Vampire Lovers/Lust For A Vampire
1970
In LUST FOR A VAMPIRE, Swedish stunner Yutte Stensgaard stars as the reincarnation of the notorious female vampire Carmilla Karnstein. A follow up to THE VAMPIRE LOVERS, which, like this film, is based on the writings of Sheridan le Fanu. Here, le Fanu's famed vampiress takes the form of Mircalla, a stunning young finishing .. Read more
| Starring | Ralph Bates, Barbara Jefford, Suzanna Leigh, Yutte Stensgaard |
|---|---|
| Director | Jimmy Sangster, Roy Ward Baker |
| Genres | Gay/Lesbian, Horror |
loading...
Vampire Lovers/Lust For A Vampire
In LUST FOR A VAMPIRE, Swedish stunner Yutte Stensgaard stars as the reincarnation of the notorious female vampire Carmilla Karnstein. A follow up to THE VAMPIRE LOVERS, which, like this film, is based on the writings of Sheridan le Fanu. Here, le Fanu's famed vampiress takes the form of Mircalla, a stunning young finishing school student at an all girls' school. Mircalla satisfies her lust for blood by preying on her classmates, all of whom are drawn to her stunning looks. However, Mircalla's sensuality also attracts the attentions of Lestrange, a teacher at the school with whom she falls in love. An entertainingly tawdry Hammer vampire movie, LUST FOR A VAMPIRE is most notable for Ms. Stensgaard's sultry star turn.
In THE VAMPIRE LOVERS, the very life force of a young woman is slowly drained from her each time she makes love to her lesbian lover. Her angry father is understandably upset at her choice of a vampire for a sexual partner. The incomparable Pitt is in fine form in this erotically charged 1970 effort from England's Hammer House of Horror!
| Starring | Ralph Bates, Barbara Jefford, Suzanna Leigh, Yutte Stensgaard, Peter Cushing, Peter Cushing, Madeline Smith, Dawn Addams, Ingrid Pitt |
|---|---|
| Director | Jimmy Sangster, Roy Ward Baker |
| Studio | OPTIMUM HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 59 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Gay/Lesbian, Horror |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 22 Sep 2008 Production year: 1970 |
| Format | DVD |
Vampire Lovers/Lust For A Vampire (2 discs) (1970)
Or you can rent each disc individually:
-
Most helpful member's review
View all -
11 out of 11 people found this review helpful
Another Hammer highlight!
Throughout the 60's and 70's, Hammer studios have created some of the finest and most loved horror highlights, and this is most certainly one of them. Ingrid Pitt stars as Marcilla, an attractive female vampire who travels from house to house, feeding on young women. Pitt approaches her role with gusto and it is obvious that she (and the rest of the cast) enjoyed themselves making this film. Marcilla comes undone when she stays in one house too many and the local townsfolk become suspicious of all the deaths and sickness in the village since her arrival. As is the case with a lot of Hammer films (and it is a case that I am thankful for), Peter Cushing also has a role. He plays General von Spielsdorf, a man that has his own reasons for wanting to hunt the vampire down. He's not in the film for long, not long enough in my opinion, but it's always nice to have him, regardless of how long his appearance lasts.
The film opens with a lovely exhibition of atmosphere, which ends with a 'creature' being killed via a lovely decapitation sequence. From then on, it is obvious that you are in for a treat and the rest of the film doesn't disappoint. Although it does become a little dull at times, The Vampire Lovers retains a lot of what makes the vampire legend so enticing, while also bringing a lot of new elements to the table - most notably an erotic lesbian angle. The film is also very lively and very fun, most of which is brought on by the camp atmosphere, which is commonplace in a lot of Hammer's films. The acting isn't terribly brilliant, but it isn't bad either (although nobody will be going into this film expecting Oscar winning performances, of course). The Vampire Lovers also has one of Hammer's best directors on board; Roy Ward Barker, whom you might remember from another Hammer Horror highlight; Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde, not to mention the excellent 'Asylum'.
Overall, The Vampire Lovers is definitely recommended viewing for the horror fan, and essential viewing for the Hammer Horror fan. It's not the best vampire tale ever told, but there's a lot to like and I can't see many horror fans being dissatisfied with it. Good stuff indeed. -
Most recent members' review
View all -
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Hammer in decline
With occasional exceptions, the standard of Hammer horrors was in serious decline by the 1970s. This below-average vampire yarn has plenty of bare breasts, but very little in the way of narrative drive. Mike Raven as Count Karnstein is clearly moulded to the look and persona of Christopher Lee, but he performs what little he is given to do embarrassingly badly. Hammer fans will want to watch this for the sake of completeness, lacking as it is in real quality.
-
News and features
View all
I Was a Teenage Vampire
- 17 Nov 2009
Vampires have always been immortal but why is it that they keep getting younger – and hotter? Think about it. The movie’s first notable bloodsucker was Max Schreck as Count Orlock in the German silent classic Nosferatu (1922). Coincidentally, Schreck is the German word for “terror”, but it was the actor’s real name. He was in his early 40s at the time, but the bald, bone-thin, rodent-like Orlock could easily have been in his 60s. I don’t think I’m... Read more
-
More like this
View allShowing 1 to 4 of 14
Related user collection
Top Ten Scared Me As A Kid Movies (10)
80% from 10 members
Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop
-
-
- Vampire Lovers/Lust For A Vampire
- DVD: £5.93
Free Delivery - RRP £15.79 (you save: 62%)
In LUST FOR A VAMPIRE, Swedish stunner Yutte Stensgaard stars as the reincarnation of the notorious female vampire Carmilla Karnstein. A follow up to THE VAMPIRE LOVERS, which, like this film, is ... -