Vampyres

Spanish director José Ramón Larraz' channels both his European contemporaries and the British gothic tradition in this fabulously gory sexploitation horror as murdered lovers Fran (Marianne Morris) and Miriam (Anulka Dziubinska) return to 'life' as vampires and lure unsuspecting men back to their mansion in the woods (actually the much filmed Oakley Court in Brey, Berkshire) for sexy time and, well, dinner.

Larraz plays fast and loose with the whole vampire thing keeping many of the gothic trappings - the house, the flowing black gowns, the graveyards, the aversion to daylight - but by making use of knives and broken glass these fangless - and often clothesless - vampires slice their unwitting lovers to drink, writhing orgasmically in the blood - this movie is anything but subtle - and becoming increasingly animalistic as the movie progresses.  What story there is just about holds together as the two feed on a succession of men whilst seemingly keeping one, Ted (Murray Brown), around for snacks, licking at a slit on his arm - I did mention the aversion to subtlety - while being watched by curious caravanners Harriet (Sally Faulkner) and John (Brian Deacon).  I wonder if there was an early script idea that explained more of the ladies origins - Who killed them? How they became vampires? Why they have a cellar full of Carpathian wine? - as there're a couple of indications, at the beginning and at the very end, that Ted was responsible for their murder but this is never explored and neither Fran nor Miriam seem to recognise him nor him them.  

Beyond the fact that the story is really only an excuse to get some bums and boobs on the screen Larraz, on the whole, does a pretty good job and the film is a fun watch. The sex scenes are typically overlong and overblown but when he puts his mind to it he manages to craft some scenes of ominous dread - most notably in the various scenes exploring the wine cellars - has an eye for a classic gothic trope and introduces some enjoyably oneiric touches particularly for Ted as he becomes increasingly weaker from all the blood loss, not to mention the wine and sex.

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