what a sick joke!
That driver!

Wow, what is this?

That's a difficult question!
Even I can't answer that.

I can't get it out of my head, that eye.

It's that dream of yours!

You know, the horrible one
you had when you were five.

Maybe.

I don't remember it exactly.

- Your boyfriend won't be happy with you.
- Why?

He told you to forget it
or it'll become an obsession.

I want to forget about it.
It was just a stupid dream.

But I can't forget that eye.
I don't know why.

That's why I painted it.
I thought I'd find something...

- And did you?
- No.

But something strange did happen.

Something strange?

Leo ran off all of a sudden.

Just like in the dream.

He ran off.
Off into the distance.

In my dream,
the other Leo was very small.

He ignored me and ran off.

And then...

No... I can't remember.

That'll be Saeki.

Don't let the dream bother you,
or I'll steal him from you.

- Hi.
- Welcome.

Wait a second, I saw the name.

It said from Dracula
via Nishihara Transport.

I've never heard of Nishihara Transport.

But it must be yours...

Damn it! They must think I'm an idiot.

The driver was just in a bad mood.

Yes, yes. I understand.

But it's natural for me
to worry about it.

Well, you're fine now.

Actually, cases like yours
are quite common.

You experienced terror
in your childhood.

There is no reasonable
explanation for it.

That's why you create illusions
of hypothetical enemies.

Illusions of hypothetical enemies?

I plan to write about the theme
of women's latent terror.

Natsuko!

- You're responsible, Saeki.
- Me?

Why don't you marry her right now
and make her happy?

Then she'll forget all about the dream.

You've got me there!

Anyway, I'll leave you be.
Enjoy yourselves.

Natsuko!

Maybe she's in love with you.

You've got a funny sense of humor.

I must be going.

Oh, is that the time already?

That's funny...

Kyusaku hasn't come.

- Shall I come in with you?
- I'll be fine. Kyusaku'll take me home.

He can fight the bears off!

- Bye.
- Goodnight.

Night.

Good evening!

Kyusaku?

Kyusaku? Are you home?

Is Kyusaku in?

You look great.

Thanks, Natsuko.
I'm glad I came to town.

You looked awful last night,
like you'd seen a ghost.

Yes, but...

You saw a stranger at Kyusaku's,
who didn't answer you, right?

So what?

Maybe you're right.
He could be a friend of the owner.

He must've been surprised
to see you breaking in.

But it wasn't very nice of Kyusaku
not to show up.

That... that sound.

What's wrong, sis?

- Nothing.
- That's good.

It's almost dinner time.
Let's eat out, shall we?

Hey.

Saeki here.

- Oh, it's you?
- I'm in town.

Yes. With Natsuko.

- How about dinner somewhere?
- Good idea. Let's have steak.

Dr. Saeki, a new patient.

Hello? I'm sorry,
a new patient's just came in.

I'll drop by later.

Accident or illness?

- I can't tell.
- You can't tell?

She was found on the road.

She had no visible injuries,

but she was unconscious
and close to death.

She's lost a lot of blood.

Give her a blood transfusion.

Nurse, where was she found?

By Lake Fujimi.

Lake Fujimi?

Leo, we've bought you some snacks!

That's strange.

Leg?

- He's been stolen.
- No!

- Who'd steal him?
- He wouldn't run away.

Anyway, I'll go and look for him.

Leo!

Leo!

Leo!

Leo!

Kyusaku, it's Leo...

You didn't...?

What are you doing?

Let go of me!

- You are in!
- Can you lend us a boat?

Hey!

- A dog bite?
- The wound would be bigger.

What on earth was it?

- We know who she is?
- Yes.

She lost her memory,

but she's a local farmer's daughter.
She ran away from home last night.

- Ran away?
- Yes.

Some people saw her hitchhiking
near Lake Fujimi.

Best wait till her memory's back.

Then we'll find out
how she lost so much blood.

Have another. It'll warm you up.

Thank you, I'm fine for now.

I searched the house,
but there's nobody in.

Were you really attacked?

- Are you feeling all right?
- Yes. My house isn't far.

I don't understand what's going on.

Isn't she a bit crazy?

Let's go somewhere else.

Leg?

Natsuko!

Where are you?

Natsuko?

Erm... Mr. Saeki, please.
This is Miss Kashiwagi.

Please, come here right now.
It's awful.

What's the matter?
What happened?

I can't explain. Please, just come!

- Natsuko is involved too.
- Natsuko?

She's missing.
Maybe she's been kidnapped.

In fact, I...

Natsuko!

You're acting weird!
What surprised you?

Hello? This is Natsuko.
Sorry to have startled you.

