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I bought "The Devil's Plaything" under the alternative title "Vampire Ecstasy" uncut on British DVD release, set in a German castle it is a tale of vampires, rituals and lots of sex. I won't beat about the bush (pun intended, ha, ha!) but this is a soft core skin flick dressed up as a horror movie. Erotic horror if you like, director Joseph Sarno was apparently one of the pioneers of this sub genre. The Gothic castle is set amongst beautiful German mountain scenery, impressive but the female vampires seem immune to sunlight (though not garlic or crosses), and there's not a set of fangs in sight. Barely any blood either. The cast consists of European actors who appear to have been speaking in English. If this were the case then credit to them for doing this, however their performances do come across as very wooden and would probably have been better filmed in German with English subtitles or dubbed into English. Apart from a disfigured, creepy male servant all of the cast get naked and this probably makes up about half of the move's running time. The sexy female vampires perform rituals in the castle's dungeon, gyrating to a repetitive drumbeat and doing suggestive things with phallic shaped candles! There are also several sex scenes though nothing of the hardcore variety. My problem is that after a while this just became very repetitive and lost its eroticism, not helped by a running time of 103 minutes. As a horror movie this is lame, as a European sexploitation flick then it's worth a look.

Sounds like a natural -- a 70s female vampire opus from 60s erotica master Joseph Sarno. His best suburban exposés of the Eisenhower/Kennedy era featured smatterings of the occult, and one would think that the loosening of standards would set his art free. Don't get your hopes up too high, though. First of all, Sarno's favoured technique is to build up tension between characters using short dialogue scenes -- but here, the thick German accents and stiff acting render the script unfathomable. And Sarno doesn't really have the intense visual style (at least not with this cinematographer) requisite of the genre, despite the authentic Bavarian castle background. Nonetheless, Sarno fans will be amused by the recycling of his favourite tropes (candles, bongo drums, ceremonial chants and dances, carnal compulsion and betrayal), and vampiric completists may be amused by his idiosyncratic and more realistic take on bloodlust conventions. Just don't expect a lost masterpiece, and be prepared to put some effort into the viewing.

"Vampire Ecstasy," ( aka "Devil's Plaything") released in 1973, is a gem in the realm of cult erotic horror cinema. This film, directed by Joseph W. Sarno, stands out for its unique blend of sensuality and the supernatural, offering an unconventional take on the vampire genre.

One of the most striking aspects of "Vampire Ecstasy" is its artistry. Sarno's direction brings an almost dreamlike quality to the film, with lush visuals and a hauntingly atmospheric soundtrack that creates an entrancing and immersive experience. The cinematography is seductive, and the use of lighting and shadows adds a mysterious allure to the story.

The film also stands out for its alluring and charismatic cast. Marianne Prevost, as Countess Nadine, delivers a captivating performance with a mesmerizing blend of sensuality and a hint of menace. She's supported by a cast that's equally engaging, bringing to life a world of decadence and desire.

What truly sets "Vampire Ecstasy" apart is its approach to the vampire mythos. It's not your typical fang-and-blood horror story. Instead, it explores the erotic and psychological elements of the vampire legend, making it a distinctive and daring entry in the genre. The film delves into themes of lust, power, and seduction, making it an exploration of human desires in a way that few vampire films do.

The pacing of the film is deliberate, allowing the audience to savor the tension and build-up of desire. It's a slow burn that immerses you in its world, making each revelation and twist all the more intriguing. The film's narrative is intricate and unpredictable, keeping you engaged from start to finish.

In conclusion, "Vampire Ecstasy" is a captivating and alluring entry into the world of erotic horror cinema. It dares to explore the darker aspects of human desire and the supernatural, wrapped in a beautifully crafted package. If you're a fan of artful and unconventional horror that pushes boundaries and challenges traditional genre conventions, this film is a must-see. It's an erotic and atmospheric journey into the realm of the undead that will leave you both fascinated and bewitched.

Vampire Ecstasy (1973)

* (out of 4)

The beautiful Helga (Marie Forsa) arrives at a mysterious castle with a dark past and soon she is being seduced by the lesbian vampire (Nadia Henkowa) who was put to death four-hundred years earlier.

Director Joseph W. Sarno made a handful of films in Germany and this here is one of them. I haven't seen too many of Sarno's films but I've enjoyed what I've seen but sadly that's not the case here as I found this film to be quite horrid. It's also known as VEIL OF BLOOD, THE DEVIL'S PLAYTHING and several other titles and it's also available in a shorter 85-minute version as well as the 104-minute version, which is what I watched.

There are all sorts of problems with this film and the running time is certainly the major one. Whenever a film is this slow and boring an extended running time is never what you want to see and sadly this film really does seem like it's longer than THE GODFATHER trilogy. This thing just drags and drags and then drags some more and not once does anything make any sense. Obviously there a lesbian cult looking for new members but the scenes never add up to anything and they just last too long.

Another problem is that the pacing is awful and I can't help but think the shorter version must have played better. Forsa would appear in a couple other Sarno pictures and she's certainly the best thing about the film and keeps it from being a BOMB. The film offers up plenty of softcore sex and lots of beautiful women but even this grows boring after a while. The castle does look beautiful and the locations are also terrific to look at but overall this film is really bad.

Der Flutch der Schwarzen Schwestern (called by it's UK release title The Devil's Plaything, on my copy)is an experiment in eroto horror that never really takes off.

What plot there is to be had involves the spirit of a vampiric baroness whom has been kept alive by her cult of attendants, so as to possess the body of a young woman and be reborn. Once resurrected, she can continue her bloodlust eternally, provided she drinks the blood of the descendants of her executioners.

The stilted dialogue and even worse acting make the storyline damned hard to follow (worsened by a very poor audio mix and no subtitles).

It's pretty evident the plot is a wash about 15 minutes in, and had there been enough half clothed starlets, all would've been forgiven.

Instead there's random cut scenes of naked girls dancing to bongos(while wearing body paint reminiscent of extras from Laugh In), lots of spell induced heavy breathing in sheer nighties(resembling those shampoo as orgasm Herbal Essences commercials) and a weird incest subplot, with the girls being fairly below par overall (The castle's housekeeper/leader of the cult is probably the worst of the lot, looking like a man in drag in most camera angles) This movie is fence sitting between the two genres, and it's lack of commitment to either is what makes it a lot less interesting than it could've been. There's too little plot to be scary (having actors look about aimlessly is not an effective suspense building tool) and too little quality skin to be sexy.

3 stars. (1 for genuine castle setting, 1 for the god awful shadow puppet special effects in the bat attack scene, 1 for an interesting but wasted premise)