Horror

The Vampire Lovers

- An erotic nightmare of tormented lusts that throb in headless, undead bodies!

In the heart of Styria the Karnstein Family, even after their mortal deaths, rise from their tombs spreading evil in the countryside in their lust for fresh blood. Baron Hartog whose family are all victims of Karnstein vampirism, opens their graves and drives a stake through their diabolical hearts. One grave he cannot locate is that of the legendary beautiful Mircalla Karnstein. Years of peace follow that grisly night until Mircalla reappears to avenge her family's decimation and satisfy her desire for blood.

Release Date : 1970-10-04

Language :GermanEnglish

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Hammer Film Productions

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Marcilla / Carmilla

Original Name : Ingrid Pitt

Gender : Female

Character Name : General von Spielsdorf

Original Name : Peter Cushing

Gender : Male

Character Name : Roger Morton

Original Name : George Cole

Gender : Male

Character Name : The Governess (Mme. Perrodot)

Original Name : Kate O'Mara

Gender : Female

Character Name : Doctor

Original Name : Ferdy Mayne

Gender : Male

Character Name : Baron Joachim von Hartog

Original Name : Douglas Wilmer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Emma Morton

Original Name : Madeline Smith

Gender : Female

Character Name : The Countess

Original Name : Dawn Addams

Gender : Female

Character Name : Laura

Original Name : Pippa Steel

Gender : Female

Character Name : Carl Ebhardt

Original Name : Jon Finch

Gender : Male

Character Name : First Vampire

Original Name : Kirsten Lindholm

Gender : Female

Character Name : Man in Black

Original Name : John Forbes-Robertson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Housekeeper

Original Name : Shelagh Wilcocks

Gender : Female

Character Name : Renton

Original Name : Harvey Hall

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gretchin

Original Name : Janet Key

Gender : Female

Character Name : Landlord

Original Name : Charles Farrell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Woodman's Daughter

Original Name : Joanna Shelley

Gender : Female

Character Name : Village Girl

Original Name : Olga Anthony

Gender : Female

Character Name : Young Man

Original Name : Graham James

Gender : Male

Character Name : Young Man

Original Name : Tom Browne

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Roy Beck

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Jill Easter

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Salo Gardner

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Hubert Hill

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Gordon Humphries

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Sion Probert

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Roy Seely

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Vicki Woolf

Gender : Female

Reviews

Wuchak

@Wuchak

2021-06-23

Lush gothic Hammer horror with Ingrid Pitt, Madeline Smith and Peter Cushing RELEASED IN 1970 and directed by Roy Ward Baker, "The Vampire Lovers" is a Hammer horror based on Irish novelist Sheridan Le Fanu’s “Carmilla,” which was published in 1872 and predated Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” by 25 years. The story concerns a family of vampires, the Karnsteins, who prey on people in Austria by finding an excuse to leave their daughter at a rich manor. She then proceeds to patiently seduce the nubile woman of the abode as she drinks the blood of local peasant lassies and whomever else. The main antagonist, Carmilla/Marcilla Karnstein, is played by Ingrid Pitt, who’s effective, but a little too long-in-the-tooth for the role. While she prefers to prey on wealthy nubile girls and there are overt Sapphic undertones, she’s just as willing to suck the blood of dudes when it suits her diabolic purposes. Her pretense of passionate romantic love is just that as she’s intrinsically evil and referred to as a “devil” elsewhere in the movie. Make no mistake, she’s solely out to find and feed off victims. While vampires are fantastical, Carmilla is figurative of evil women who purpose to seduce or convert people and destroy them. This IS real life and I’ve seen it happen several times. The tale isn’t for immature audiences because it’s too convoluted, dramatic, weighty and mature. I saw it 15 years ago and wasn’t impressed but, seeing it again, I now grasp it and it’s virtually revelatory. The female cast is superb, rounded out by: Madeline Smith (Emma), Pippa Steel (Laura), Kate O'Mara (The Governess, aka Mme. Perrodot), Janet Key (Gretchin, the maid), Kirsten Lindholm (the blonde vampire in the opening; also shown later), Olga James (Village Girl), Joanna Shelley (Woodman's Daughter) and Dawn Addams (The Countess/Karnstein matriarch). There’s a little bit of tasteful top nudity and Pitt is shown totally nude on two occasions in a classy manner. She’s a beautiful woman, for sure, but she doesn’t trip my trigger. As far as the male cast goes, Peter Cushing has a side role and Jon Finch is on hand as the gallant hunk. There are others. FYI: “The Vampire Lovers” is the first part of the so-called Karnstein Trilogy, which includes the quasi-sequel “Lust for a Vampire” (1971) and the prequel “Twins of Evil” (1971). THE MOVIE RUNS 1 hour, 31 minutes and was shot in Hertfordshire, England. GRADE: B+/B

JPV852

@JPV852

2022-01-12

Okay vampire horror movie with some lovely women, though the lead (Ingrid Pitt) couldn't really act. Wasn't terribly invested other than when Peter Cushing was on screen (he's missing for the second act) and frankly as a whole this is rather forgettable. **3.0/5**