Daughters of Darkness

Overview

A couple honeymooning at a French hotel meets a beautiful woman, who announces herself as Countess Bathory (fabled in real life as a lesbian vampire). The countess attempts to seduce the couple into becoming her slaves.

Product Details

Release Date:	10/27/2020
UPC:	0827058118699
Original Release:	1971
Rating:	NR
Source:	Blue Underground
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:40:00

Special Features

Audio Commentary #1 with Co-Writer/Director Harry Kumel; Audio Commentary #2 with Star John Karlen and Journalist David DelValle; New! Audio Commentary #3 with Kat Ellinger, author of Devil's Advocates: Daughters of Darkness; Locations of Darkness - Interviews with Co-Writer/Director Harry Kumel and Co-Writer/Co-Producer Pierre Drouot; Playing the Victim - Interview with Star Danielle Ouimet; Daughter of Darkness - Interview with Star Andrea Rau; Theatrical Trailers; Radio Spots; Alternate U.S. Main Titles; Poster & Still Gallery

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Delphine Seyrig	Countess Elizabeth Bathory
Daniele Ouimet	Valerie
John Karlen	Stefan
Andrea Rau	Ilona Harczy
Paul Esser	Porter
Georges Jamin	The Man
Joris Collet	Butler
Fons Rademakers	Mother
François de Roubaix	Composer

Technical Credits

Pierre Drouot

Jean Ferry

Harry Kümel

J.J. Amiel

Paul Collet	Producer
Alain C. Guilleaume	Producer
Harry Kumel	Director
Henry Lange	Producer
Pierre Drouot	Screenwriter
Jean Ferry	Screenwriter
Harry Kümel	Screenwriter
J.J. Amiel	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

The sexual dimension of vampire lore gets a full workout in this contemporary love quadrangle. Delphine Seyrig lends not only a touch of elegance to the proceedings but also the only serious acting chops among the four leads. She plays the Countess Elisabeth Bathory, a character based on a real Hungarian madwoman of the 17th century who believed she would stay forever young by bathing in the blood of her victims. There are no bloodbaths here; in fact, there is less biting and bloodletting than groping and caressing. The setting is not a creepy castle but an empty off-season hotel in Ostend, Belgium, where a young honeymooning couple (John Karlen and Daniele Ouimet) are stalked by the Countess and her "secretary" (Andrea Rau). Complicating the sexual geometry, in which the secretary is to seduce the groom as a distraction while the Countess moves in on the bride, is a dirty little secret that the husband is keeping from his wife. Director Harry Kümel doesn't rush the pace, which allows the viewer to enjoy the creepy atmosphere but also notice the unconvincing performances by Karlen and Ouimet, with Rau acceptable in the least demanding part. The director's cut is available on DVD, running 100 minutes.