14 October 2024
The Vampire Lovers (1970)
91 min.
Directed by Roy Ward Baker.
With Ingrid Pitt, Peter Cushing, Dawn Addams, Kate O'Mara, George Cole, Jon Finch, Douglas Wilmer, Pippa Steel, Madeline Smith.
The first entry in Hammer's Karnstein trilogy is a moderately enjoyable romp.

Due to an illness in the family, lovely Marcilla (Pitt) ends up staying with the hospitable General Spielsdorf (Cushing) and his pretty young daughter Laura (Steel).

But mysteriously, a seemingly healthy Laura suddenly takes ill...and dies.

Turns out 'Marcilla' is really Mircalla Karnstein - one of the lone descendants of the centuries-old Karnstein vampire clan. And her thirst for young female blood has yet to be fully quenched...

Will this infamous evil somehow finally be laid to rest?

Polish beauty Ingrid Pitt delivers an entrancing performance as the seductive Mircalla, a statuesque figure combining icy stoicism with sultry eroticism.

Stalwart genre icon Cushing is underused here, but does get to partake in some nice stake-through-the-heart action in the decent climax.

No classic, but good midnight viewing thanks to a leisurely pace and an eye-pleasing color palette.

Followed by Lust for a Vampire and then Twins of Evil.

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