Twins Of Evil Details

The film begins with an angry mob slaying the child murdering, woman seducing Count Mitterhaus, who with his final words sets a curse on the villagers (all this happens before the opening credits!). The story then skips forwards 15 years and we find that the village is now rife with a deadly plague and is effectively cut off from the outside world. However, into this ravaged village comes a travelling circus which provides the townsfolk with a welcome diversion from the spiralling death rate (not sure a circus with 3 animals is that good!). Unfortunately for the locals the troupe have ulterior motives and their performances aren?t all what they seem?.

I?m in two minds over this Hammer production. Whilst the film continues the shift away from cobweb laden castles and ageing front men, Circus at times feels rushed and it seems to throw everything but the kitchen sink into the picture. The main problem I had was the lack of a charismatic lead, with John Moulder-Brown (who plays Anton Kersh) being particularly annoying. However, this film is worth checking out for there is a wealth of unintentionally hilarious scenes (the death of the vampire siblings being a particular favourite). Not the best Hammer film but you could do a lot worse.

2 and a half out of 5

Cleavage Delights

This is the third instalment of the loosely linked Carmilla trilogy (The Vampire Lovers & Lust for a Vampire being the other two). Whilst The Vampire Lovers titillated audiences with the lesbian antics of Ingrid Pitt, this time the emphasis shifts towards the identical twins Mary & Madeleine Collinson, both of whom appeared in Playboy magazine in 1970. Here they play the cleavage exposing nieces of the God-fearing Gustav Weil (Peter Cushing), a man who passes his time by burning young women in order to ?cleanse their souls?.

The burnings are in fact a misguided attempt by Weil and his sadistic mob, known as the Brotherhood, to end the mysterious deaths of young men in the village. Yet, deep down Weil suspects that the real problem lies with the local aristocrat, Count Karnstein (Damien Thomas) but is fearful of the possible repercussions of attacking a man with powerful allies. However, unbeknown to him his more rebellious niece, Frieda, has decided that the strict puritan lifestyle is not for her and is drawn by the forbidden delights offered by Karnstein.

You will be pleased to learn that the usual Hammer staples are all present ? fantastic gothic sets, a solid performance from Cushing, swirling fog and young ladies in their night-gowns. Despite the rather drawn out plot, the film is enjoyable and is yet another example of the studio during its peak. 3 out of 5.