There are certainly some bad movies made out there, a large
number of which were made in the sixties and specifically in European
countries. This is not to say that the U.S. made the best pictures without
their own share of turkeys. Indeed, the bad movie is not limited to any one
country. At the same time some of those bad movies weren't as bad during the
time period they were released. Viewed now though it takes some stamina to get
through one.
That being said, there is a market for many of these movies.
Collectors are fascinated by the films of directors who were more noted for
infamy than for a celebration of art. And yet on occasion those same directors
actually did create some artistic films. The names Jess Franco and Paul Naschy
come to mind. As fans are drawn to their films they begin to discover other
directors from Europe as well and clamor to pick up everything they can. This
has opened a market for those films, one that companies like Cheezy Flicks has
tapped into.
The company has found that there is money to be made in
repackaging and in some cases putting out for the first time various movies
that their original studios have decided to ignore or films that have a niche
market that they are willing to tap. The great thing about this is that movies
once unavailable can now be found for a reasonable price. The only problem is
that videophiles will gripe about the lack of extras, something I've never let
stop me from picking up a movie I was looking for. All this being said, Cheezy
Flicks has just released another European horror flick in their series called
Erotomania. The movie is BLOOD OF THE VIRGINS, and actually it's not all that
bad though quite dated. While not really a European film (it was made in
Argentina) it does feature those sensibilities.
The movie opens around the turn of the century somewhere in
Spain. Ofelia is in love with Gustavo but is being forced to marry Eduardo at
her parent's insistence. Gustavo swears that he will not allow it to happen,
that he will never let Ofelia go. Marrying for societal stature instead of
love, she goes through with the wedding. On their wedding night, Gustavo shows
up as they are about to consummate their wedding, kills Eduardo and turns
Ofelia into a vampire. Yes, Gustavo was a vampire, the reason he refused to
meet her family.
Fast forward to the swinging sixties (the movie was made in
1967). Three young couples and their goofy guide are on a tour of the country,
going from nightclubs to ski slopes and more. Call me surprised to find that it
was nothing for dating couples to undress at the local club while dancing. As
they travel from one town to the next one night, they discover they've run out
of gas. Too far to walk to the next town and too late to flag down a passing
car, they walk to an abandoned lodge to spend the night ignoring the guide's
tale that the place is haunted. Of course this is the same lodge where our
earlier story took place.
They start a fire, find food left out for them on a table
and after drinking drugged wine, all fall asleep with the exception of one of
the men. While searching through the home he comes across Ofelia who jumps into
the sack with. The next morning the girls are nowhere to be found and the
police are alerted. Eventually they begin showing up but each one is pale and
ill, suffering from an unknown malady. As the young man begins to look into the
lore of the place with the help of his girlfriend's brother, they find out
about the story of Gustav and Ofelia. But will it be in time to save everyone?
The story seems pretty standard by horror film fare with few
changes in vampire folklore to be seen. Most notable is that these vampires
seem to be able to walk in daylight but then again perhaps that was a budgetary
choice rather than one for folklore. The photography seems to be standard
European sixties style with little flare but not all that bad. The transfer is
acceptable so don't worry that this is just a VHS to DVD
transfer. The movie hasn't been given a refurbishing as many blu-ray films are
these days, but it's fine anyway.
As with any foreign film that comes this way there is
possibly a few things lost in translation. That's something that can't be
avoided and for the most part doesn't affect the story being told. The same
holds true for the acting which seems fine but since you're reading the
dialogue rather than hearing the words actually spoken, it loses something.
Still, the cast seems to do a decent job of it all. Then again you can tell
that their acting skills weren't always what the film maker here was going for.
Susana Beltran as Ofelia seems hired more for her physical presence than for
her acting ability. Again, though, not knowing the language on it's own you
won't know for sure.
On the whole this is not the worst European styled vampire
movie to enter the U.S. but not the best either. For fans looking to fill out
there collection it's worth adding. If you love European horror then you'll
want to pick it up. Also fans of director Emilio Vieyra, the man behind THE
CURIOUS DR. HUMP and NIGHT OF THE BLOODY
APES, will want to add it to your collection as well.
Click here to order.
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