I just went for a walk around the lake.

And Akiko's mad because
you couldn't make it for dinner!

That's not true!

She's impossible.

I've got a dying patient.
I have to stay here tonight.

I'll see her tomorrow.
Okay. Goodnight.

Goodnight.

You look petrified. What's the matter?

I'm sorry.
I'm so afraid, I even suspect you.

But, Leo is...

- He's dead.
- Eh? But...

And... Kyusaku tried to r*pe me.

I don't understand
what's happening. Why?

With Kyusaku,
it's not all that surprising.

His eyes shine
whenever he looks at you.

- Haven't you noticed?
- Even so...

- I'm tired. I'm off to bed.
- Natsuko!

Have you had dinner?

I've already eaten.

Natsuko...

Where are you going?

Wait!

What?

Wait! Doctor!

Wait!

Hey! Come here!

Natsuko...

Natsuko!

Morning.

Takashi!

Hey! What's the matter?

I was so frightened last night,
I really thought I was going mad.

- What a pair of lovebirds!
- Natsuko!

- Where were you last night?
- Last night?

Last night, you went out alone.

What have you got to say?

Are you dreaming?

- I didn't go out...
- Liar!

Why are you lying?

- I saw you with my own eyes!
- You didn't sleep well last night, sis.

- You dreamt it.
- That's not true!

It wasn't a dream!

She keeps shouting at me!

- She hates me.
- How can you say that, Natsuko?

Just hang on a moment.

It's not like you two to fight.

You must be tired, you've hardly slept.

It's such a shame, but my patient died
last night. I'm exhausted.

Natsuko, how about a hot cup of coffee?

Right away!

Tell me everything.

If that wasn't true, I...

I'm really going crazy.

She died instantly.

But there was no autopsy,
because the parents refused.

So the body was cremated.

Her case and your accident...
both occurred near this lake.

Maybe... there's possibly a link.

Then you believe me, Takashi?

Yes. How can I think
you're going crazy?

Hello?

Is anybody in?

What do you want, Doctor?

Kyusaku...
Why did you do that to me yesterday?

What do you mean, Miss?

What did I do?

Who was the stranger I saw here
the night before?

Who was it?

My master.

Master?

But I know your master well.

He's changed.

I'd like to meet him.

- He isn't home.
- Isn't he?

Will you leave now?

I'm busy.

Excuse me,
but I have some questions...

Don't.

He's acting very strangely.

It's possible he k*lled the dog.

I just don't understand it.
Why would he do that?

Listen...

Many people believe in God.

But why don't they believe
in the devil?

Akiko...
Why do you say that?

There. Let's see if it works.

Thank you so much.

Want some coffee?

Hello? Kashiwagi speaking.

I'd make a good locksmith.
Nothing will shift that door.

- Nothing's going to happen.
- As long as you stay here with me.

That was the hospital.

They want you down there at once
to work the night shift.

What a nuisance.

They didn't stay on the line.
But they want you there now.

I don't believe it. It's my day off.

Akiko...

I'll call them back. I won't go.

Go on. I'll be all right.

I'm not a child.

If anything happens,
call me right away.

- Is it going to rain?
- You'd better hurry.

Night, then.

Goodnight.

You look surprised, sis.

I met him last night by the lake.
He came to see you.

You're hurting me, Natsuko. Let go.

No. You've gone a little crazy.

- I won't let you go.
- What?

Don't be afraid, young lady.

I've taken a liking to you.

And that picture of yours.

A first-rate work of art.

It's wonderful.

The fear felt by the artist
is portrayed so vividly.

Why...?

Why are you...?

My wonderful big sister.

So clever and so pretty.

Our parents loved you so much.

Well, that's all over now!

You'll be like me.

Natsuko!

Akiko!

That man? Is that him?

I saw his eyes.
They were golden! Golden!

Wait!

What? Kyusaku?

He was hiding in the car.

Now I know everything
you said was true.

No!

I'd hoped it wasn't.

I wanted it to be an illusion.

It's no illusion! It's real!

The dead man had
that strange mark on his neck.

Just like the patient!

Listen...

Do you believe everything?

I know what you think.

But now...

We have to find Natsuko.

Natsuko?

Takashi!

Natsuko?

- A pulse. She's still alive!
- Natsuko!

Faster, Takashi. Hurry!

I know. But the fog's getting thicker,
I can't go any faster.

Natsuko.

It'll be fine.
Takashi's taking you to the hospital.

We'll look after you.

If I...

What?

If I die...

burn my body...
as soon as possible.

What are you talking about?
Don't talk about dying!

I beg of you...

