Le viol du vampire (1967)

Directed by: Jean Rollin | 91 minutes | drama, horror | Actors: Solange Pradel, Bernard Letrou, Catherine Deville, Ursule Pauly, Marquis Polho, Louise Horn, Doc Moyle, Don Burhans, Yolande Leclerc, Philippe Druillet, Jean Aron, Mei Chen, Edith Ponceau-Lardie, Jean-Denis Bonan, Ariane Sapriel , Alain Yves Beaujour, Annie Merlin, Olivier Martin, Barbara Girard, Jacqueline Sieger, Nicole Romain, Eric Yan, Jean Rollin

Jean Rollin. His name has become synonymous with atmospheric and slightly erotic films about female vampires – such as ‘Lèvres de sang’ and ‘La morte vivante’ – but he was not always a “household name”. In 1968 he shocked and surprised the movie audience for the first time with his characteristic film style and choice of subject in the form of the film ‘Le viol du vampire’. The print became an instant hit with Parisian moviegoers, who even reacted so exuberantly that the police had to come and riots broke out. While the film is not without its delights, and has some interesting visual touches, it’s not really clear what all the fuss was about.

After all, ‘Le viol du vampire’ is by no means brilliant, but also not so bad that it deserves a dubious fame like the films of Ed Wood. In addition, the bare breasts and appetizing bodies of the beautiful French “actresses” may be big plus points for some visitors, but in this area too the film offers only mild stimulation. Perhaps it was simply the new, fresh combination of content, but especially style elements in Rollin’s film that appealed to viewers so much. However, whether this is a reason to become completely out of senses is still doubtful.

The film consists of two parts, of which the first, which lasts thirty minutes, was intended as a short film to precede another (American) film with the same subject. Later, however, Rollins decided to stick to this for another hour and thus make a full-length film. And luckily. Because, even though the second part has nothing to do with the first and there is little credit to be gained in terms of content, in its form the film is regularly a stimulating or interesting spectacle. This in contrast to those first thirty minutes. Naked female bodies enough, but apart from this and a few aesthetically pleasing shots – one of fencing ladies, for example, and a spinning shot of a arguing couple – this first half hour has nothing to offer the viewer. The story is muddled and sparse at the same time and the film is way too slow with many uninteresting shots of trees and shrubs, and the mansion where the vampirellas are located.

No, rather than the second part of the film, which has an equally incomprehensible story, but at least has a brisk pace and often entertains the viewer with fun moments and nice finds. It is a bombastic whole with all kinds of bizarre images, in which the vampire queen in particular still arouses some interest with her reasonable acting – compared to the abominable acting of most of her colleagues in the film – and striking appearance (short, black hair; bare breasts; and short fur pants). She also does funny things, such as licking the blade of her bloodied knife, and giving orders flattered in the back seat of a convertible. The second half also offers intriguing compositions, such as a row of three naked vampire women, each standing motionless behind a large glass jar with blood, to which they are connected by a kind of drip. The ending, finally, is literally explosive and surprising. It’s like Rollins wanted to throw open his whole bag of tricks in the second half. It’s a mess, no doubt, but an amusing mess.

This early work by Rollins cannot be called good. The film has horrendous acting, a story – if you can speak of this at all – that barely makes sense, several nude scenes without any added value, and a lack of coherence between the two parts. Yet many of the typical Rollins style elements are visible here and the second half in particular still has something fascinating to offer. It is purely on the basis of the visual (idiosyncrasy) of the film that the ‘Le viol du vampire’ does not get a serious fail in the final consideration.