Director Harry Kümel delivers a tantalizing piece of erotic horror in 1971's DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS, where the enchanting vampiress Elizabeth Bathory sets her sights on a beautiful young newlywed couple after a chance encounter brings them together in a lonesome Flemish hotel. DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS fuses the modern Gothic aesthetic and sexual fantasy found in the works of Jean Rollin and Jesus Franco with a far more structured storyline that is amorous without being exploitative. The heart of the film is driven by Delphine Seyrig's sensual performance, whose charm and elegance are enough to seduce the audience right along with the unsuspecting Valerie and Stefan. Though most Eurotrash entries of the time used vampirism as an excuse for blending horror with softcore imagery, the Countess of this film is not so much set on fulfilling her own sexual desire as she is on finding a new source of amusement to accompany her through her ageless existence. With a grace and style that surpasses most other films of its kind, DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS should rate highly with all vampire fans.
Rating: 8/10.
Movies like DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS:
LET'S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH, I VAMPIRI, COUNTESS DRACULA, LISA AND THE DEVIL.
I've seen this movie a handful of times over 20 years, but watching it again last month it finally clicked once and for all: DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS is a stone-cold art-horror classic. Andrea Rau forever!
ReplyDeleteHow does it compare to Hammer's The Vampire Lovers?
ReplyDeleteI am a huge fan of VAMPIRE LOVERS as well, but I would probably rate this one over it. I'm with Will, this should definitely be considered a vampire classic although it has somehow been obscured over the years. I have no doubt that you will enjoy DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS if you enjoyed VAMPIRE LOVERS, TWINS OF EVIL, or COUNTESS DRACULA, Fred!
ReplyDeleteWill, this was only my first time watching, but I'm looking to correct that for the next 20 years!
DAUGHTERS isn't a Gothic-horror extravaganza like Hammer's output; while it has its share of bloodletting and perversity, it has more of a European art-film sensibility, something like Antonioni or Fellini or Resnais, I think. Delphine Seyrig was famous for LAST YEAR AT MARIENBAD (1961), perhaps the ultimate enigmatic arthouse movie. But don't let that turn you off: Seyrig and Rau are two of the most stunning vampire ladies one could ever hope to lay eyes on!
ReplyDeleteWill is spot on with his comments, and the influence of Resnais' LAST YEAR IN MARIENBAD is notable, not only for the casting of Delphine Seyrig, but also for the eerie and isolated hotel setting. I think Kumel is appropriating generic elements here for his own self-conscious aims (mostly I would say disitribution and profit), while its fairly clearly DAUGHTERS has a more philosophical quality. The use of symbolic colour, and the themes of time and alienation were major art cinema preoccupations of the 1960's. A comparison with Hammer's clunky treatment of the same material (COUNTESS DRACULA) illustrates amply the superior qualities of DAUGHTERS.
ReplyDeleteEndorsements from both Will and Shaun should be reason enough to check the film out immediately, Fred!
ReplyDeleteShaun, I would put this in closer leagues with I VAMPIRI over COUNTESS DRACULA as well. Still have yet to see LAST YEAR IN MARIENBAD, though.
LAST YEAR IN MARIENBAD can be an infuriating watch, it all depends on your mindset and attitude to the type of art film being made in the early 1960's. But you're open minded Carl so you might get something out of it. I've always personally felt it was a major influence on Kubrick when he came to make THE SHINING. Two other Resnais films I'd urge you to see prior to watching MARIENBAD are NIGHT AND FOG and HIROSHIMA MON AMOUR. But I think MARIENBAD should be approached with caution.
ReplyDeleteYes this is a world away from Hammer's base and pandering COUNTESS DRACULA, a film which is unforgivably boring. I think the comparison with I VAMPIRI is more illuminating and instructive..good call!
I have been attempting to expand my overall knowledge and experience in all forms of cinematic art, so I will be sure to add those to my watch list immediately Shaun!
ReplyDeleteGreat film, this one. I first caught a portion of it as a little kid on some VHS, cut no doubt. We were at my moms friends house and she put this movie in. When the sex scene popped up at the start, my mom went ballistic. I did manage to catch some of the ending, though, which was an indelible image to my young mind at the time.
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