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Comedy Cult Classic

Disco fever bites deep when Dracula’s granddaughter runs off to New York for love and nightlife.

NOCTURNA

From Transylvania to Manhattan… She'll Get Under Your Skin!

1979 · 1h 25m · R · Comedy / Horror · IMDB TMDB

Dracula´s granddaughter, Nocturna , hops into bed with a disco guitarist and then decide she´s in love with him, but the Count is against their courtship, so she flees Transylvania with her new love and heads to New York City, where she meets up with fellow bloodsuckers.

Quick Answer

What is Nocturna about?

Nocturna is a 1979 American comedy-horror film directed by Harry Hurwitz about Dracula’s granddaughter who falls in love with a disco guitarist and flees to New York City, where romance and vampiric antics ensue.

Programmer's Pick

If you ever wondered what happens when Dracula’s kin swap capes for sequins, Nocturna delivers the answer in full disco regalia. Nai Bonet vamps it up as the lovestruck hotelier, while John Carradine broods in the crypt. This is vampire comedy at its most glitter-stained.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

In 1979 Transylvania, the once-mighty House of Dracula faces financial woes, forcing the family castle to moonlight as Hotel Transylvania. Nocturna, Dracula’s alluring granddaughter, manages the establishment, while the Count himself lurks in the crypts below. Seeking to boost business (and blood supply), she invites an American disco band, the Moment of Truth, to perform in the hotel’s cabaret. As their music fills the Claret Room, Nocturna experiences unfamiliar feelings, especially toward the group’s guitarist. This film blends vampiric tradition with disco-era satire, setting up a collision of supernatural legacy, passion, and a beat-driven nightlife.

Details & Specs

Director
Harry Hurwitz
Writers
Harry Hurwitz, Nai Bonet
Release
1979
Runtime
1h 25m
Country
United States of America
Language
English
Genres
Comedy, Horror
Also Known As
Nocturna Granddaughter of Dracula

Why This Matters

Conceived by its star Nai Bonet and directed by Harry Hurwitz, this 1979 film blends vampire mythology with disco culture and premiered at the Paris Festival of Fantastic Films to align with its U.S. release.
— SassyFlix Curator

Cast & Crew

View all →
Director: Harry Hurwitz Writers: Harry Hurwitz +1 more

Why Cult

Vampires in Disco

The Dracula clan collides with the pulsing beats of late-70s disco, complete with live band performances and dance scenes.

Female Dracula Lead

Nocturna, Dracula’s granddaughter, takes center stage as both manager and romantic lead, blending classic horror with modern independence.

John Carradine Dracula

Horror legend John Carradine returns to the role of Count Dracula, presiding over family drama and nightclub mishaps.

Satirical Vampire Comedy

The film gleefully lampoons both horror conventions and disco culture, serving up fangs, laughs, and a touch of skin.

Scene Gallery

Threat File

Trigger

Nocturna falls in love with a human and flees to New York

Threat

Count Dracula’s opposition to the romance

Effect

Attempts to separate the lovers, spells, and abductions

Countermeasure

Allies help Nocturna and Jimmy resist Dracula’s power

Setting

Hotel Transylvania and New York City discos

Questions from the Vault

Who directed Nocturna? +

Nocturna was directed by Harry Hurwitz.

How long is Nocturna? +

Nocturna has a runtime of 85 minutes.

What genre is Nocturna? +

Nocturna is a comedy-horror film.

Where can I watch Nocturna? +

You can watch Nocturna on SassyFlix.

How does disco music affect Nocturna? +

The music performed by the disco group triggers strange sensations in Nocturna, sparking passion and even altering her vampiric nature.

Trailers & Clips