This is the first feature from Amando de Ossorio is a wonderful take on the vampire legend. The beautiful Anita Ekberg stars as Sylvia Morel, a model who is going to marry a doctor (Gianni Medici). She receives a letter telling her that she has inherited a castle and the title of "Countess".
Two weeks before she is to get married she heads out for the castle to claim the inheritance and finds her uncle is as young as she is. The small town which surrounds the castle is steeped deep in superstition about the castle and Sylvia soon finds out that there may be vampires stalking the night and worse yet, she may be the the niece of a woman named Malenka who was dabbling in alchemy and witchcraft and was burned at the stake by the villagers many years ago.
Over time she is convinced that she is actually Malenka, and that leads to even more trouble. I won't spoil it for those who have not seen this film but please know, this is the UNCUT 94 minute version which has never been released here in the US.
My history with this film has really been something over the last 43 years. I first saw this on KCPX on a show called Nightmare Theater in 1973. I watched it on a small 9 inch black and white TV and fell in love with the film. In 1984 it was the first VHS movie I bought from Sinister Cinema and by that time I was 22 and liked it even more for the gorgeous women.
Various copies have passed thru my hands and now I finally have the uncut version and it looks spectacular! The uncut version really puts all the pieces together and I am very happy that I own my favorite Spanish horror film as it was meant to be seen.
Anita Ekberg was past her prime when she made this but is still a stunner. The movie also features such sexy as hell Euro women as Rosanna Yanni, and Diana Lorys but the real scene stealer is Adriana Ambesi and Blinka. She is so breathtakingly beautiful and I love every scene she is in. Of all the films I have seen her in, she by far, never looked sexier.
Director Amando de Ossorio made his first trip to the horror genre with this gem and you can tell he mastered it very well. The scenery around the castle is gorgeous and the gothic feeling is very thick. Ossorio would go on to direct other horror classics such as The Blind Dead series of four films, The Loreley's Grasp and another favorite of mine...Night Of The Sorcerors.
This release is a very close choice for best of the year behind Night of the Living Dead. I cannot recommend this film enough. it has everything you could want....gothic atmosphere, great locations, vampires and extremely gorgeous women. What's not to like??
As I stated the presentation is excellent and the disc includes the original trailer, original Spanish opening credits and the alternate ending we all saw on TV as kids. BUY IT!!!!
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