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Daughters of Darkness
(Vampire) 5*****skulls
*Blood* *Not Particularly Violent* *No Strong Language* *No Nudity* *Sexual Situations* *Not Particularly Gory*
1971/87 Min./Color/Gemini Pictures International & Maya Films & Marion Films/Belgium/Rated R
Director.............Harry Kuemel
Screenplay.......Pierre Droutot & Henry Kuemel
Music................Francois de Coubaix
Producer..........Paul Coullet & Alain C. Guileaume
Special Effects by Eugene Hendricks & Thierry Hollard
Dramatis Personae
Not Available....Delphine Seyrig (Last Year at Marienbad, Muriel)
John Katlin
Danielle Ouimet
Andrea Rau
Paul Esser
George Jamin
Joris Collet
Fous Rademakers (Lifespan)
Critique: Decidedly European, but more bearable than many, providing some of that good Vampirous atmosphere, but aside from the Nice slam bam ending, the otherwise plodding pace make a dissapointingly inconsistent film. Vampires shrinking from running water? There is also a 96 minute version with more boring art/sex, if you are the type who would consider that an advantage.
Title Song: Lenny Cooke
Plot Summary: The new husband Stephan bribes the prorter into "saying there was no reply" at his mother's house. ? The countess Elizabeth Batori looks just like a woman of that name who that had been there many years before. Perhaps it's the daughter. The countess and her assistant savour the thought of the young people. Three young girls had been killed recently in Bruge. A fourth has been found murdered now--gaping wounds were found in her neck, but no blood. The young wife is horrified that aher husband seemed to engoy seeing the dead girl's body. 300 years earlier. Ershebet Batori had bled young gils and clipped off their fingers and nipples. Their young bodies bled over her naked flesh. Illona jumps the gun a bit and the young bride is spooked. As the storm brews, Stephan beats Valery with a belt. The next day, it appears Valery is getting out while the getting is good. Elizabeth, however, hustles out and intercpts her at the train station. Meanwhile, Illona keeps Stephan busy. Stephan and Illona's horseplay gets out of hand as Stephan draws her into the running water of the shower and her struggles cause her to fall on a straightedge. After Illona's body is dispatched, Valery falls under Elizabeth's poewer. The tides have turned and the two women have aligned against Stephan. But what is with Stephan's homosexual lover? What's with his missing mother? Was it Elizabeth? Stephan did know the story of the Batori Vampire...When Stephan beat Illona, it seemed to have put Valerie into Elizabaeth's power. Did that somehow enlist Stephan into the ranks of Vampirehood? There is something intriguing about Stephan's demonisation, and how that draws Valerie into Elizabeth's clutches. But in the end he accuses her of having been on Bruge. What are we to make of that?
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