Translated as The Vampires I must say that I haven't seen any vampire throughout this Italy's first sound horror film directed by Riccardo Fredo and Mario Bava.
No fangs to spot but still it's a worth looking. The story itself leans more towards the Bathory legend then towards the creatures of the night. A scientist who's gone mad captures young women to drain blood from them to give eternal youth to an old duchess. When bodies are found the are quickly linked to vampirism and the press called them the vampire killings. A journalist links a drug addict to the case. There's no believe in the journalist but slowly they must trust him.
There's no spot of blood to trace here in this Gothic story but what makes it watchable is the way the camera and lighting were used to create the eerie atmosphere. Bava lensed this flick just before he starts directing. After Freda encountered difficulties with the investors and quit the production he asked Bava to direct the last 2 days.
The acting is of course typical fifties and that I never liked so far. But I enjoyed the flick itself maybe because there weren't that much of effects used that looked stupid like so many from that era, in fact, I was impressed with the way they shot the woman getting older in a one taker.
This is a must see for Bava buffs. Further it doesn't deliver that much. Being available together with Black Sunday (1958) on Blu ray on the Arrow label it's a must have.
Gore 0/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 3/5 Story 2,5/5 Comedy 0/5
No fangs to spot but still it's a worth looking. The story itself leans more towards the Bathory legend then towards the creatures of the night. A scientist who's gone mad captures young women to drain blood from them to give eternal youth to an old duchess. When bodies are found the are quickly linked to vampirism and the press called them the vampire killings. A journalist links a drug addict to the case. There's no believe in the journalist but slowly they must trust him.
There's no spot of blood to trace here in this Gothic story but what makes it watchable is the way the camera and lighting were used to create the eerie atmosphere. Bava lensed this flick just before he starts directing. After Freda encountered difficulties with the investors and quit the production he asked Bava to direct the last 2 days.
The acting is of course typical fifties and that I never liked so far. But I enjoyed the flick itself maybe because there weren't that much of effects used that looked stupid like so many from that era, in fact, I was impressed with the way they shot the woman getting older in a one taker.
This is a must see for Bava buffs. Further it doesn't deliver that much. Being available together with Black Sunday (1958) on Blu ray on the Arrow label it's a must have.
Gore 0/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 3/5 Story 2,5/5 Comedy 0/5