Made
in the early days of French horror films, "The Playgirls and the Vampire"
introduced a touch of sexuality to its simple plot, which has helped to
put the film in a more historic context than if it were a straight horror
tale. And the title itself is much more titillating than the film. Finding
themselves forced off the road in a violent thunderstorm, the five playgirls
and their manager find themselves at the castle of Count Kernassy, who
is not welcome to the curvaceous beauties presented to him. Until, that
is, Vera steps forward and instantly he recognizes the resemblance to his
beautiful ancestor Margerhita. And, even further unknown to our soon-to-be
damsels in further distress, he bears his own resemblance to his 200-year-old
ancestor, a vampire who slumbers in the family¼s crypt. The opening scenes
of the crypt itself are possible the creepiest moment in the film, with
the vampire¼s hand creeping its way out of its stone-lidded coffin. The
sparsely lit black and white hallways and rooms of the castle give it a
sense of unease, but the inherent silliness of the bump ¼n¼ grinders keeps
the chills at constant bay. The film¼s decision to sway towards a humorous
angle disallows whatever fear we have, and reduces the impact it might
have had. Then we must have a look at the dance numbers we get: one silly
rehearsing session, and one prolonged, and unfinished, strip tease. A little
more playgirl, a little more vampire, yeah. Instead the girls¼ manager
is given more words and character than the girls themselves are. His leadership
is a bigger part of the film than they are. If the girls themselves were
a bit more playful, had a bit more opportunity to be playful and sexy,
I might¼ve found more to recommend the film. But for those with an urge
to have a greater history of the lineage of sex horror films, or who just
really dig whatever few minutes of ¼50s chicks a-go-go-in they can snare,
a little crack of this coffin lid and you¼ll find what you¼re looking for.
Not as big a bombshell as their upcoming releases suggest, but it looks
like there will be quite a few other titles in Image Entertainment¼s EuroShock
Collection for DVD that will be taking up our shelf space soon.
VIDEO/DVD
Made
in the early days of French horror films, "The Playgirls and the Vampire"
introduced a touch of sexuality to its simple plot, which has helped to
put the film in a more historic context than if it were a straight horror
tale. And the title itself is much more titillating than the film. Finding
themselves forced off the road in a violent thunderstorm, the five playgirls
and their manager find themselves at the castle of Count Kernassy, who
is not welcome to the curvaceous beauties presented to him. Until, that
is, Vera steps forward and instantly he recognizes the resemblance to his
beautiful ancestor Margerhita. And, even further unknown to our soon-to-be
damsels in further distress, he bears his own resemblance to his 200-year-old
ancestor, a vampire who slumbers in the family¼s crypt. The opening scenes
of the crypt itself are possible the creepiest moment in the film, with
the vampire¼s hand creeping its way out of its stone-lidded coffin. The
sparsely lit black and white hallways and rooms of the castle give it a
sense of unease, but the inherent silliness of the bump ¼n¼ grinders keeps
the chills at constant bay. The film¼s decision to sway towards a humorous
angle disallows whatever fear we have, and reduces the impact it might
have had. Then we must have a look at the dance numbers we get: one silly
rehearsing session, and one prolonged, and unfinished, strip tease. A little
more playgirl, a little more vampire, yeah. Instead the girls¼ manager
is given more words and character than the girls themselves are. His leadership
is a bigger part of the film than they are. If the girls themselves were
a bit more playful, had a bit more opportunity to be playful and sexy,
I might¼ve found more to recommend the film. But for those with an urge
to have a greater history of the lineage of sex horror films, or who just
really dig whatever few minutes of ¼50s chicks a-go-go-in they can snare,
a little crack of this coffin lid and you¼ll find what you¼re looking for.
Not as big a bombshell as their upcoming releases suggest, but it looks
like there will be quite a few other titles in Image Entertainment¼s EuroShock
Collection for DVD that will be taking up our shelf space soon.