Recensioni degli utenti

While not a completely horrid movie watching experience for the most part I have to say this film is just does not pack enough bite. I own this movie in a pack with like a bunch of other horror movies. I did not know what to expect with this one, but I did not have high hopes thanks to its PG rating. When it first came on and it was a couple of guys in a office I was thinking "maybe it will not be so bad, at least they are not in a castle". It is not to long after that the fiancé of one of the guys inherits a castle and that made me think that it we are about to venture into the old castle foray that was so prevalent during this time period. Lady goes to place, town full of superstitious people, and then she meets her mysterious uncle who does not come out till after dark. Basically your standard plot for this type of movie. When her fiancé comes looking for her after she writes a letter breaking off the engagement it livens up the film a bit, but not enough to totally save it, rather he makes it a tolerable piece to watch. There are twists at the end, some of which left me confused on some points and the final scene was a tad strange as they threw in some comedy near the end that seemed out of place considering the first bit was devoid of any attempts at humor. There is not much gore and absolutely no skin (it is a PG film), but you do get to see a lot of cleavage and cute outfits so a plus on that front. Basically a retelling of Dracula in some ways that had some good moments and while overall it needed lots of work it also did not bore me at any time either.

A beautiful model in Rome named "Sylvia Morel" (Anita Ekberg) inherits a castle and sets out to take legal possession of it. When she gets there she meets her uncle, "Count Walbrooke" (Julian Ugarte) who traps her inside and tells her bizarre stories about her family in preparation for a diabolical initiation. At any rate, rather than disclosing what happens next, I will just say that there are some odd twists at the end which might leave you wondering. The acting isn't great by any means and the special effects were pretty bad as well. But this film does offer some attractive women, most notably two barmaids named "Bertha Zemis" (Diana Lorys) and "Freya Zemis" (Rosanna Yanni) along with the aforementioned Anita Ekberg. But other than that there really isn't anything that special or unique about it. That said, I would recommend this movie strictly for die-hard vampire fans only. Slightly below average.

This movie is hard to describe as it tells the story of a woman returning to her ancestral home where, perhaps or perhaps not, she is related to a family of vampires, witches, and other nefarious persons/creatures. The film tries to make everything seem logical in the end as some kind of hoax to deprive this woman of her new worldly possessions(the castle, etc.), but it fails miserably because almost everything that happens in the end is devoid of any real logic. Sundry characters abound such as an uncle that looks younger than his niece( Anita Ekberg plays the prodigal daughter...more on her in a bit), a fiance and his bumbling lethario/comedian friend, a woman who lives in the castle, enjoys being whipped, and wears a dress two sizes too small thus having her breasts almost spill out, a village doctor who is always drunk and believes in vampire folklore, two sisters that run a local tavern...one anemic and very busty - the other even more heavily bossomed, and, lastly, the strongman servant. None of these folks are particularly adept at that skill we know as acting. Anita Ekberg goes through the paces with either some capricious smile or the look that she just saw a mouse. Ekberg and most of the female cast are nice looking, however. But a group of aging starlets wearing push-up bras does not a movie make. This film was directed by Amando de Ossorio, and you can see occasional(very occasional) flashes of brilliance in his direction. The castle used is creepy, and the film does have some good atmosphere in several scenes(although strained in most). Ossorio must have knew what kind of material he was working with here, because he uses some humour in the picture with the two characters of the fiance's friend and the doctor. The doctor is really the best thing, at least for me, that the film had to boast. But even the Blind Dead series director could not save a film like this. It literally is a sleeper....I felt the need to doze several times. If you can make sense of the plot, please let me know!

You know… I really was looking forward to seeing this movie, by only having read the synopsis. It's about this woman, Sylvia, who inherits a family castle in Italy. The other thing I knew, was that it was a (horror) movie from 1969. I didn't even know it was directed by Amando de Ossorio, the director who also was responsible for the infamous BLIND DEAD "quadrilogy". If I had known this, I might have looked forward to it even more. But anyway, given the premise and the year this movie was made in, I was expecting an atmospheric Gothic Horror movie with at least a bit of gruesome or scary material in it. Well, I wasn't even halfway right. This is indeed a pathetic attempt at Gothic Horror, but the atmosphere isn't as effective as it should be and the story is uneventful and very predictable. I mean, yeah, there are a couple of scenes with red and blue lighting in some tombs underneath the castle that, when watched from a distance, vaguely look like something Mario Bava might have cooked up while he was drunk. But that's about it, as far as mood and atmosphere goes.

