Fascinação

Fascination (1979)

*** (out of 4)

Marc (Jean-Marie Lemaire) is a thief on the run from the people he stole from. He ends up taking shelter in a castle where he soon meets Eva (Brigitte Lahaie) and Elisabeth (Franca Mai). The two women come off as incredibly strange but they keep referring to a party later that evening that Marc can't see.

Jean Rollin's FASCINATION is without question one of the director's better films, although the final act does take a bit too long to get where it's going. If you're not a fan of Rollin's work then I'd probably recommend that you start with THE LIVING DEAD GIRL or one of his vampire films but once you're used to his work this film will have so many of the director's touches.

As you'd expect, there's all sorts of sexuality between both the two women as well as their seduction scenes with Marc. It's really amazing how the likes of Rollin and Jess Franco could milk any scene for all the sexuality that it's worth and it happens here as well. One of the highlights is a sequence where Lahaie goes after one of the men trying to kill Marc. This entire sequence is perfectly directed and contains both the sexuality and violence that you've come to expect from Rollin.

Speaking of Lahaie, she easily steals the film with her raging beauty that just leaps off the screen. I've seen several of her movies but the way she looks here is just terrific and I'd argue she's never looked better in any other movie. Both Mai and Lemaire are also good in their roles. FASCINATION has a terrific visual quality and there's no doubt that the locations are put to good use. Fans of Rollin will certainly enjoy this one.

Director Rollin once again plays out his obsessions in this tale of a secret society of women who lure men to their castle for blood ceremonies at midnight. Beautiful French countrysides, gorgeous (frequently nude) women, old castles and erotic horror are what to expect from this exploitation film with aspirations of art. The pace is slow and deliberate with no real escalation of tension as midnight comes and all is revealed. Brigitte Lahaie has real screen presence and is memorable as she stalks a victim carrying a huge scythe. Definitely worth a look as are all of Rollin's films.

I'm an admirer of Jean Rollins work, and this film is the one which to me best represents his style. It succeeds in blending the sexual predator images of the more successful Hammer vampire movies, with the doomed romanticism of French cinema. The production values are low, presumably they operated on a very small budget, but as I was starting to experiment with my own super8 films, I was inspired by how much it achieves in spite of its limitations. The film is driven by a series of powerful images, notably the semi-naked girl wielding a scythe, and the odd bit of lesbian love action. As with all of Rollins best films, you get the feeling of getting a glimpse of, and being allowed to share, a very personal obsession.

A strange love triangle, where you can't quite figure out who's madder. Or more "evil" even. I reckon you may come to one conclusion or the other. You may also be able to see where this is going (not tough to see and no extra points if you do), because it is quite predictable. The main blonde woman/character is quite pretty if I may say so. And whatever that means to you, she is going to undress for this movie (so hopefully you're not easily offended).

Jean Rollins does have a reputation to uphold I reckon. One of them being giving us two female friends. You could conclude some things about his preferences and other things in his life. But he's just having fun. Whether that is something that is fun for you too, is up to you to decide. The end may seem inevitable and yet it's still shocking when it finally comes around .... deservedly or not, it is what it is

Some very beautiful (sometimes even naked) blood thirsty vampire ladies, the main setting a fine old Château, a gang of robbers, some blood spilled, and last but not least, Jean Rollin's fine cinematic style, voilà we get another delicious entry to oeuvre of a true master of fantasy and planet Venus. Fascination: for the fan base, without doubt eye-candy deluxe and always worth the trip.