VAMPYRES ALL READY FOR CONSUMPTION!
The Jean Rollin VAMPIRE BOX SET has been issued through Image who distributed some of the titles of Redemption Films (The original British company that released these much-loved Rollin titles who are now Salvation Films) just in time for this interest in all things Gothic, and features three of his more popular films: LE VOIL DU VAMPIRE, LE FRISSION DES VAMPIRES, and REQUIEM POR UN VAMPIRE (That's RAPE OF THE..., SHIVER OF THE..., and REQUIEM FOR A VAMPIRE in English). The surreal images of LE VIOL were something that angered the audiences at the permiere in Paris in a riot-torn 1968 enough for a responce not unlike the opening scene in HG Lewis' JUST FOR THE HELL OF IT, but are now known as something worthy of your attention. LE FRISSION and REQUIEM are simple stories that blend in beauty (thanks to ladies like Marie Piere Castel), European Occult history, and wonderful settings enough for the atmosphere take over, with the former's story of a newlywed couple knowing that the wife has deeper bloodlines than expected after entering a beautiful castle and the later's tale of two girls who have to lose their virginity to join a sect of vampires (the reason why the North American company Box Office International decided to re-title it to CAGED VIRGINS...well, it did bring in the audience that included some who wanted to know more about film at the time). The music in LE FRISSION sounds as if the band listened to Pink Floyd's 1968 epic A SAUSERFULL OF SECRETS many times (no complaint...) while the images provide some beautiful scenes, while REQUIEM has one scene worthy of the award for "it had to be made by someone" featuring a bat and an act that would have never made the final cut of Jerry Warren's 1966 shlock hackwonder THE WILD WILD WORLD OF BATWOMAN, although it would have been perfect. (I will leave it at that...see the film!!!).
VAMPYRES is a far more serious work, but it should not be missed for those looking for more bloody classics with a bit of sensuality. Marriane Morris and Anulka play two vampire beauties who run through the British countryside and do their thing to an unsuspecting couple. Jose Ramon Larraz directed this in style, although after this, it was onto films like SADISMO, and something that was to be retitled MADAME OLGA'S PUPILS (NO RELATION, by the way to the classic series, not even in the way of OLGA'S DANCE HALL GIRLS). With distribution by Cambist in North America, always one for the more interesting films of sin, I wonder if there were any gimmicks like the one used for the classic DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS in New York CIty by Marion Pictures.
Either selection is worthy of your attention!
