One of many Gothic horror movies that starts off centuries before and moves to the present, this decent rip-off of the Hammer horror films deals with a modern day vampire who, having cursed a gypsy girl to death eternal, now seems to want to replace her with an even motr beautiful young lady. The cult of devil worshipers protecting the Count Sinistre (Hubert Noël) really do nothing but parade around in red robes and hold weird parties. It's actually the jealous Carole Gray who seeks to cause the innocent Tracy Reed harm, viciously cutting a portrait that the count has painted of her, causing it to bleed. Noël is unseen in the prologue, replaced by a silly looking bat where you can barely see the string and also barely tell that the flapping critter is made of rubber.
There are long periods were really nothing happens, and even the sinister seems become slightly boring. Handsome William Sylvester, the hero in love with Reed, is rather dull, but veteran actress Rona Anderson adds some spark as the typically dour housekeeper. it's not that this is a bad film, but there have been so many other films of this nature that simply are just better that makes this a middle-of-the-road grande guignol. Production design is very good and the musical score does add a spooky atmosphere. But a lack of humor (intentional or non) is a definite minus with hope that the ending will make up for all of that.
There are long periods were really nothing happens, and even the sinister seems become slightly boring. Handsome William Sylvester, the hero in love with Reed, is rather dull, but veteran actress Rona Anderson adds some spark as the typically dour housekeeper. it's not that this is a bad film, but there have been so many other films of this nature that simply are just better that makes this a middle-of-the-road grande guignol. Production design is very good and the musical score does add a spooky atmosphere. But a lack of humor (intentional or non) is a definite minus with hope that the ending will make up for all of that.