I just don't get people that say "It's a Euro-Horror classic" and slap it with, for instance, 8/10. Yeah, it's an old horror movie. Yeah, it's from Europe. Does that make it automatically a decent genre-classic? If you want the answer to that, I'll just advice you to take Mario Bava's OPERAZIONE PAURA (aka KILL, BABY, KILL), and put it next to Ossorio's MALENKA and then tell me which one is the good movie and which the bad. Okay, yeah, I'm getting a bit carried away here, probably because I was disappointed after seeing this Ossorio snooze-fest. FANGS OF THE LIVING DEAD is not completely without merits. Let's see… The castle setting is (always) great, even if it just features people walking around in it. There's a couple of busty ladies showing cleavage. One even gets some whoopee from a whip, while chained in a dungeon. The rest of the movie has Sylvia's boyfriend discussing with the town's doctor whether or not vampires do exist. And yes, we do get to see more than a couple of fake white fangs, but no blood really. No scares, no action (and by "action" I don't mean stunts or fights, but just something eventful or a couple of good moments). The little background story about the great-grandma (when she was young and quite attractive) being a witch and experimenting with alchemy was about the most interesting thing about the whole plot. Someone on here even pointed out that this was a comedy of some sorts. Well sure, the version I've seen was a pretty bad movie, but I wouldn't exactly call it a comedy. Except for that final, idiotic running-over-the-bridge gag. Man, that was so misplaced… So, I guess most of the movie's humor was lost on me. Apparently, there are different versions of this movie out there. Mine was about real vampires, had a stupid joke at the end, and only ran 74 minutes. And that, for me, was long enough.

I say FANGS OF THE LIVING DEAD is strictly for avid Euro Horror fans. Bad movie-lovers won't even have fun with it, because it's just not bad enough (although the acting was pretty much laughter-stirring all the time). I'm not even mad I wasted my time on it, as it was part of a 9-movie box-set (called THE LIVING DEAD), and some of the other movies were more than worth it. So I'm not complaining. Oh well, after all there was a witch burning at a stake and a wooden stick got driven through a vampire's heart, so if you please, you can think up an extra point just for that. But the gag at the end still remains dumb.

There are at least three prints of this film running loose these days ... Readers should NOT let the negative nellies dissuade them from seeking this film out -- it is a marvelous little bit of Eurotrash from one of the genre's finest directors when he was just flexing his muscles.

Most literature I have encountered on MALENKA agree that Ossorio's main inspriration was THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS aka DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES, but he injected the film with a decidedly Medeterranian air that caught on: In many circles, it is considered classic must-have required viewing at the Academy, Mr Spock kind of stuff.

BUT, you need to select your home viewing version carefully -- of the three most common forms that exist, the most familiar to us in America is a 75 - 80m "public domain" print that used to run on TV a lot, with the vampire chasing ending in place ... we have all seen it at one time or another. Then there is a second 96 - 98 minute European cut exported from Holland in the late 1980's -- it contains some additional "scientific" scenes and other dialogue, but NOT the gag ending with the vampire chasing Rosanna Yanni. The recommended version is actually out on DVD right now at places like Amazon under the name FANGS OF THE LIVING DEAD and released by a smallish company called Retromedia who "restored" a widescreen uncut British print for their DVD; uncut meaning that some of the slower scenes trimmed from the 80m public domain print are still in place.

What makes their DVD really come to life, though, is the care that went into making the print look good again. And after so many years of dingy, sepia rotted TV prints you will be shocked at what a beautiful, HARMLESS and fun movie this is -- I'd rather watch MALENKA with my eyes held open by toothpicks than ever have to sit through garbage like INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE, DRACULA 2000 or FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA PRESENTS BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA: A FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA FILM ever again. Gawd ...

