As I gathered up movies to watch by writer/director/actor Jess Franco for an upcoming 'Horror Challenge' being held on IMDb's Horror board,I found myself feeling disappointed that I would be unable to include a Giallo title in my Franco viewings.Catching me completely by surprise,a very kind IMDber revealed to me a Franco film which combined Gothic Horror with Giallo elements,which led to me shaking hands with a black glove wearing Dracula.
The plot:
Laying on her death bed, Baroness Karlstein decides that this is the perfect time to reveal to Luisa Karlstein that her dad is a vampire called Count Karlstein,and that Luisa is the rightful heir to a hidden family secret.Taken aback by the revelation that her mum delivers with her final breath,Luisa decides to visit a small village,where Count Karlstein appears to be a residence.
As Luisa heads to the village, Inspector Ptsuschko begins to investigate a series of murders being committed by a stranger wearing black gloves and walking around with a cane.Holding a firm view that the killer must be within his sights,Ptsuschko dismisses mutterings from locals that the killings have a noticeable vampire appearance.Finding the castle that her dad lives in,Luisa discovers to her horror,that along with her dad,she has also found Count Karlstein's friend:Count Dracula.
View on the film:
Offering a tantalising combo of Gothic Horror and Giallo,the screenplay by writer/director/co-star Jess Franco is disappointingly unable to fully connect both threads,due to Franco taking a very halfhearted approach to the Gothic elements,and stabbing the Giallo elements with a real lack of focus,which leads to it re- appearing/disappearing from the centre of the title.Whilst Franco shows himself to be a bit too zoom-in happy with his stilted directing,the stunning Britt Nichols gives the film a strong mystique atmosphere,as Luisa opens the tomb to her secret family history.
The plot:
Laying on her death bed, Baroness Karlstein decides that this is the perfect time to reveal to Luisa Karlstein that her dad is a vampire called Count Karlstein,and that Luisa is the rightful heir to a hidden family secret.Taken aback by the revelation that her mum delivers with her final breath,Luisa decides to visit a small village,where Count Karlstein appears to be a residence.
As Luisa heads to the village, Inspector Ptsuschko begins to investigate a series of murders being committed by a stranger wearing black gloves and walking around with a cane.Holding a firm view that the killer must be within his sights,Ptsuschko dismisses mutterings from locals that the killings have a noticeable vampire appearance.Finding the castle that her dad lives in,Luisa discovers to her horror,that along with her dad,she has also found Count Karlstein's friend:Count Dracula.
View on the film:
Offering a tantalising combo of Gothic Horror and Giallo,the screenplay by writer/director/co-star Jess Franco is disappointingly unable to fully connect both threads,due to Franco taking a very halfhearted approach to the Gothic elements,and stabbing the Giallo elements with a real lack of focus,which leads to it re- appearing/disappearing from the centre of the title.Whilst Franco shows himself to be a bit too zoom-in happy with his stilted directing,the stunning Britt Nichols gives the film a strong mystique atmosphere,as Luisa opens the tomb to her secret family history.