Delphine Seyrig is the best here. Though cinematography, direction, lighting are close to perfect, too.
A far way off the silly kind of lesbian vampire movies that we are usually presented. This one has class, develops - I think - at just the appropriate speed.
John Karlen and Danielle Quimet spoil the whole lot. Without them, it could have developed into a great piece of art. Both are wooden, uninspiring and seemingly uninspired. Therefore, Countess Bathory has a very easy game at getting the upper hand. I for one would have wished far better actors for a serious quarrel to develop instead of Karlen and Quimet just hanging around, seemingly just waiting for the end of the movie and cashing in.
Andrea Rau, on the other hand, is convincing as well in her role as secretary-cum-lover on the way out.
The movie is plastered with minor well done and funny tricks. The one I like best is the silhouette of the Countess folding out on the beach to protect her new acquaintance. Another one is 'mother'. For a moment I thought that 'mother' came from the exact same.'bank of the river' that the Countess comes from. The bumbling retired police officer is well put into his place, just as the concierge.
If you have the chance, go and watch this one. It doesn't reach up to Polanski, but is easily second in the category of treating this subject in more modern times.
A far way off the silly kind of lesbian vampire movies that we are usually presented. This one has class, develops - I think - at just the appropriate speed.
John Karlen and Danielle Quimet spoil the whole lot. Without them, it could have developed into a great piece of art. Both are wooden, uninspiring and seemingly uninspired. Therefore, Countess Bathory has a very easy game at getting the upper hand. I for one would have wished far better actors for a serious quarrel to develop instead of Karlen and Quimet just hanging around, seemingly just waiting for the end of the movie and cashing in.
Andrea Rau, on the other hand, is convincing as well in her role as secretary-cum-lover on the way out.
The movie is plastered with minor well done and funny tricks. The one I like best is the silhouette of the Countess folding out on the beach to protect her new acquaintance. Another one is 'mother'. For a moment I thought that 'mother' came from the exact same.'bank of the river' that the Countess comes from. The bumbling retired police officer is well put into his place, just as the concierge.
If you have the chance, go and watch this one. It doesn't reach up to Polanski, but is easily second in the category of treating this subject in more modern times.