Whilst I enjoy cinema and film I'm by no means an expert in it, and there are major figures in the industry who's work I've been completely unaware of over the years, particularly those outside of the mainstream. As such, I'd never encountered the work of Jess Franco, a rather prolific writer, director, and composer across 173 films, until the release of Vampyros Lesbos, and She Killed in Ecstasy on 4K UHD and Blu-ray from Severin Films. Always eager to discover new things, I grabbed a copy of both and tried to not only learn more about Franco, but their lead actress, Soledad Miranda.
Those familiar with the story of Dracula will very quickly come to see the inspiration behind Franco's erotic vampire film as we're introduced to young lawyer Linda Westinghouse (Ewa Strömberg), who's working for a law firm in Istanbul when she's sent to see Countess Nadine Carody (Soledad Miranda) to discuss her inheritance. Prior to this we learn that Linda has been having erotic dreams about a mysterious woman, a woman she eventually sees performing in an exotic cabaret. When she finally arrives on the remote island she discovers that the woman in nonother than Carody. Little does she know, however, that Carody is more than she appears, and as the beautiful woman begins to seduce her Linda learns terrible truths.
Much as the name would suggest, Vampyros Lesbos is a lesbian take on the basic Dracula story, despite Dracula also being referenced as a character in the film. Aside from the parallel of Linda being both a combination of Jonathan and Mina Harker, there's also a Dr Seward (Dennis Price), and a Renfield stand-in. Despite these similarities, Franco does some interesting things with his vampires that definitely feel a little mould breaking for the time; the most obvious being that sunlight doesn't do anything to Carody (yes, this was also true in Dracula, but the idea was introduced in Nosferatu and became a staple of vampire mythology from that point on). This allows for some visually striking moments of our vampire antagonist sunbathing, frolicking on the beach, and generally enjoying the beautiful home she's made on the coast.
Whilst She Killed in Ecstasy felt somewhat light and lacking in places there's a lot more to Vampyros Lesbos than you'd expect, with plenty of story, character moments, subtle themes, and creative visual storytelling that feels a little jarring when you compare the two Franco films. It feels somewhat like perhaps out of the two this is the one that's more of a passion project, the film that he cared more about, and put the greater effort into; and this translates on screen as the much more enjoyable experience.
Soledad Miranda is wonderfully cast as Countess Carody, a vampire that was created by Dracula himself. Miranda is very beautiful, and her delicate looks coupled with her at times cold and aloof performance definitely sells the concept that she's an ancient and powerful being. She dominates the scenes she's in, and you can't help but give her your full attention any time she's on camera. This is perfectly contrast against Strömberg, who feels so much more real in comparison. She's a woman with troubles, struggling with the dreams she's been having, of the urges she feels upon meeting Carody, and the temptation of power that she's being offered. Where Carody is sure of herself and dominant Linda is so much more human.
It's not always clear what kind of film Vampyros Lesbos is trying to be though. It's centred around strong, powerful women who are given the spotlight over their male counterparts, yet Franco has a desire to titillate, and will disrobe his female leads in erotic scenes that feel more created for the male gaze than any realistic representation of the lesbian experience. It feels somewhat progressive for the era on one hand, yet sleazy and exploitative on the other; and based on some of the opinions expressed on the discs, this is perhaps part of the draw of Franco in general, and this film in particular.
However you land on that topic you'd be hard pressed to deny that Franco has a very clear visual style for the film, and that he clearly wants to experiment and play with expectations. Some parts of the film take on a very dream-like feel, and audiences will have to contend with some surreal moments. There are repeating motifs throughout the film, not all of which make complete sense, but all add to the strange beauty of the film. And there are some visual touches that are so simple in their execution yet are incredibly striking. One scene has Soledad Miranda floating almost lifeless in a pool wearing nothing but a long red scarf around her neck that's floating in the water that creates the image of a body floating with its throat cut, blood spreading out around it. There's a set in the film that has been decorated by red tasseled rope hanging from the ceiling that evokes the image of blood dripping down the screen. It's these odd details that almost demand subsequent viewings of the movie.
The two audio commentaries that come on the new release also encourage subsequent watch-throughs, and end up giving listeners a lot more information about the film and the people who made it. Kat Ellinger, author of the horror book Daughters of Darkness gives some excellent insight into the film and displays a knowledge of the subject that is sure to encourage others to want to learn more about it. The second commentary, by film professor Aaron AuBuchon, and John Dickson and Will Moriss from Obscurate Film Collective has a much more relaxed and conversational style, and acts as a great counter to the other commentary.
Alongside the commentary tracks are a host of other extra features that include an interview with Jess Franco, an interview with Stephen Thrower, a Jess Franco career appreciation, the twelfth part of Severin's ongoing 'In the Land of Franco' series, an interview with Soledad Miranda historian Amy Brown, and an alternative opening and trailer.
Out of the two Franco releases being offered by Severin Films I found that Vampyros Lesbos was leagues ahead of She Killed in Ecstasy in terms of both overall quality of the film itself, and in what comes alongside it. Thanks to the quality of both of these I'm definitely more interested in seeing more of Franco's work, whilst She Killed in Ecstasy had almost the exact opposite sensation. For those who enjoy Franco I'm sure that this release is already on your radar, but for those like myself who are new to him this movie is hopefully going to really intrigue you, and one that you'll thoroughly enjoy.
Vampyros Lesbos is available now on 4K UHD/Blu-ray now from Severin Films.
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