Behind the Hammer
The shocking true story behind the making of Hammer Films' notorious vampire saga.
So, after the 50s and 60s, the countless Hammer sequels started to lose steam and were losing their edge to Amicus, AIP, Tigon and others. How do we fix that? Add sex appeal. And thanks to the influx of European films, the ratings board was getting a bit more relaxed on what you could show to adults.
This documentary gets into the biography of Sheridan LeFanu a bit, which is useful considering how overlooked he tends to be, or at least overshadowed by Bram Stoker. We find how Val Lewton wanted to turn LeFanu's work into an American colonial film, and how the first serious attempt was the pre-Hammer Italian attempt called "Terror in the Crypt" that is not well known.
There is, of course, discussion of the lesbian themes, and the odd denial from those involved that any such themes exist. How do they not see it when "Twins of Evil" evolved out of "Vampire Virgins", and that happened when those involved stumbled upon the twins in the October 1970 Playboy? The interview with John Hough is priceless, as his work definitely needs to be documented -- and how interesting to learn of the influence of Roman Polanski on "Twins of Evil". Oddly, the twins themselves were not interviewed when they might have some of the best insight.
So, after the 50s and 60s, the countless Hammer sequels started to lose steam and were losing their edge to Amicus, AIP, Tigon and others. How do we fix that? Add sex appeal. And thanks to the influx of European films, the ratings board was getting a bit more relaxed on what you could show to adults.
This documentary gets into the biography of Sheridan LeFanu a bit, which is useful considering how overlooked he tends to be, or at least overshadowed by Bram Stoker. We find how Val Lewton wanted to turn LeFanu's work into an American colonial film, and how the first serious attempt was the pre-Hammer Italian attempt called "Terror in the Crypt" that is not well known.
There is, of course, discussion of the lesbian themes, and the odd denial from those involved that any such themes exist. How do they not see it when "Twins of Evil" evolved out of "Vampire Virgins", and that happened when those involved stumbled upon the twins in the October 1970 Playboy? The interview with John Hough is priceless, as his work definitely needs to be documented -- and how interesting to learn of the influence of Roman Polanski on "Twins of Evil". Oddly, the twins themselves were not interviewed when they might have some of the best insight.
- gavin6942
- Sep 3, 2014