Blood Castle AKA Ivanna AKA Scream of the Demon Lover (easily the film's best title, in my opinion) is a Gothic Euro-horror that, being a product of the early 70s, is able to spice up the more traditional goings-on (creepy castle, prowling monster, creepy housekeeper, hidden torture chamber etc.) with female nudity and a touch of mild bondage whenever matters threaten to get a little dreary.
The film begins with the brutal murder of a young woman—the sixth girl to be butchered in the area in under a year—with the finger of suspicion pointing at ladies' man Baron Janos Dalmar (Carlos Quiney), who has had dalliances with all of the victims. Despite all the killings and the subsequent rumours, beautiful biochemist Ivanna Rakowsky (Erna Schurer) isn't deterred from assuming her position as the baron's assistant, helping with his experiments into regenerating burnt flesh: even when the baron tries to send her packing, having hired her unaware that she was a woman, Ivanna insists that her contract of employment is honoured.
During her stay in the castle, Ivanna suspects that her every move is being watched, and experiences terrifying night-time 'hallucinations' (or so she is led to believe) in which she is stripped naked, tied up and groped by a hideously scarred man; she also falls in love with Janos, but is still not completely convinced of his innocence, believing him to be suffering from a split personality—at least until she discovers that the baron's brother Igor, supposedly killed in a fire, is still alive and living in the castle
Yup, you guessed it... it's Igor whose been slicing up the girls. With his manhood destroyed in the blaze and a face like a week old pizza, he's insanely jealous of his bro's success with women and is doing his best to spoil the fun.
Although José Luis Merino's direction isn't quite as stylish as many an European Gothic horror, his wise decision to show as much bare female flesh as possible goes a long way to compensate, with the lovely Schurer frequently getting naked for the camera and gorgeous brunette Agostina Belli, as Janos' infatuated maid, shedding her clothes for a roll in the hay with her master. Hell, even middle-aged house-keeper Olga (Cristiana Galloni) strips off for Janos in an effort to get some.
The hideously disfigured Igor is also a lot of fun when he finally shows his face (he's the one who has been abducting Ivanna at night and tying her up for a fondle, if you hadn't already guessed): in the thrilling finale, the twisted, emasculated freak (surprisingly decent make-up effects making for an effectively repugnant killer) tries to attack Ivanna, struggles with Janos, and ultimately goes up in flames for a second time.
6.5 out of 10, rounded up to 7 for IMDb.
The film begins with the brutal murder of a young woman—the sixth girl to be butchered in the area in under a year—with the finger of suspicion pointing at ladies' man Baron Janos Dalmar (Carlos Quiney), who has had dalliances with all of the victims. Despite all the killings and the subsequent rumours, beautiful biochemist Ivanna Rakowsky (Erna Schurer) isn't deterred from assuming her position as the baron's assistant, helping with his experiments into regenerating burnt flesh: even when the baron tries to send her packing, having hired her unaware that she was a woman, Ivanna insists that her contract of employment is honoured.
During her stay in the castle, Ivanna suspects that her every move is being watched, and experiences terrifying night-time 'hallucinations' (or so she is led to believe) in which she is stripped naked, tied up and groped by a hideously scarred man; she also falls in love with Janos, but is still not completely convinced of his innocence, believing him to be suffering from a split personality—at least until she discovers that the baron's brother Igor, supposedly killed in a fire, is still alive and living in the castle
Yup, you guessed it... it's Igor whose been slicing up the girls. With his manhood destroyed in the blaze and a face like a week old pizza, he's insanely jealous of his bro's success with women and is doing his best to spoil the fun.
Although José Luis Merino's direction isn't quite as stylish as many an European Gothic horror, his wise decision to show as much bare female flesh as possible goes a long way to compensate, with the lovely Schurer frequently getting naked for the camera and gorgeous brunette Agostina Belli, as Janos' infatuated maid, shedding her clothes for a roll in the hay with her master. Hell, even middle-aged house-keeper Olga (Cristiana Galloni) strips off for Janos in an effort to get some.
The hideously disfigured Igor is also a lot of fun when he finally shows his face (he's the one who has been abducting Ivanna at night and tying her up for a fondle, if you hadn't already guessed): in the thrilling finale, the twisted, emasculated freak (surprisingly decent make-up effects making for an effectively repugnant killer) tries to attack Ivanna, struggles with Janos, and ultimately goes up in flames for a second time.
6.5 out of 10, rounded up to 7 for IMDb.