A Roman Consul, on his way to fight a border war, stations a garrison of soldiers in a provincial town. The townspeople aren't happy with this situation but decide it's in their best interests to cooperate. However, the Tribune left in charge of the garrison proves to be cruel and demanding.

When a travelling troupe of performers accept a commission from the mysterious Count Drago (Christopher Lee) and fail to heed the warnings of a local witch (Donald Sutherland), they find themselves trapped in the CASTLE OF THE LIVING DEAD. Terror ensues as they are picked off one-by-one as the Count enacts a diabolical scheme: the perversion of science to achieve immortality. A grim dwarf hero battles the Count's scythe-wielding henchman; a surreal secret museum of the Count's victims (whose number includes British horror filmmaker Michael Reeves) and the arresting Italian baroque setting all make for a uniquely cult film experience.