Welcome to the new profile
We're still working on updating some profile features. To see the badges, ratings breakdowns, and polls for this profile, please go to the previous version.
Reviews5
ragnarok2001's rating
OK, a trawl through my past user comments will reveal that I am really interested in this genre of movies for purely purient interest. Having said that, I do know a good film when I see one. While Holywood rarely produces these, neither does Jean Rollin.
I simply cannot understand how some people can give films such as these high marks. Different strokes obviously. To be fair, this is the best produced Rollin film (out of three) that I have seen, but the others were pretty bad, so that is no commendation. Can bad acting, sloppy plotting and woeful gore effects really be that easily ignored?
The story revolves around a girl brought back from the dead who needs blood to sustain herself, her childhood friend's efforts to meet her need, and a French-American's efforts to expose what is going on. The story is threadbare and doesn't go anywhere. Everyone but the vampire girl bleed profusely by the film's end, but to no effect. Little horror, only litres of fake blood and latex gore.
Worst of all, there is little nudity or sex action to compensate. The opportunity of a lesbian relationship (de rigueur I would have thought!) between the vampire and her girlfriend is not realised, and there is only one sex scene. Isn't this the reason thats these films are made?!? I can think of no other. The other Rollin films I have seen (earlier than this one) are worse overall, but manage to compensate by some spirited flesh action.
And have I mentioned the screaming that occurs throughout the film? It's a wonder my neighbours haven't called the police.
So to those who rate this film highly, purporting it to be some kind of arty French tour de force: I have seen films which are the real thing, and it is an insult to competant French directors to make any comparison with Rollin.
I simply cannot understand how some people can give films such as these high marks. Different strokes obviously. To be fair, this is the best produced Rollin film (out of three) that I have seen, but the others were pretty bad, so that is no commendation. Can bad acting, sloppy plotting and woeful gore effects really be that easily ignored?
The story revolves around a girl brought back from the dead who needs blood to sustain herself, her childhood friend's efforts to meet her need, and a French-American's efforts to expose what is going on. The story is threadbare and doesn't go anywhere. Everyone but the vampire girl bleed profusely by the film's end, but to no effect. Little horror, only litres of fake blood and latex gore.
Worst of all, there is little nudity or sex action to compensate. The opportunity of a lesbian relationship (de rigueur I would have thought!) between the vampire and her girlfriend is not realised, and there is only one sex scene. Isn't this the reason thats these films are made?!? I can think of no other. The other Rollin films I have seen (earlier than this one) are worse overall, but manage to compensate by some spirited flesh action.
And have I mentioned the screaming that occurs throughout the film? It's a wonder my neighbours haven't called the police.
So to those who rate this film highly, purporting it to be some kind of arty French tour de force: I have seen films which are the real thing, and it is an insult to competant French directors to make any comparison with Rollin.
One day I will have to sit down & write my plot synopsis for my ideal vampire film. Vampyres has elements of that ideal, but fails to hit the proverbial nail on its head.
As has been outlined in other comments, this begins with two lesbians being shot in coitus by an unknown murderer. Flash forward (or back one reviewer has suggested) to a young couple camping on the grounds of an abandoned castle, and the "man-fatale" being accosted by a beautiful hitch hiker on the road and brought to the castle to be seduced - and sucked in more ways than one!
It is revealed that the gorgeous and shapely hitch hiker has a blonde lover, and that they are in fact the two women shot at the film's outset. They "process" a number of other men through the castle, seducing them then sucking then dry, but our leading man is kept alive to serve as a nightly snack. Things eventually get out of hand and the two innocent campers bleed fatally, though our leading man gets away.
One thing that annoys me is sloppy plots. This film is better than some of its Continental cousins (think Jean Rollin or Jess Franco), but there are still too many things left dangling. After developing the characters of the campers throughout the film, they just end up as vampire fodder. And don't the police ever wonder why the young men showing up in frequent car crashes are naked and slashed with knife wounds?
Although gory at times, the film is hardly scary. One annoying feature is what seems to be suspense "build-up" music which is pointless since nothing suspenseful happens.
On the plus side are the two leading vampire ladies, played by the busty brunette Marianne Morris, and blonde Playmate Anuluka (must track down that 1973 issue!), both 24 at the time! They manage to squeeze in enough nudity and sex scenes, and the girl-girl ones are especially good, though brief. And I do love to see a gorgeous naked babe slurp blood, which they do to good effect! The female camper, played by ex-Doctor Who girl Sally Faulkner, even gets bare, though that scene leads nowhere.
