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AMONGST THE FIRST FILMS I LOVE ARE TWO ATMOSPHERIC AND SENSUAL TALES OF HORROR THAT ARE RECCOMENDED TO ALL, |
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1971's DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS, directed by Harry Kumel, was quite a find amongst my first video rentals (Ironically, both of these films on this page were on Continental Video back then!), and the one actress that caught my attention was Andrea Rau as Ilona Harczy, perfect as a companion to Delphine Seyrig's Dietrich-esque Bathory, a character which was used in numerous films including THE LEGEND OF BLOOD CASTLE (a good Horror of The Late 70's). John Karlen and Danielle Ouimet are the couple who stay at the luxurious hotel that the vampiric duo is staying, and the way all of them interact within this Horror is great in the moody, yet slightly campy, Early 70's fashion, all within a great story that involves murder, bloodlust, and plenty of excellent and quite demonic/controvercial locales. In the States, it was shown cut of 20 minutes, something corrected on the DVD today. Rau, the one on the front of the DVD cover to the version before the recent Blue Underground release, had some years of EuroSexy films like QUARTET IN BED, WILD WILLING AND SEXY, and THE LOVE MAD BARONESS, but this will be the film she will be known for through her beautiful and quiet style here, while the recent commentary with Karlen and the interview with Rau clearly show that they are quite intellegent and very happy to have been involved with this great film. |
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TRIVIA- It's intersting to note that DofD was issued in The US through Maron Films, who's TOYS ARE NOT FOR CHILDREN is now on DVD. Another sensual Vampire film was called VAMPYRES: DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS which was issued in 1974 and distributed in The US through Cambist. |
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The second choice amongst the most memorable experiences of my early days of video rentals was discovering TO THE DEVIL A DAUGHTER (1976), based on the novel by British Horror legend Dennis Wheatly and something to end a legacy of Horror at a studio that was bordering on self-parody with films like THE SATANIC RITES OF DRACULA (a capture is seen on the right-it's not that bad of a film, but lacking in the menace of TO THE DEVIL...) . I'll admit it that most of it was based on the performance by Nasassja Kinski, who is great as Catherine, the one who is drawn (or trapped) into the cult of Ashtoreth, but with Christopher Lee's presence as it's preist, it all falls into place as a rather effective film. The Cult scenes are quite hypnotic and Lee's acting is quite a highlight in his effective and influential British manner.
Richard Widmark is ill-fitting here in his role as the novelist who tries to find out about what is going on with her, and a view of the DVDs "Making Of" featurette, there was an almost production-killing conflict between the esablished American actor and the more theatrical-based and innovative British crew, led by director Peter Sykes, who were ready to create a masterwork for Hammer Films, a company that was tryng to find that one great production to get them back in style. Complete with some good performances from Honor Blackman and other British actors, it has quite a style and devilish charm to it that many American productions like THE OMEN did not have in terms of the then-trendy big-budgeted Occultic Horror films, although the ending was a biit of a rushed affair that angered many. The recent DVD is a well-made production.
The recent DVD release on Anchor Bay includes a well-made short about the production, which centers on the complications of the production and why the ending was changed to Wheatley's anger and Lee's irritation (leading up to many fan's complaints), but also on the sad fact that Hammer made a bad deal that saw the success of the film not turning the studio around after years of failed wonders like THE SEVEN BROTHERS MEET DRACULA. Obviously there will be those who will complain about the sexuality that was important to the story, but to me, it only makes it all the more effective. TO THE DEVIL... is one of the few very thought-provoking films that blendsOccultic fantasy and behind-the-locked-door Drama with a touch of serious religious and Occult history.
Trivia-Some historians agree to the statement that the Black Mass was invented by Catherine Monvoisin (or la Voisin), Interesting... |
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