Jonathan

Vampire hunter Jonathan (Jürgen Jung) embarks on a perilous mission to try and free prisoners from a vampires' castle and encourage them to join in a revolt against the bloodsuckers. Along the way, the coach in which Jonathan is travelling is attacked by two men who kill the driver and his horses and steal Jonathan's vampire killing equipment. Jonathan continues on foot, accompanied by a stranger who later tries to strangle him, before eventually arriving at the castle, where he is captured and tortured.

I've read that German vampire film Jonathan was intended as an anti-fascist allegory, the vampires representing Nazis, with a head vampire (Paul Albert Krumm) who resembles Hitler without a moustache. But even armed with that knowledge, I still found the majority of this arthouse horror completely incomprehensible, director Hans W. Geissendörfer chucking in lots of strange imagery that is presumably symbolic or metaphoric but which left me utterly bewildered.

Why is there a group of young girls in pink frocks at the vampires' castle, and what is the meaning of their dancing? Who is the panting hunchback in the shack surrounded by inverted crucifixes? Why does the girl who shares the shack with the hunchback pour water and dry ice over her leg while singing? Who are the dead people that Jonathan and his travelling companion discover in a farmhouse? Why is there a room full of villagers watching a couple having sex? And how does Jonathan suddenly go from being fully clothed in a barn to being totally naked and straddled by a hot babe?

About the only thing I liked about this baffling pretentious nonsense was the camerawork, with lots of long gliding shots that are technically impressive.

1.5/10, rounded down to 1 for some of the most abhorrent animal cruelty I have seen in a film, a man repeatedly stomping on a poor rat.

I saw Jonathan in the early '70s, at the old Harvard Square Theater, in Cambridge, MA, and I have been looking for it to reappear on the screens ever since (or maybe on DVD). Contrary to the "classical" vampire film, Jonathan's plot is rather an original one, in so far that it carries a political message. A bunch of aristocratic, fascist vampires, led by the evil Count, have taken over the country. They have turned their peasant population into slaves and literally suck the blood out of them. In their midst, a hero appears, ready to destroy this scourge. I think it would be most "a propos," given the neo-aristocratic present administration of Bush "le petit," for this film to be reissued.

I do not remember all the details of the film, the cinematography, acting, etc, but I do remember being enthralled by it and kept riveted in my chair. Given these vague memories, it is difficult for me to give this film a precise rating, but I can safely give it a seven or eight stars. So let's go with eight.

I watched this movie in germany, when it was released for the theaters. It left a lasting impression on me. It captures an E.T.A. Hoffmann sort of atmosphere, talks to your romantic and advanterous spirit. Specially when you have grown up in the european countrysite , between ruined keeps in the midst of old forest. Little probably to tickle the northamerican imagination. I found the approach to vampire stories very genuine and without moral judgement. I was glued to my seat in the theater. I was searching for this movie ever since. I hope it will be rereleased on DVD.

i was looking endless for this movie and finally got my hands on a DVD copy. its a very political movie, if you see it in the context of the time that it was made. it has a great camera, that starts of a certain point for example, then goes without a cut for some minutes through a scene and ends again with the scene from the beginning, continuing the story it had started in the first location. other parts of the movie remind more of a play performed on a stage. the surroundings and behaviour look very staged but though very familiar. and not to forget the great "dracula", the one second you think you might look through his mask, but the next second you notice he fooled you. great acting. i really can recommend that movie, even if the political aspect might be a little antique. its this old style though that makes the whole movie so refreshing. it should be a must in everyones vampire collection, thats for sure. i think i'll watch my DVD again soon, its definitely worth a second look.

Geissendorfer's first feature was an original approach to Bram Stoker's Dracula, but it is seldom mentioned in most studies of vampirism on film. Jonathan must fight against wild and aristocratic vampires, who do not stop at anything to satisfy their thirst for blood. Cows, sheep, chickens, anything is left bloodless in this outrageous film, which luckily is also funny.