Another plus is that even though the male lead eventually escapes, the vampires get away with it. I HATE films where justice is done by blundering males rescuing their women folks from evil.
To tie up the plot more tightly I would have liked to see the female camper initiated into the vampyre sisterhood, do in her husband, have a naked romp with her sisters, then all three of them kill and drain the dopey leading male. It was such a shame to see her disposed of, especially when the film contained hints that things could have turned out differently. A more unambiguous victory for evil seduction! Hmmm, maybe I should write a screenplay?!
As has been outlined in other comments, this begins with two lesbians being shot in coitus by an unknown murderer. Flash forward (or back one reviewer has suggested) to a young couple camping on the grounds of an abandoned castle, and the "man-fatale" being accosted by a beautiful hitch hiker on the road and brought to the castle to be seduced - and sucked in more ways than one!
It is revealed that the gorgeous and shapely hitch hiker has a blonde lover, and that they are in fact the two women shot at the film's outset. They "process" a number of other men through the castle, seducing them then sucking then dry, but our leading man is kept alive to serve as a nightly snack. Things eventually get out of hand and the two innocent campers bleed fatally, though our leading man gets away.
One thing that annoys me is sloppy plots. This film is better than some of its Continental cousins (think Jean Rollin or Jess Franco), but there are still too many things left dangling. After developing the characters of the campers throughout the film, they just end up as vampire fodder. And don't the police ever wonder why the young men showing up in frequent car crashes are naked and slashed with knife wounds?
Although gory at times, the film is hardly scary. One annoying feature is what seems to be suspense "build-up" music which is pointless since nothing suspenseful happens.
On the plus side are the two leading vampire ladies, played by the busty brunette Marianne Morris, and blonde Playmate Anuluka (must track down that 1973 issue!), both 24 at the time! They manage to squeeze in enough nudity and sex scenes, and the girl-girl ones are especially good, though brief. And I do love to see a gorgeous naked babe slurp blood, which they do to good effect! The female camper, played by ex-Doctor Who girl Sally Faulkner, even gets bare, though that scene leads nowhere.
Another plus is that even though the male lead eventually escapes, the vampires get away with it. I HATE films where justice is done by blundering males rescuing their women folks from evil.
To tie up the plot more tightly I would have liked to see the female camper initiated into the vampyre sisterhood, do in her husband, have a naked romp with her sisters, then all three of them kill and drain the dopey leading male. It was such a shame to see her disposed of, especially when the film contained hints that things could have turned out differently. A more unambiguous victory for evil seduction! Hmmm, maybe I should write a screenplay?!
Dear oh dear. It might be easy to take cheap swipes at M. Rollin, but this looks likes such an amateurish effort. Terrible acting, contrived and sloppy action, meandering plot, cheap props. I hate to twist the knife, but it certainly breathes new life into the expression "Z-grade".
The video blurb looked so promising - two girls raped by wreckers, take refuge in an abandoned abbey where they make a pact with the Devil to seek revenge. But Jean Rollin seems determined to disappoint. Way too much time is spent on watching people walking long distances, or labouring blindingly obvious plot developments (the psychic brothel madam excels at this!)
There is not nearly enough skin to compensate for having to sit through this, though some spiritied sex scenes do capture the attention. The biggest draw of the film for me was the female member of the wrecker gang (character Tina). I wish I knew who the actress was. Gorgeous, spirited, and great without clothes! Shame she can't act, but I may excuse her. I have a soft spot for beautiful girls who get sexually aroused by wicked deeds.
Bizarre points include the Devil's two attendants - a female clown, and a Rasputin look-a-like. And never did so much plaster statuary give its life for a movie!
In summary, only rent this video for the gorgeous female wrecker, fast forward through the rest.
The video blurb looked so promising - two girls raped by wreckers, take refuge in an abandoned abbey where they make a pact with the Devil to seek revenge. But Jean Rollin seems determined to disappoint. Way too much time is spent on watching people walking long distances, or labouring blindingly obvious plot developments (the psychic brothel madam excels at this!)
There is not nearly enough skin to compensate for having to sit through this, though some spiritied sex scenes do capture the attention. The biggest draw of the film for me was the female member of the wrecker gang (character Tina). I wish I knew who the actress was. Gorgeous, spirited, and great without clothes! Shame she can't act, but I may excuse her. I have a soft spot for beautiful girls who get sexually aroused by wicked deeds.
Bizarre points include the Devil's two attendants - a female clown, and a Rasputin look-a-like. And never did so much plaster statuary give its life for a movie!
In summary, only rent this video for the gorgeous female wrecker, fast forward through the rest.