Watch The Vampire Lovers

The Vampire Lovers is a 1970 British horror film directed by Roy Ward Baker, based on J. Sheridan Le Fanu's novella, 'Carmilla'. The story takes places in early 19th century Austria where a mysterious and seductive young lady named Marcilla (played by Ingrid Pitt) arrives at the estate of General von Spielsdorf (played by Peter Cushing). The General's daughter, Laura (played by Pippa Steel), is an innocent girl who becomes romantically drawn to Marcilla. However, Laura soon realizes that Marcilla is not all that she appears to be when strange and horrifying things start happening in the castle.

The movie opens with a Goethe poem that sets the mood for the film, indicating the themes of isolation, melancholy, and the supernatural. We are introduced to Marcilla (Ingrid Pitt) as a carriage pulls up to the von Spielsdorf estate. She is a mysterious and beautiful young lady who appears to know little about herself but is on a mission to meet with her new hosts. General von Spielsdorf greets her and invites her in.

While the General is happy to have such a well-bred and exotic young lady in his home, Laura is curious and infatuated with the arrival of someone so different from the usual guests. Laura spends more and more time with Marcilla and is smitten with her charms, but she quickly realizes that there is something deeply disturbing about her new friend. Strange events begin to occur in the castle that points to Marcilla being involved in some kind of nefarious activity.

As the film progresses, we begin to realize that Marcilla is actually a vampire, and that she and her family have been preying on young women for generations. She needs to feed off the blood of innocent girls to maintain her immortality, and it is clear that Laura is her next victim. Meanwhile, the General begins to suspect that there is something not quite right with Marcilla and sets out to uncover the truth.

The Vampire Lovers is a classic gothic horror movie, with all of the tropes of the genre on display. There are scenes of gothic romance, where the beautiful and mysterious Marcilla is pursued by both Laura and her tutor, Miss Simpson (played by Madeline Smith). There are also scenes of terror and violence, as Marcilla stalks her victims and drains them of their blood.

Ingrid Pitt's portrayal of Marcilla is genuinely terrifying; she is seen as a beautiful, innocent woman on the surface, but there is a sense of underlying horror that drives her character. The rest of the cast also does a great job; Peter Cushing adds weight to the role of the General, and Pippa Steel and Madeline Smith both infuse their characters with charm and vulnerability.

The film's aesthetic is also noteworthy. The sets are masterfully crafted, with a true sense of a gothic castle filled with secrets and hidden passages. The costumes are also fantastic, with intricate details that help to transport the viewer to 19th-century Austria.

One of the most interesting aspects of The Vampire Lovers is its portrayal of lesbianism, which was a taboo subject in the early 1970s when the film was made. While the relationship between Marcilla and Laura is not explicitly sexual, it is clear that there is an underlying homoerotic tension between them. This adds an extra layer of complexity to the film and makes for an intriguing examination of female desire.

Overall, The Vampire Lovers is a classic piece of horror cinema that deserves its place in the canon of gothic horror. It combines beautiful visuals, strong performances, and an intriguing plot to create a truly terrifying experience. As a horror movie, it truly succeeds in creating feelings of terror, dread, and suspense. If you're a fan of gothic horror or classic horror movies, then The Vampire Lovers is definitely worth a watch.

The Vampire Lovers is a 1970 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 31 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4 and a MetaScore of 63.