Krista Nell was originally meant to play the lead, but had to take a less demanding role due to having leukemia. Nell died of the disease a month after the film was released.
Prior to directing The Bloodsucker Leads the Dance, Alfredo Rizzo's career was as an actor who made his debut in the 1939 film Lo vedi come sei... lo vedi come sei?. This film marked his last feature as a director and his only horror film he directed.
The film was shot between November and December 1974. It was shot at Piccolomini Castle in Balsorano, Castle of Monte San Giovanni Compani, Lake Bracciano and Icet De Paolis Studios in Milan.
The Italian board of censors objected to the erotic content in the film, specifically the lesbian encounter between Rosalind and Penny and a sex scene between Evelyn and the Count. The sex scenes in the film were kept in their entirety in France in 1977 when the film was released as L'insatiable Samantha (La sangsue). This version also had hardcore footage inserted.
The Bloodsucker Leads the Dance was released theatrically in Italy on 10 May 1975 where it was distributed by P.A.B. Film.