I recently picked up the full version of this film (complete with REAL vampire)at my local Meijer, in Columbus. I rated it an 8\10 for it's wonderful, b-grade fun. I view this film more as a comedy than a horror, because of it's failed attempt at creating suspense, and awful effects. The dialog is the stuff of b-grade horror legend. The moronic, Italian best friend was a riot. His bad acting, and poor lines, will stick with me. I really enjoyed his "seductive" talk with a vampire. You'll see, the "'til the very last drop" line. The soundtrack is like a 90 year old church organist trying to stir up some "spooky" music for the yearly "God sends homosexuals to Hell" demonstration they have for Halloween ever year. If you find it, buy it. I found the DVD for $3.

Just two weeks from her marriage, charming model Sylvia Morelle (Anita Ekberg) receives a letter from her uncle, Count Waldrick (Julián Ugarte), informing her that her mummy has passed away and that she has inherited a castle and the title of Countess . Consequently, Sylvia leaves her fiancé, Dr Piero Lufuani (John Hamilton), in Rome while she goes to Castle Waldrick to sign papers and check out her good fortune . There lives mysterious people she suspects may be vampires and her uncle (Julian Ugarte) who happens to be the main bloodsucker and he attempts to persude her to remain among them . As vampires craving for human blood and beginning her criminal rampage .

This low-budget Spanish-Italian co-production from the classy cult filmmaker Amando De Ossorio results to be an atmospheric horror movie containing terrifying scenes when appears the sinister vampire , as well as a bevy of beautiful women and taking place the bloody killings by neck biting . Based on the legendary story of a fired witch and a creepy vampire , in which rise from beyond to wreak havoc upon some beautiful Euro-babes and unfortunate victims . Plenty of lots of blood and gore , including some repellent images . The fable is sometimes silly and laughable ,though the effects and action are well made . It's a slight fun with acceptable make-up , special effects , passable set decoration and functional art direction . Some illogical parts in the plot are more than compensated for the excitement provided by the wonderful busty vampire women running in slow-moving , though sometimes are a little bit cheesy . While not a hit during its original run, the film became successful when reissued several years later. Acceptable main cast as Anita Ekberg , John Hamilton and Julian Ugarte as a strange nobleman , whose role was previously offered Boris Karloff who was initially approached to play him , but he eventually turned down . Support cast is pretty good , such as : Carlos Casaravilla as a drunkyard doctor , the hunk Fernando Bilbao , Paul Muller : Jesus Franco's regular and attractive Eurotrash girls as Rosanna Yanni , Diana Lorys and Adriana Ambesi .

It contains a thrilling and frightening musical score by Carlos Savina . And colorful cinematography , in Hammer style , by Fulvio Testi , though being really necessary a perfect remastering . The motion picture was professionally directed by Amando De Ossorio . Amando began in films as a writer and assistant director and continued his career by making short films and industrial documentaries . He was one of the main directors of the Spanish horror boom in the 70s , in fact this ¨Malenka¨was his handiwork , best known for his series of Knights Templar zombie films , which began with La Noche del Terror Ciego (1971).specially for his quartet of films about the living dead templars which started with his first great success and immensely popular ¨Tombs of the Blind dead¨ which to be continued by a trilogy : ¨Return of evil dead¨ , ¨Ship of Zombies or Blind dead 2¨ and ¨Blind dead 3 or The night of the sea gulls¨ . Amando owns his own studio and created and/or designed many of the simple special effects sequences you see in any of his many imaginative undertakings . He displayed a varied career and specialized on all kind of genres as Western in "Rebels in Canada" and "Grave of the Gunfighter" , Historical as ¨Los Cantabros¨ , Monster movie as ¨Serpent of sea¨ and , of course, Terror as ¨Malenka¨ , The possessed¨ and ¨night of witches¨ . Ossorio also studied painting and photography , moreover, he also made his living as a painter of creepy images of the Knights Templar in his later years. Rating : 5.5/10 . Acceptable and passable .

