Vampyres

Have you ever been bored of either the pathetic shot-on-video goth fantasies that seem to clog up the shelves, or even good old Jess Franco's cool but boring sleaze epics? This film is pretty much alone in the Lesbian Vampire genre in that it has real zeal - the girls really seem to get into their roles and the result is the most erotic non-porn feature I've ever seen. Excellent stuff.

In 1974 director José Ramón Larraz released this blood-soaked erotic film called Vampyres , which told the story of a lesbian vampire couple who would waylay and kidnap various passers-by, both male and female, to take them captive at their luxurious rural manor . British terror movie about two Vampyre women who cause dreadful murders , being originally directed by the Spanish craftsman Jose Ramon Larraz . This horror as well as semi-exploitation movie deals with a lesbian vampire couple (Marianne Morris , Anulka) abducts motorists and drivers , (Murray Brown , Brian Deacon , Michael Byrne) , to hold them at their large mansion in the English countryside in order to kill and feed on them to satisfy their insatiable thirst for chew their blood . Their starving wishes seem to carry out terrible deaths , which are impossible to stop . As they feed them wine, have passionate sex, and then stab them to death while drinking their blood . The alluring female Vampyres shared the pleasures of the flesh , bloody hungry , and the horrors of the grave . They unleash their fantastic skills and become even more violent and sadistic . A couple that has not yet found a place to park their camper attempts to find out the rare events leading to an old mansion in bloody results which end in death .

This frightening movie deliberately told contains thrills , chills , suspense , sleazy images and lots of violence and gore , including obnoxious killings . Jose Ramon Larraz master of arty gore and soft-core , brings this ghastly and stylish story plagued with eerie intrigue , nudism and depraved gore murders executed in a luxury mansion ; in fact , the house is Oakley Court, used for exteriors in several Hammer films , and for The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) , it was later turned into a resort hotel . It is a straight horror film that features gallons of sleaze upon sleaze and a lot of sexualised violence . The screenplay is credited to Diana Daubeney, director José Ramón Larraz's wife Diana ; according to Larraz and producer Brian Smedley-Aston , she didn't actually write a word of it . She was credited because, as a British citizen, she filled a UK production quota . This is an English exploitation from Hammer Vampyres vein , as Jose Larraz takes here and there from ¨The Vampire Lovers" , ¨Carmilla¨, ¨Countess Dracula¨, and ¨Twins of Evil¨ , among others . Sometimes weak screenplay is added to well-staged murders and some gory special effects . Furthermore , a scary and thrilling musical score creates a real terror . Colorful cinematography in Hammer style with glimmer as well as lurid colors .

This much-loved 70s shocker was professional and stylistically directed by Jose Ramon Larraz . The recently deceased (2013) Larraz started in cinema world by casual way when he meets the famous director Josef Von Stenberg running a cinematographic course in Brussels . Larraz was a director of horror and erotic films and former comic book illustrator and fashion photographer . Worked in England as Joseph Larraz, and in Spain, using the pseudonym Joseph Braunstein . Larraz subsequently shot horror classics , cult obscurities, euro-trash , and even some sexploitation . As he filmed his first movies in England , plenty of terror , suspense and sex , such as ¨Whirlpool¨ (1970) , ¨Deviation¨(1971) , ¨La Muerte Incierta¨(1972) , ¨Scream or die¨(1973) and ¨Symptoms¨ with Angela Pleasence and Peter Vaughan . He also shot soft-cores and then Jose Ramon returns Spain filming horror and semi-exploitative movies such as ¨Estigma¨ , ¨Ritos Sexuales Del Diablo¨, ¨Al Filo del Hacha¨ and ¨Descanse en Piezas¨ , imitating the American Slashers of the 70s and 80s . His most successful film is this ¨Vampyres¨ about bloodsuckers who get victims to pull over hitchhiking , played by Playboy young models with sexy bodies , blending arty house , horror and erotic situations .¨Vampyres¨ rating : Acceptable and passable terror movie . Most hardcore Euro horror fans will appreciate the kinkiness of this film as that is what gives it its distinctive flavour .

This movie doesn't leave an awfully big impression but it still is some good fun for the fans of the horror genre and vampire genre in particular.

The movie has a splendid visual atmosphere which is mainly thanks to the beautiful English countryside. Yes sir, the English countryside still looks better than any other average Hollywood set for a movie from the same genre. Also the atmosphere of the movie in general is typical British, so I can truly recommend this movie if you're fan of the old Hammer movies and stuff like that. Even though the movie never really gets scary, it still knows to create a certain creepy atmosphere. Also the movie is filled with some good graphic gory scene's, which worked well for the movie and its atmosphere.

The story is just as thin as the ladies clothes. The are quite a few things that don't make an awful lot of sense and there are some moments that the movie just drags on for far too long, such as all the erotic scene's, which only all felt totally pointless.

I am also ashamed to admit that I actually rather liked the unusual musical score by James Kenelm Clarke.

All in all it is a movie that is worth seeing but granted that you have to be a fan of the genre to be able to appreciate this movie. And hey, it has got Michael Byrne in it, better known as über-Nazi Vogel from "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade"! Another reason why this movie is perfectly watchable.

7/10

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Disjointed narrative traces the frolicking of two nubile female vampires. They waft along English country roads near their castle, dressed in shawls and other flowing garments like Stevie Nicks, and lure passersby back to their mansion with promises of sex. They then bite them and lap up their blood. Yes, true believers, it could happen to you (and no doubt, some of you wish it would).

Probably better than any of the slipshod Jess Franco/Jean Rollin pictures, this one is based on the viewer's desire to see its lead vampire vixens in the nude and rolling around with each other, as well as third parties who don't stay warm for very long. Other than this, there is very little plot at all, save for an unfortunate American couple who happen to be camping on the grounds of the vampyres' estate. Soon enough they are targeted by the vamps, and .... well, SOMETHING happens, and that's the end. Told you there wasn't much plot.

Some startling violence and an overall feel of the old Hammer Films productions make this interesting viewing for those who aren't easily offended by sex and violence. Otherwise, you'd better be into lots of lesbian softcore porn, or you'll be bored stiff.

If you like 1970s erotic vampire movies then you will LOVE Jose Larraz's 'Vampyres'! It's as good as the best Jess Franco or Jean Rollin movies in this genre. It's very low budget (on the DVD commentary track producer Brian Smedley-Aston claims it was only around 80,000 pounds, and he should know, he mortgaged his house to pay for it when the financing fell through!), but looks great, especially the new print on the disc I watched. Like Franco and Rollin Larraz isn't all that interested in plot as such, more atmosphere and eroticism, and this movie has it in spades. The gorgeous Marianne Morris (brunette) and Anulka (blonde) play a couple of very hot vampires who between seducing men and draining their blood, share a passionate relationship. There's plenty of nudity, especially from the stunning Morris, and some very erotic scenes, though Larraz was constrained by the British censorship of the day. There's also quite a lot of blood, and the sex/violence combo makes it quite special. The DVD commentary is highly recommended, even if you're familiar with the movie. Larraz's English is shaky but he is absolutely hilarious! After commenting that the version of the movie he owns is heavily cut ("the Vatican version" he jokingly calls it) he gasps with glee at some of the racier scenes, and gets particularly animated when Anulka's pubes are briefly seen on screen. I'm very glad he enjoys his own movie as much as I did. 'The Vampire Lovers', 'Fascination', 'Vampyros Lesbos' are all outstanding examples of 1970s vampire sexploitation. Add 'Vampyres' to that list!