Daughters of Darkness (1971)
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67% of critics liked it
(9 reviews) -
59% of users liked it
(2,218 ratings)
Le Rouge aux Levres is a stylish, fascinating, very erotic vampire film based on Sheridan le Fanu's Camilla, the classic tale of a lesbian vampire. A young married couple, Stefan (John Karlen) and Valerie (Daniele Ouimet), honeymoon at a deserted oceanside resort where they meet Countess… More Le Rouge aux Levres is a stylish, fascinating, very erotic vampire film based on Sheridan le Fanu's Camilla, the classic tale of a lesbian vampire. A young married couple, Stefan (John Karlen) and Valerie (Daniele Ouimet), honeymoon at a deserted oceanside resort where they meet Countess Elisabeth Bathory (Delphine Seyrig) and her companion Ilona (Andrea Rau). Valerie has discovered that Stefan is a brutal sexual sadist and is drawn to the Countess because of her warmth and sensuality. Ilona attempts to seduce Stefan but is accidentally killed, and the Countess takes her revenge on his wife. Director Harry Kumel directs with stunning visual style and maintains the erotic intensity and tension between the characters with skill, getting a particularly good performance from the magnificent Delphine Seyrig, who resembles in both mood and looks the young Marlene Dietrich. Erotic, unusual and extremely violent, Le Rouge aux Levres, also released as Daughters of Darkness is one of the finest vampire films ever produced, making up with style and class what it might have lacked in budget. ~ Linda Rasmussen, Rovi
- Directed By
- Harry Kümel, Andrea Rau
- Written By
- Pierre Drouot, Harry Kümel, Jean Ferry
- Genres
- Classics, Horror
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1971 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
Delphine Seyrig's silver lame presence and Harry Kumel's evocative direction make this an above-par vampire tale.
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Michael Nordine, Film Threat
Not a single death is drawn out for effect -- indeed, most aren't even on purpose.
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Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
The lifeblood of marriage was all but drained by the time Slovakia's sullen vampires reached it in the early '70s.
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James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
a purposefully difficult-to-classify hybrid of European art-film austerity and borderline campy erotic-horror excess
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Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Makes decadence drolly enchanted
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Delphine Seyrig
as Countess Elisabeth Bathory
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Daniele Ouimet
as Valerie Tardieu
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John Karlen
as Stefan Chiltern
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Andrea Rau
as Ilona Harczy
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Paul Esser
as Hotel clerk
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Fons Rademakers
as Mother
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Joris Collet
as Butler
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Georges Jamin
as The Man
- Danielle Oiumet
- Danielle Ouimet