FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 1997. All Rights Reserved.
Not-quite Vampire Movies that don't suck
by John TebbuttOver the years, cinematic vampires have been saddled with so many weird abilities and weaknesses that each new movie has to clarify which bits of bloodsucker lore are "real." A few movies dump all that stuff about garlic and sunlight, reducing vampirism to the basics - the drinking of blood.
· Daughters of Darkness (1971): Elisabeth Bathory, a real-life 17th century murderess, became the subject of numerous vampire legends. Here, Delphine Seyrig plays a mysterious beauty with the same name as the "Bloody Countess." (It is implied that she's the genuine article.) The modernized Bathory meets a pair of newlyweds in an almost empty hotel and sets out to control their lives. It is left up to the viewer to decide if any of the story is truly supernatural.
· Thirst (1979): A secret society of decadent pseudo-aristocrats keeps herds of drugged, docile humans in order to drink their blood. The blood is usually processed and served in milk cartons, but for special occasions these creeps wear metal fangs and bite necks. They try to indoctrinate an innocent woman into becoming one of them. (It seems that she's a descendant of Elisabeth Bathory, which gives her high status.) Like Daughters of Darkness, this film contains a horrifying shower scene.
· Martin (1979): George Romero's best film and possibly the best vampire movie ever. Martin (John Amplas) is an ordinary teenager with an inexplicable need to drink blood. Tata Cuda, his elderly relative, is convinced that Martin is a creature of evil and harasses him with garlic, crosses and exorcisms (none of which have any effect). Behind the old man's back, Martin continues to prey on women and he anonymously confesses to his crimes on a call-in radio show. The film ends (as it begins) on a shocking note. Even the end credits are chilling.
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