...The saga origined from the atmospheric,chilling thrilller nosferatu followed by the dracula original.The man who we can thank for hammer is of course the eerie novelist Bram Stoker who's unique, inventitive style of writing wrote the Dracula novel,which can easily be considered as the first ... Read review
Cinema's Seductive Creatures of the Night. Thanks to the record-breaking success of the ... more
'Twilight' series of books and films, the vampire genre has been reinvigorated to a staggering degree. 'Vampire Lovers' documents cinema's longstanding fascination with the passion and romance of the vampire figure.
THE VAMPIRE LOVERS and LUST FOR VAMPIRE are the first two instalments of Hammer's ... more
Karnstein Trilogy. Based upon the writings of celebrated author J. Sheridan Le Fanu, both films gained immense notoriety upon their original release of their sexual overtones, erotically charged horror and explicit scenes depicting lesbianism. Highly influential to this day, the Karnstein films brought the vampire legend into the modern age.
Vampire Lovers: When the Countess' daughter Mircalla comes to stay people start ... more
mysteriously dying but can the people of the village turn to anyone to help rid their village of this evil family. Lust For A Vampire: The evil Mircalla is summoned by her heirs and soon a new river of blood is running through the town.
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Advantages: Atmospheric,deeply erotic,emotional has beutiful scenery,a beutiful music score and has a consise and meloncholic mood Disadvantages: None!!!This is the height of Hammer Horror!!!
...you a slight insight into the world of hammer horror.The saga origined from the atmospheric,chilling thrilller nosferatu followed by the dracula original.The man who we can thank for hammer is of course the eerie novelist Bram Stoker who's unique, inventitive style of writing wrote the Dracula novel,which can easily be considered as the first real horror novel of the last centuary.Of course as the first dracula film became such a success among cinema ... ...in mankinds history. Sometime during the height of Bram Stokers enginuitry the wife of shelley .
Mary shelley spawned one of the greatest rivalry's in not only novel history but for the future of film making,Frankenstein was born into the world of horror.Considered one of the if not the mother of all hammer was of course 'Bride of Frankenstein' which had an even more enormous grossing than the first dracula set of films.During this ... more
Let me start by giving you a slight insight into the world of hammer horror.The saga origined from the atmospheric,chilling thrilller nosferatu followed by the dracula original.The man who we can thank for hammer is of course the eerie novelist Bram Stoker who's unique, inventitive style of writing wrote the Dracula novel,which can easily be considered as the first real horror novel of the last centuary.Of course as the first dracula film became such a success among cinema audiences everywhere,it was not suprising as it was basically the first horror film ever made in mankinds history. Sometime during the height of Bram Stokers enginuitry the wife of shelley .
Mary shelley spawned one of the greatest rivalry's in not only novel history but for the future of film making,Frankenstein was born into the world of horror.Considered one of the if not the mother of all hammer was of course 'Bride of Frankenstein' which had an even more enormous grossing than the first dracula set of films.During this period of film rivalry dracula/vampires fell into dicline as more exciting characters emerged onto the movie screens such as the wolfman.
That is of course untill Christopher Lee came into the spotlight playing out the role to atmospheric perfection as the real count dracula.The success of the dracula/vampire film saga was born again and one of the greatest Gothic,Hammer trilogies was created.The vampire lovers is part of a trilogy of Hammer films which finished off the late 60's Hammer era and launched itself into the early 70's.In the mid 60's Dracula:Prince of Darkness hit the movie screens and stunned audiences worldwide,not just by the enthrawling screen acting of Christopher Lee but as it was one of the first Hammers to be made in colour,what more could launch dracula's success above it's mere rivals.
The end of the film see's Dracula forced into an icy river in the moat surrounding his castle kingdom.This is where the second film starts from'Dracula has risen' where the blood of a priest attemting exorcism spills into the river therefore ressurecting the count (Again hehe how many times has this happened).There are a couple of films related to the 3rd film in the trilogy but the one considered by most to be it is Vampire lovers.
Vampire lovers is without a doubt the most erotic/seductive film in horror history the gripping,traditional gothic style has left many wondering can it ever be rivaled.Peter Cushing the most talented horror actor of our time features in the film(probably his 212th film hehe)as an esteemed general.
The scenery is romanticisingly gothic and expresses itself as an important feuture in the film throughout adding to the eiree and creepy storyline keeping a tight grip on the viewers mind and adding thoughts,imagination and magic to the atmosphere.The film is deeply enchanting and shows no weaknesses or bore and never seems to let you loose interest at any minute in the film.
The film has an amazing opening sequence,a fearless vampire hunter accounts to his past,he solely wanders the creepy and foggy grounds of the counts castle digging up the crypts of the resting vampires thus driving a stake through their chest,the whole sequence is at times a bit clumsy and bloody and could easily lack originality but the style is too griping to ignore and as the atmosphere is attached firmly into the mind there will be no escaping it untill the end credits are shown.
After the hunter slays what he thinks are all the present vampires he waits at night watching from the castles gothic tower over the creepy moores/grounds of the castle waiting for one of the head vamps.to rise and seek out a feast on the peasents of the nearby village,the hunter takes the shroud from the crypt and lures the vampire to him.Unexpectingly it turns out to be an incredibly beutiful blonde vampire who immediately puts the hunter under her spell untill she is wareded off by his crusifix and is slain.
