Vampyros Lesbos Reviews

Experimental vampirism that can fascinate as well as annoy. Franco lacks fangs but not the bewitching Soledad.

Viewing the movie today and in their entirety (as in Spain wonderful thing was brutally mutilated the film at its premiere), "Vampyros lesbos" emerges as one of the most curious and worthy, not better, works of the author (apart from to be the most dear to him), because it denotes a more original film and determined sense and a commitment within the terror inspiring, where they are also palpable defects in construction of the script, budget constraints (that blood ...) or a court music cabaret that grates too as background accompaniment.

Apart from the mediocrity of most of the actors (except for the excellent Dennis Price), especially if they are faced with an admirable, as enveloping as helpless, Soledad Miranda, who made a magnificent composition full of character, determination and charming natural and soon after perish tragically in a traffic accident. Jesus Franco also reserves the role of sadistic depraved sex doll collector, fairly well achieved.

Thus, a lesbian version of Dracula's Stoker frankly suggestive and very respectable filmography that improves an author's particular expression purely Spanish but stranger here, it is practically the only place where movie has yet endorsement: I seems quite unfair as more meritorious than others and when it could / wanted to make movies with his style and freedom has achieved good yields and very personal.

Cult director Jess Franco's sexy, psychedelic and surreal vampire tale. Linda (Ewa Stroemberg) falls under the hypnotic spell of Countess Nadine (the beautiful Soledad Miranda). Through dreams, she lures Linda to her secluded island manor, eventually seducing her and biting her neck. Linda awakens in a clinic run by Dr. Seward (Dennis Price), who we later find out wants to use Nadine to become a vampire himself. Countess Nadine is descended from Count Dracula's vampiric bloodline, and she intends on continuing the line through Linda.

Franco uses elements of Bram Stoker's Dracula and Dracula's Guest, Sheridan LeFanu's Carmilla, and the legend of Countess Bathory to weave together this gothic vampire story meets hallucinogenic '70s-era kitsch. The swinging lounge/funk/psychedelia-laced soundtrack by Franco himself, along with fellow musicians Manfred Hübler and Sigi Schwab, certainly adds to the energy and ambience of the film. I love Franco's choice of locations too, interiors and exteriors. They fit the dream-like style of the movie. Of course, anyone who's familiar with Jess Franco's films knows to expect frequent "zooms", some "zip pans", and the occasional "herky-jerky" camera moves; but that just comes with the territory, and it's not as noticeable in this film as some of his others.

For those who haven't tried a Franco film, I can't think of a better movie to take your first bite out of than Vampyros Lesbos - except maybe Venus In Furs, which is even better in my opinion. If you don't like either of these two films you might as well skip the rest of Franco's lengthy filmography. Along with Italy's Joe D'Amato and France's Jean Rollin, Jess Franco is to filmmaking what Thunderbird is to fine wine - "An American Classic", you say? No, an acquired taste that's really cheap and sleazy but gets the job done! And once you acquire a hunger for Franco films, you'll keep coming back for more, no matter how bad a taste it leaves in your mouth. Can you say S-A-D-O-M-A-N-I-A? I knew you could. Bottoms up!