The Spanish vampire 'classic' Malenka plays like a Mel Brooks parody of a Gothic horror movie, only much funnier. It stars the inimitable Anita Ekberg in two roles. As Italian supermodel Sylvia Morel, who (out of the blue) inherits a creepy old castle in Transylvania. As her villainous ancestress Malenka, a witch whose experiments in black magic cast a sinister shadow over the living and the undead. It seems that Malenka, in her depravity, turned most of her family into vampires. They now long for nothing more than La Ekberg to share their evil fate.

Families, eh? Without the hilarity of Ekberg's performance, Malenka would be a paltry thing indeed. The lovely Anita does not act as mere mortals do. She purrs, she pouts, she preens, she struts, she flounces. She gnaws away at her risible dialogue as though every line had been honed in her honour by Tennesee Williams or Edward Albee, at the very least. Her wardrobe is atrocious as only a 60s Bad Euro Movie wardrobe could ever be. Faced with a display of camp diva-dom this extreme, female impersonators can only hang up their wigs and admit defeat!

Not content with one Superlatively Awful Performance, Malenka also throws in Julian Ugarte as poor Sylvia's wicked uncle. Aided by two leggy vampire lovelies, he attacks his role with sneering, lip-curling sadism that would make Basil Rathbone blush for shame! This is all to the good, as Malenka grows insufferably dull whenever Ekberg or the baddies are off-screen. Director Armando de Ossorio may in fact have some flair for wide-screen composition, but my Dutch video copy is so horribly panned-and-scanned it's hard to tell.

Such minor quibbling aside, Malenka survives as an object lesson in Why We Love Bad Movies. Teamed with Ekberg's 1978 horror opus Killer Nun, it could be the comedy double bill of all time.

Director and writer Amando de Ossorio is probably best known for his terrific 'Blind Dead' films from the early 1970s. This was his first foray into horror, and features some richly picturesque locations but strangely considering the gothic surroundings, very little in the way of atmosphere. This is partly due to inconsistent music from prolific composer Carlo Savina; on occasions, his haunting violins really complement the supernatural suggestions offered - on others, the bland score really works against certain scenes of vampiric horror.

The lead villain here is played by Julián Ugarte, who would feature in a similar role in 1972's superb 'All the Colours of the Dark'. His slender features compliment a decidedly average performance as Count Wallbrooke.

I am reviewing the English-speaking version - as such, the acting on display has been dubbed - therefore much of the performances have been taken out of the hands of the actors on screen. Having said that, many female members of the cast are clearly 'vamping it up' - Anita Ekberg, for whom 'Malenka' is said to have been 'the final nail in the cinematic coffin', smoulders for all she is worth. My favourite performance is from Diana Lorys who is very good, and comparatively restrained, as Bertha Zemis.

It is difficult to know the tone the film was aiming for. The version I have seen is very light on sex or gore, two very popular traits in films at the time. The comedy side-kick character Max (César Benet) who is slightly annoying throughout, gets to steer the finale into oddly open-ended, light-hearted territory. My score is 5 out of 10.

A beautiful woman (Anita Ekberg) learns she has inherited a family castle. She travel to Italy to take a look at it but finds her grandmother was a witch and her uncle is one of the undead (a vampire). He has every intention of making sure she joins the family...but her boyfriend shows up looking for her.

A real snooze. The plot doesn't make a whole lot of sense (although that's common with Italian horror movies) and the acting is terrible. Ekberg is certainly a beautiful woman but her reactions to things were badly done--VERY! I can't give a very accurate judgment of her performance (she's dubbed along with everybody else) but what I saw was pretty lousy. The rest of the cast is about as good as her. The movie drags on (even in the 80 minute version I saw) with things happening left and right that don't make the slightest bit of sense. Also there's next to no blood or violence (this film is VERY PG rated) and the makeup on the vampires is pretty comical (the fangs are WAY too big). It all ends with a terrible gag ending that had me rolling my eyes.