Natsuko?

To the autopsy room, Doctor?

Yes.
Prepare it for tomorrow.

Yes.

Takashi...

Natsuko said she wanted
to be cremated.

Autopsy first, then cremation.

Besides...
there's something I have to check.

You must be tired,
but I need you to help me.

Yes.

Here, sit down.

Maybe we're thinking the same thing.

Who is this man?

Those people that you knew,
they were all transformed...

...into devils.

The marks on their necks,
the loss of blood...

There's only one answer.

A vampire.

Some of those legends
about vampires and cannibals...

...they sound like true stories.

Even nowadays, you read about
numerous cases of cannibalism.

In 1948, a man in England
was ex*cuted for...

...for drinking human blood.

According to the legends, the victims
of Dracula become his sl*ves.

He feeds off their blood.

Shortly after they die,

they revive to then become
vampires themselves.

Only fire and a stake
through the heart can k*ll them.

Enough.

I want to know the details
of that strange dream you had.

Today, you saw his eyes.

But, in your subconscious,
you saw them long ago.

I have to find out why.

You can't.
I've tried, it's no use.

I'll use hypnosis.

Will it help?

It may. I've used it before.

Reach outwith both your hands.

Hands together.

Close your eyes.

Separate your palms a little.

Between your palms,
the wind is blowing.

The wind is blowing.

You feel good.

You're getting sleepy.
Very sleepy.

Now, as you grow sleepy,
place your hands on your lap.

Akiko, you're five years old now.

Tell me where you are.

The town where I was born.

A small harbor town
on the Noto Peninsula, right?

Yes.

Akiko, what are you doing?

Playing-

- With Leo?
- Leo?

- Yes, with Leo.
- Something terrible is happening.

Leo's running away.

Leo! Where are you going?

Just as I thought.

It wasn't a dream.

You really did see something.

The lady was dead.

It's no good.
That's all I can remember.

Nothing else.

Take your time and try to recall.

There's one thing
that's very clear to me.

The reason that you remember it
as a dream.

Children are wise.

You probably knew that adults wouldn't
believe such an unusual thing.

When your parents said it was a dream,
you kept quiet and agreed.

Well, you tried to believe
it was a dream.

To please your parents.

You told me before,

that you were very lonely
after Natsuko was born.

You thought she'd stolen
your father and mother.

But that horrible incident
made you even more nervous.

You couldn't disagree
with anything they said.

That way, you won your parents
back from Natsuko.

Yes, that's right.

I didn't care about what I saw,
whether it was a dream or not.

All I wanted was... my parents' love.

Natsuko must've hated me.

Because she was left alone
after the incident.

Always.

Always!

Probably, deep in her heart,
she hated you.

But yours was a natural child's desire.

Who could blame you?

Hello? Yes, Saeki speaking.

Yes. Yes.

Is that so? I understand.

Thanks.

That was the police.

They've made a thorough search,
but Kyusaku's body is gone.

The vampire must've hidden it.

Anyway... we've become embroiled
in an unnatural world.

Nobody will believe us.

Doctor!

Doctor, the body is gone!

How is she? Nurse?

I heard the back door open.
I found her here.

She needs blood.

Give her a transfusion!

Akiko.

That's why...

That's why Natsuko asked me
to cremate her quickly.

There are cases of them
coming back to life.

- But those wounds...
- Let's go back to your hometown.

We can't wait.

We must find out the truth
about what you saw 18 years ago.

You should get some sleep.
Then you can do some of the driving.

Right.

Yes, this is the place.

The sunset was a beautiful deep red
that day as well.

Which way did the dog run?

That's the truck.

- The one that came to the house!
- What?

NISHIHARA TRANSPORT

He's dead.

The same driver?

Why?

Why did he come here?

Akiko!

Right, then...

That piano?
That's where the lady was?

You mustn't get scared and run away.
You have to remember everything.

Akiko!

That man...

It's that man...
The woman's blood...

What?

I was saved
by an old foreign gentleman.

He lead Leo and me
out of the house to safety.

Without him,
I would've been another victim.

That's the old man.

Sir?

Yes...

I was locked away.
There, I died.

What?

And then, I came back to life.

Welcome.

I've been waiting for you, my bride.

If my father hadn't stopped me


you would have been my bride
for all these years.

Akiko, be strong!

I know exactly what he is!
A madman!

You're just a madman
who believes he's a vampire!

Your victims' sl*very and resurrection
are just phenomena created by hypnotism!

Don't be taken in. He's no devil!

Natsuko!

Takashi!

Natsuko!

Look.

She's beautiful in death.

The devil's dead.

Her soul has found peace.