By Melissa Antoinette Garza
The movies of Jesús Franco are so much fun! I love them for so many reasons. The blood, sex, odd stories and strange visuals that turn off so many draws me in. One of reasons I sometimes socialize with the straight-laced is because I get some sort of strange enjoyment when people get angry or pious regarding a fictional movie. I like when these types start throwing around $5.00 words in condemnation of something they don’t take the opportunity to understand. It’s never just a “It’s not my thing,” type of conversation. It always devolves to them sharing a sentiment similar to, “this is trash and everyone who likes it is trash.” I enjoy this road because I can make a sound, reasonable and well-detailed defense of the production that they don’t see coming. They’re so accustomed to the all-too-common ‘I just like schlock’ response that when they come across someone who articulates the merits of horror and sex in horror they panic. I love explaining the artistry of it all, but they run for the hills whenever I do.
FEMALE VAMPIRE (1973) is one such film that I’ll gladly defend. Countess Irina Karlstein (Lina Romey) is a mute vampire who craves sexual contact constantly. Some call her a nympho. I say she’s a goddamn rock star. In the first scene,she emerges from the fog with her breasts fully exposed, donned in a black cape, a belt, garters and black boots. Her straight hair falls upon her shoulders and when the camera zooms, the viewers see the empty yet possessive eyes and dead expression on her face. It then pans down to show the rest of her gorgeous body. She is driven on and by sexuality and needs it all the time.
Irina comes across a man (Roger Germanes) who offers to help her. Though she can’t say anything she reaches her hand for him. She guides him to a wired fence where after kissing him, she lowers herself to her knees and puts him in her mouth. She brings him to climax, but just as he gets there she sucks his semen and blood out draining him of both. The poor dude manages a scream before succumbing to his injures. He’s a goner, but what a way to go! As for the Countess, she doesn’t take satisfaction in her kills. She feels badly about it and wishes her bloodline would come to an end.
After the deadly blowjob, she turns into a bat and takes off back home. While lounging in the sun, Anna (Anna Watican) a female journalist approaches her and asks for an interview. Since she can’t speak, she only nods in response to the questions pertaining to both her and her mute manservant (Luis Barboo).
Anna pushes Irina on her family’s bloody history, her inherited hotel/estate and the murders that just so happened to coincide with the Countess’s arrival. Anna leaves, but that night suddenly hears Irina calling her telepathically. She is summoned out of bed.
Back at home, Irina in just her belt and boots is giving her man servant a show of female self-exploration that marvels the mind. She is in charge of her body. She uses her victims for what she needs and if unavailable will rock herself out just fine. She’s a femme fatale that makes the ride worth the destination. She is just glorious!
Next, the manservant sends an expected potential employee into her room. He finds her naked. She’s running her nipples in-between her fingertips and keeping her legs far enough open for him to enjoy the view. He wants to work at the estate. She wants him to work something else. He slowly approaches the bed where she seduces him. He falls into it quickly and issues no resistance as she remains in charge of the flow. He does caress a little, but with a dynamo like Irina he could have spiced it up a bit more. She uses her oral skills once more and he ends up just like fence boy. Again, what a way to go. After killing him, she gets on top and brings herself home. I do love strong psycho women. YUMMY!
While the Countess is steaming it up and taking out some lucky victims in the process, Dr. Orloff (Jean-Pierre Bouyxou) and Dr. Roberts (Jesús Franco) discuss the vamp and the murders. Both know she is to blame.
It’s about that time in the film where Anna begins to play with the Countess. Anna strips out of a cute little blue number and white leather high boots, into white panties. She finds herself getting roused as Irina begins sending her messages so she takes a quick shower and lies down naked trying to enjoy a cigarette, but the Countess is relentless. She shows up and then disappears. She uses her psychic ability to get Anna all hot-and-bothered. Irina runs her tongue against her own lips which stimulates Anna to near orgasm. The Countess runs her hands underneath her own white lace dress and fondles her breast. She runs her fingers between her thighs as Anna feels every sensation. When it stops and Anna in confusion begins crying, the Countess really appears and the two make passionate love.
Though, Irina is a bit softer with Anna initially than with her male companions, it doesn’t take long for the two to fall right into ecstasy. In one of the greatest lesbian vampire scenes in film history, Irina moves her way down onto the breast and then lower until she is on all fours, with her tongue inside of Anna. She licks the vulva sending her lover wonderfully over the edge. Of course Anna is killed, and the vamp still needing more finds her own apex grinding against Anna’s body and then onto her own hand. It is a stunningly erotic visual.
Later alone in bed, the Countess is hot again. She runs her tongue up and down a bed post as if it were the male anatomy and then fully ready she rubs herself against it and then rolls around the bed and onto a large body pillow, which she uses as a lover. That vamp knows how to work her body regardless if she has remorse for the need later. When she’s in the moment, there is no guilt. It’s all freedom, flare and fucking! I love that energy about her.
It is that energy that is seen again later in a bondage scene involving a few other fem Goddesses. Irina is brought into a sex dungeon by Princess de Rochefort (Monica Swinn) and her sex servant (Alice Arno). Against the wall, a victim (Gilda Arancio) is strapped beside The Countess. Irina is restrained, but I think we all know who is in control. Rochefort instructs her servant to strip Irina down.
The sex servant swings a spanking cane against the vamp drawing blood. Irina doesn’t flinch. The Princess orders her to continue, but still she elicits no response. Instead, the tide turns. The Countess uses her mental mind fuckery on the servant and gets her to slap Rochefort to the ground. There Irina strips her naked and dives in between her legs as the servant covers the Princess’s sounds of pleasured moans with her own mouth. It’s a wonderfully naughty scene between three powerhouse beauties, none of which could ever be called good girls. It’s all kinds of wrong, but it’s sultry, seductive and fan-fucking-tastic.
Next, a suicidal, psychic investigator (Jack Taylor) who has been watching the Countess decides he wants to jump in headfirst to get killer-head. The two make love and though she does care for him, the gal has instincts. He was fully aware of the consequences before jumping in.
In the final scenes, we are able to watch her bathe in blood and see her erotic enjoyment in doing so.
FEMALE VAMPIRE is filled with phenomenally crafted scenes that are brilliantly filmed, put over a wonderful score, and used to tell a story regarding a strong female lead who is ruled by a natural lust of her kind that she must abide by to live.
Romey puts forth a performance that shows both pure control and pure powerlessness. It’s the opposing aspects of her personality that is a draw. She can own anyone, but is unable to own herself. She is so overcome by her own desire that it leads her to the repetitive insanity of fuck, kill and regret.
Even some of the victims expect that their reactions will be different than the ones who came before – that somehow they’ll maintain a level of awareness where the others fell short. It’s a fool’s game. Irina’s lust is so overpowering that it dominates even her. She has far more faculties and self-control than those around her and even she must succumb to the force within.
Currently this is on YOUTUBE and has been for 8 months so you can probably luck out and watch it there. Still, this is a party gem to own and watch countless times. Just be careful. I’m not sure if AMAZON’s streaming version is crucified with edits. It’s available there for purchase under the name EROTIKILL, but I’d certainly verify that the sex scenes aren’t butchered before buying it.
Scared Stiff Rating: 8.5/10
