Le Rouge Aux Levres/Daughters of Darkness (1970)
France/Belgium 87min
Director: Harry Kumel
Starring:Delphine Seyrig, John Karlen, Andrea Rau, Daniele Ouimet, Paul Esser
One of the kinkiest vampire films ever made, director Harry Kumel mixes portions of Sheridan Le Fanu�s Carmilla and the history of Countess Elizabeth Bathory, the �blood countess� of 17th Century Hungary who bathed in the blood of virgins to retain her youth. Delphine Seyrig, who plays the countess, appears on screen exquisitely pale with blood red lipstick upon her lips. She is soft and feminine, with a smile that will turn the knees weak of both men and women. With her affinity and lust for lesbian encounters, she narrows out one particular bride who is on her honeymoon with her newlywed husband at an exclusive spa. Rather than attacking, Elizabeth uses her seduction charm to overcome the bride. She orders her servant girl/companion, Ilona, to seduce the husband, thus allowing her easy access to seduce the bride. However, the husband Stephan has problems of his own, particularly with his new wife whom he is constantly bushing aside her sexual advances. He promises to her to call his mother upon her request and tell her about the new marriage, but his reticence makes us suspicious. And when he finally does call "mother�, we find him talking to a flaming homosexual who says, "What you did wasn't foolish. . . . It was merely unrealistic. . . . Whatever on earth would we do with her?" (referring to Valerie, the wife). The undercurrents of violence in Stefan's psyche erupt soon afterwards in a scene where Stefan beats Valerie with a belt. Meanwhile, in another scene, the Countess and her companion the servant girl Ilona, stroke each other like old lovers and stare longingly at the newlyweds.
There is little vampire lore in Le Rouge Aux Levres/Daughters of Darkness, rather it focuses on the characterizations of the vampires and audience knowledge of this. The homoerotic desire of the countess is made quite apparent throughout the film, the countess� sole desire is the young bride, Valerie. In contrast, the husband, Stephan, is ambiguous in his sexuality, especially when disregarding his wife�s advances, although this is apparently overcome when he has sex with the servant, Ilona.
