The Return of Count Yorga

The Return of Count Yorga
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Bob Kelljan
Produced by	Michael Macready
Written by	Bob Kelljan Yvonne Wilder
Starring	Robert Quarry Mariette Hartley Roger Perry Yvonne Wilder George Macready Rudy De Luca Edward Walsh Craig T. Nelson
Music by	Bill Marx
Cinematography	Bill Butler
Edited by	Laurette Odney Fabien D. Tordjmann
Production company	Peppertree Productions Inc.
Distributed by	American International Pictures
Release date	1971 (1971)
Running time	97 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The Return of Count Yorga, originally titled Yorga Returns, is a 1971 American vampire horror film directed by Bob Kelljan and starring Robert Quarry. It is the sequel to the 1970 film Count Yorga, Vampire.

The story features Robert Quarry returning as the infamous vampire Count Yorga, along with his servant Brudah, both of whom have been revived by the supernatural Santa Ana winds. Actor Roger Perry, who had a lead role in the first film, appears again but as a different character.

Cynthia Nelson (Mariette Hartley), a teacher at the local orphanage, talks with a pastor while watching the sun set before getting ready for a fundraising costume party. Cynthia mentions the "Santa Ana winds" which the pastor states are an evil omen. One of the orphans, Tommy, wanders into the nearby cemetery where he faintly hears a voice ordering "Rise, rise; it is time." Tommy initially dismisses it, but as he stops to rest, vampire women rise from their graves. Seeing this, Tommy tries to escape the cemetery only to run into the clutches of Count Yorga, who is waiting for them.

In his human guise, he goes to the orphanage during their costume party and fund raiser, biting one of the pretty guests, Mitzi, outside the event room before introducing himself to those present, among which is Cynthia whom he becomes infatuated with. When a weakened Mitzi stumbles into the room, he leaves as the others are attending to her. Not shortly after, he returns to his manor and a makeshift throne room overlooking several coffins, greeted by Brudda, Yorga's hulking facially disfigured valet, and the female vampires from earlier ready to do his bidding. Yorga sends the undead women to Cynthia house, using mind-control to get Cynthia's family along with Tommy, who was sleeping over, into the living before his brides break in and attack them. The family is quickly overrun with Cynthia's mother, father and sister, Ellen, fed upon by the undead horde. Tommy is untouched, showcasing he's under Yorga's power while Cynthia herself is subdued but unharmed and carried by the brides to Yorga's residence where she awakens. Due to Yorga's hypnotic suggestions, she has no memory of the attack. Yorga tells Cynthia that there was a car accident and she was left in his care by her family. He tries to charm the young woman into willingly becoming his bride though he is warned by his live-in witch that Cynthia will bring his end if he doesn't kill her or turn her into a vampire soon.

The next morning, Jennifer, the Nelsons' mute maid, finds the massacre scene and calls the police. However as she does, Brudda drags the corpses of Cynthia's mother and father to a quicksand pit on Yorga's property, disposing of the physical evidence. By the time the police arrive though, all of the evidence has been mysteriously cleared away, and Tommy claims that nothing has happened. Despite the confusion, David Baldwin, Cynthia's fiancé, is suspicious about the Nelsons' disappearance. Meanwhile, memories of the attack on her family slowly start to resurface in Cynthia's mind as she stays within Yorga's manor. Jennifer, suspicious about Tommy's involvement with the Nelson's disappearance and his visits to Yorga's mansion, loses her patience and slaps Tommy who stares at her in a vengeful manner. Meanwhile, Yorga goes to claim Mitzi, killing her boyfriend near their boat house before feeding on her once more, this time finishing draining her completely and adding her to his vampiric harem.