Watch The Rape of the Vampire

The Rape of the Vampire (1968) is a bizarre and eerie movie that tells the story of a rural family that's haunted by a group of vampire women. The movie is often considered as one of the earliest examples of the French horror genre, which plays on the themes of vampirism and sexuality. The story starts with two young sisters, Marie and Michelle, who live in a remote French village that's shrouded with myths and legends about vampires. They are convinced that they are the descendants of a notorious vampire family who live in a hidden castle in the woods. When a stranger visits the village, the sisters believe that he has come to free them from their vampiric curse. They lead him to the castle and that's when the story really takes shape.

In the castle, the stranger is welcomed by a group of women, all of whom are dressed in black and adorned with vampire fangs. They tell him about their hidden society, where they are ruled by a clan of elder vampires, who are the ones actually running things behind the scenes. The women also reveal that they subsist on a rare liquid that has the power to transform them into vampires. The stranger is then introduced to Solange Pradel, who plays a seductive and alluring vampire queen. She convinces him to join their society and ascend the ranks of their organization.

As the stranger becomes more entangled in the vampire world, the story becomes more and more surreal. There are bizarre rituals, sacrificial offerings, and even a scene where the vampires engage in a polyamorous blood orgy. The movie features a lot of erotic imagery, and the vampire women are portrayed as sensual and irresistible, enhanced by their alluring black dresses and seductive fangs.

The movie has a hypnotic quality to it, with artistic camera angles and a disjointed rhythm that constantly keeps you guessing. The use of symbolic imagery and metaphorical narrative make the movie open to interpretation, which leaves a lot of room for discussion and debate amongst viewers. While the movie is at times violent and disturbing, it's also highly artistic and visually stunning.

The performances, while not always polished, are deeply committed to the material, which helps to heighten the surreal nature of the movie. Solange Pradel stands out as the enigmatic and endlessly charismatic vampire queen, while Bernard Letrou, who plays the outsider who becomes entranced by the vampire world, does a laudable job in his role.

Overall, The Rape of the Vampire is a highly original and thought-provoking film, which heralded a new era of French horror cinema. While it's not for everyone, those who are willing to engage with its distinctive blend of horror, sexuality, and existentialism will likely find it to be a fascinating and rewarding experience.