There is a party at the generals mansion on the creepy moores of the open country.Where one of the vamprires not slain by the vampire hunter seduces certain males under her spell and aquires a high regard of importance among the important guests.She then goes to stay at the mansion of a nearby countess and immediately falls in love with the beutiful young guest of the countess.What follows are erotic,dark and gothic sequences where camilla the vampire seeks revenge on certain villagers and feast off the most beutiful women.The film reaches a stunning climax where Camilla is followed to her secret crypt and slain by the general Peter Cushing.
The Vampire lovers is deeply enchanting the dark and gothic mood and atmosphere lack no energy throughout.The Hammer film definitely rises above the rest and shows an enthrawling mix of love,sadness and heroism in excellent style.The revenge sequence between Camilla and a local doctor is shot especially well.
The atmosphere is brimming with excitement,the doctor is thrown from his horse on a creepy,gloomy forest track in the lone woods where Camilla sets out revenge in an erotic fashion.The heroic scene is also crammed with perfection,as the handsome young servent of the General is sent immediately from the castle to save the young beutiful guest from being taken to the grave by Camilla,he is shot so well by the camera galloping fearlessly into the nightthrough the perilous creepy woods,sigh enginuitly of film making done to such perfection and flawsibility,one can only wonder could Hammer horror ever have reached more of a climax than this film has.
Of course the dark woodland fascinating gothic buildings and foggy moores gives the Vampire lovers such an emotional and atmospheric mood,the music score of old medievel style including organs and harpsichords played at fast tempo at specific scenes launches wave upon wave of electric shocks od excitement into the atmopsphere.All in all this is the crowning peak of all Hammer horror,see it if you dare!!!
Advantages: Deeply erotic/gothic settings and beutiful countrysides and music scores blend a perfect hammer brew! Disadvantages: None
THE PLOT:
The vampire family of a local towns castle feast on the local villagers commiting acts of evil.One of those killed is a sister of a fearless villager who vows revenge and too seek out the vampires shrines buried deep beneath the castles grounds,he drives a steak through all but a beutiful enchanting female vampire who is then slain by decapitation.The vampire family is destroyed........or is it?One female vampire carmilla survives the ... ...to the shrine with her,she slays everyone who gets in her way including interfeering servants and the local doctor.
THE SETTING:
The scenery ads the best effect of eery creepiness to this film.The story is told from a dark woodland in eastern europe where a mysterious beutiful gothic castle lies towering above a helpless village below.The woods,the countryside and the local architecture add a breathtaking romantic mood to the film.
THE ACTING:
...
moosewood 04.08.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Vampire Lovers (DVD)
Advantages: Characters, sets, atmosphere, score, made with good taste Disadvantages: None
First film in the great Karnstein trilogy, followed by a flawed little masterpiece Lust for a vampire (1970) and wonderful Twins of evil (1971) , The Vampire lovers is based on (Joseph) Sheridan LeFanu´s 1872 vampire novella Carmilla. Written by Tudor Gates from the story by the producers Michael Fine and Harry Style, The Vampire lovers is set in early 19th century Styria and it follows lesbian vampire beauty Mircalla Karnstein (Polish-born Ingrid ... ...daughters. Peter Cushing plays the revenge-minded father and Madeline Smith has equally impressive role than Pitt as the wide-eyed, innocent heroine with reddish hair and pretty negligees. This elegant, richly Gothic vampire romance has wonderful sets of mansions, castles and graveyards, natural but strong colours of Hammer Studios´1970´s Technicolour, and some very mild nudity. One of the bes films from Hammer Studios and much, much better than ...
scarletpurity 09.09.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Vampire Lovers (DVD)
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Advantages: Absorbing, entertaining film. Disadvantages: It is only 117 minutes long!
of fraternising with a coven of vampires eventually appear. Bella, who seems unable to really comprehend the absolute danger she is in, becomes hunted and the whole Cullen family try to keep her safe. The fight scene is excellent. Nothing is too gory but the violence is hinted at rather than being shown. This is perfect as it keeps a certain air of mystery about the vampire?s behaviour.
Bella and Edward eventually seem happy together but can the lives of star crossed lovers ever run smooth?
The DVD also contains audio-commentary by Kristen and Robert which certainly adds a bit of background to the film.
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Meggysmum 13.11.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Twilight
Advantages: Not Recommended for Anne Rice fans, great soundtrack Disadvantages: Not much is based on the book
One of the things I loved about the movie was that it had a great soundtrack, but that's just about it. If you're an Anne Rice fan it might not be wise to buy this DVD; however if you're a vampire movie lover and have not read Anne Rice's vampire Chronicles I have to admit that it's a bit better than a few vampire movies floating around out there.
The movie was supposed to be an adaptation of The Vampire Lestat and Queen of the Damned; but they got so many things wrong and a lot of Anne Rice fans were very angry about that.
First mistake: Lestat had dark hair. I nearly died when I saw that. How could they let Lestat have dark hair??? I asked incredulously; but all that was forgotten soon as I realised how hot Stuart Townsend looked in the movie and I had something else to concentrate on.
Second mistake: I remember that in ...
The chilling story of the Karnstein family who, even after their deaths, spread terror and blood. When three attractive girls fall under their sensual and fatal spell their relatives search for the coffin which holds a clue to the evil legend...
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
ILC PRIME; PINNACLE VISION
Release date
16/08/2004
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
IPD 10563
Barcode
5031932105636
Languages
Main Language
English
DVD Description
The very life force of a young woman is slowly drained from her each time she makes love to her lesbian lover. Her angry father is understandably upset at her choice of a vampire for a sexual partner. The incomparable Pitt is in fine form in this erotically charged 1970 effort from England's Hammer House of Horror!
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