In defense of this, the print I saw was in full screen with badly faded colors--but even letter-boxed and in bright colors wouldn't change the "story" or terrible acting.

Pop this one on if you have sleep problems--you'll be dead asleep in no time! A 1.

In the late 60s into the 70s, Anita Ekberg's career really took a nose dive. She was still very beautiful and had talent, but she ended up playing in Z-grade exploitation fare like this film. I don't like this movie. I can't explain why, but it just sucks. Usually, I enjoy haphazardly put together vampire flicks with attractive women and overacting. However, this one is just kind of pathetic.

Ekberg inherits a castle from her dead mother who was of aristocratic stock. She goes to see the castle and her uncle (who as luck would have it, is the undead). She is warned numerous times by the usual scared villagers that there's a curse on her family (typical vampire movie plot fodder). Her uncle ends up trying to get her to become a vampire so she can fulfill her destiny. Her fiancée and his idiot friend come in from Rome to try to talk to her, but get the usual cold shoulder. They have to work with a local doctor to try and save her.

It seemed like they tried to be campy, but really failed. The plot (as previously outlined) was really weak and they tried to throw in a twist at the end that was totally unnecessary. If they were trying to build suspense, they royally screwed up.

Don't waste your time.

Worthwhile as a drive-in theater relic only. You can also find "Fangs of the Living Dead" included on a horror/zombie compilation for about $9. I forget the name of the compilation, but I've seen it recently at several Sam Goody and SunCoast video stores in the New York metropolitan area. It's either in the bargain bin or the horror section. A clerk could probably find it for you. Of note to extreme trivia fans, the flick was included on a triple feature with "Revenge of the Living Dead" and "Curse of The Living Dead" that played mostly the drive-in theater circuit around August of 1973. During this period, you found many of these euro-trash horror pictures, i.e. She Beast, Terror Creatures from the Grave, Terror in the Wax Museum, Devil's Nightmare, etc. etc. either at the bottom of triple bills playing at drive-ins or packaged together on a triple-bill. The promoters likely acted on the thought that people would not pay to see a single bad movie with the usual badly-synchronized English dubbing. The media promotion for the triple zombie feature involved a man in a strait jacket who allegedly went insane upon sitting through the "triple avalanche of grisly horror!" "Can you survive this orgy of the living dead!" The television ad can be found on various Something Weird video compilations. I still have a fading yellow original Big Sky drive-in theater ad that appeared in a Madison, Wisconsin newspaper as part of my movie advertisement collection saved from childhood.

"Fangs of the Living Dead" or "Malenka" (depending on which version) is a decent film of the genre. Some of the cast actually starred in "Frankenstein's Bloody Terror": Julian Ugarte, Rosanna Yanni and Carlos Casaravilla. Anita Ekberg is passable as Silvia Morel, a model who inherits a castle. Come to find out, her uncle is a vampire and he has plans for Silvia to join him. The question I have about the ending is what happens to the two vampire chicks at the end? This may be an edited version that leaves out the answer. The acting is decent but the dubbing isn't very good. The sets and backdrops are almost the equal of Hammer studios. Rosanna Yanni and Diana Lorys are very beautiful. The character of Pietro's friend provides comic relief-he really stands out in this film. This is worth viewing at least once.

Amando de Ossorio was one of the great directors of Spanish horror, and this film, also known as Malenka, occurs when he was really hitting this stride.

There are reportedly three versions of this film, and this one is the best. It is a beautiful print, and we see Swedish star Anita Ekberg (La Dolce Vita, Boccaccio '70, Killer Nun) in all her beauty.

It is a campy film, so there is no nudity or blood here. Despite the buxom women throughout, it is harmless fun.

Sometimes a vampire movie is more than blood and nudity. Sometimes, it's just a great way to kill 75 minutes.

seen this one.. crazy little 60's flick. If you are a bad movie lover then you will love this one. Get a group of friends and trash on this one!

In commenting on the above comment from acidxian, I have this on dvd and it does have the ending with the vampire chasing the inn keeper lady, not sylvia. and the burning of the uncle is absolutely hilarious.. his head looks like a roasting marshmallow haha!