Kate Mara Movie:

The Vampire Lovers Reviews:
"I love you."
2006-07-08 - THE VAMPIRE LOVERS is generally considered to be the best of the Hammer Films "Carmilla Trilogy" and the most faithful to J. Sheridan LeFanu's original story.

In THE VAMPIRE LOVERS a frankly lesbian Carmilla Karnstein spends most of the film seducing and drinking the blood of several lovely young ladies in eighteenth century Austria.

Like most Hammer productions THE VAMPIRE LOVERS relies heavily on stylism, and because the film is largely a straightforward retelling of LeFanu's tale, the storyline never sags. The sexual element is very much in evidence, serving as the underpinning of this film. There are a fair number of bare breasts and nubile bodies upon which Carmilla feeds, and the dialogue (much of it lifted from LeFanu) is classically Victorian and tastefully erotic.

THE VAMPIRE LOVERS is an entertaining and well-made THREE AND-A-HALF STAR film, and possibly the best of its genre.

The vampire Lovers: A Tale of A Female Vampire
2006-01-10 - I've seen some of this film. I am confused as to what this film is. is this the hardcore 91 minute version, or the softcore 87 minute version. I would buy this tape if i knew.

From what i've seen, and heard this film is a waek adaptation of Seridian Le Fanu's vampire novel. It was rated Pg in a dVD double feature with Countess Dracula. I find that hard to belive.

I heard that there is a DVD version of the 87 minute cut film, and I'm looking for It!

-The Hammer Film Reveiwer HIMSELF!!!

The Vampire Lovers - A.T. Squire's Exteneded Review
2005-08-27 - The Vampire Lovers

'The Vampire Lovers' is the first of the Karnstein Trilogy, and in my opinion the best. The film captures love, unhappiness and evil, which makes the film brilliant.

'The Vampire Lovers' is based on Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu's Brilliant Vampire story 'Carmilla'. The Novel, and the film, is set in the Austrian Province of Styria.

The 'Evil' of this story comes in the form of Ingrid Pitt, who plays Mircalla Karnstein, a centuries old Vampire. Mircalla travels around Styria looking for 'fresh meat' (e.g Beautiful young females!) under Pseudonyms
of her real name, Marcilla and Carmilla.

She seems very lonely in the film. She wants Emma to be with her, I am not saying she isn't evil but there is a certain sadness about her character. I think Ingrid Pitt played the part well, some people say she was just good in 'nude' scenes but I think she is a good actress and especially good at facial expressions and showing emotions.

The cast of this film include Peter Cushing as General Spielsdorf, Madelyne Smith as Emma Morton, Pippa Steele as Laura Spielsdorf, George Cole as Mr Morton, Douglas Wilmar as Baron Hartog and a virtually mute John Forbes-Robertson as The Man in Black aka Count Karnstein.

'The Vampire Lovers' is a surprisingly close adaptation of Le Fanu's 'Carmilla and a ground breaking film for Hammer, as it was the first Hammer film to have nudity and first to get an X rating. After this film Vampire Films were very erotic and female Vampires made appearances in more and more films, including films by Jess Franco and other 'Euro-trash' film directors. This film did very well in the theatres and even spawned two sequels.

This film has a lot to offer the main character, as stated before, is very interesting. Though Mircalla is clearly 'Evil', you (the viewer) do sympathise with her. I love the funeral scene it is very effective and once again, as I have commented on before of times Ms Pitt uses her facial talents to good effect. I also liked the Bath scene (not just for the nudity) because there is a great chemistry between Carmilla and Emma, and until the end of that scene, Carmilla seems just like an ordinary girl.

Peter Cushing acts brilliantly, as usual, his General Spielsdorf is a very interesting character. Cushing portrays a devastated man very well.

There isn't a lot of gore but, in my opinion, too much gore would ruin the plot. Fans of Vampire films will not be disappointed.

Thank you for reading my review, I hope you find it helpful.

Ingrid Pitt Can Suck My Blood Anytime !!!
2005-05-19 - I saw this movie back in the days of my wild reckless youth and it must have been on TV at some ungodly hour like 3.00am which is when they used to show most Horror movies back them. I sure am glad I stayed up to watch it. The movie concerns a bloodsucking lesbian vmapire played by Ingrid Pitt who appears in various stages of undress throughout this movie which got my Teenage Hormones racing and even today I still get a thrill watching this movie.It is only with he passage of time that people have discovred just how good the Horror movies coming from Hammer Studios really were . I am glad that they are finally getting the credit that they so deserve.

ARE YOU A VAMPIRE LOVER?
2004-02-04 - Indeed, many fantasy mavens are vampire lovers themselves, and a lot of them got that way by being "bitten" by Hammer Studios' great vampire classics of the late 50s and early 60s, as exemplified by "Horror of Dracula" and "Brides of Dracula." Sexier and a little bloodier than previous Dracula films, Hammer's productions took the vampire movie to the next level. Unfortunately, the law of diminishing returns forced Hammer's competitors to up the ante themselves to compete, and Hammer recognized that if they wanted to keep their exalted place in horror's hierarchy they would have to raise the bar once more.

The result was "The Vampire Lovers," derived from J. Sheridan LeFanu's immortal short novel entitled "Carmilla." Actually preceding "Dracula" in the annals of vampire literature and even more respected by some, LeFanu's story seemed the perfect choice for Hammer to batten upon. The picturesque Styrian setting, the gothic trappings, and the tale's natural sexual subtext all seemed custom made for a splendid Hammer adaptation.

Unfortunately, Hammer's adaptation leaves much to be desired. Many love this movie because it so seamlessly blends vampirism and sex, but in fact there is nothing to the film at all besides nudity and bloodletting. The elegant narrative of LeFanu's original is reduced to a rather childish softcore exhibition of skin and blood. Granted, it seems rather tame compared to "From Dusk Til Dawn," but given its pedigree "The Vampire Lovers" should have been a classic on par with "Horror of Dracula," not the rather sorry T&A flick that is.

More's the pity because of an excellent cast, one of the best 70s Hammer would ever boast. Ingrid Pitt is an intelligent, alluring vampire seductress, albeit little resembling LeFanu's languid, frail Carmilla; Jon Finch (before his excellent performance in Roman Polanski's "Macbeth") is a rather vapid
stalwart hero; Pippa Steele is an attractive, innocent victim; and the great Peter Cushing shows up at the end as a vengeful General who could have been another Van Helsing but is never given a chance to do much of anything. These performers could have worked wonders with better action and dialogue; as it is, their considerable talents are virtually wasted (especially Cushing).

Sadly, "The Vampire Lovers" is a contribution of little value to vampire cinema. True, it made sure future vampire films would have an excuse to indulge in more and more sex and nudity, but that's hardly anything to brag about. Moreover, despite all the sexual shenanigans, the plot drags terribly and there's little real action or drama. The most exciting sequence comes at the very beginning and nothing else matches it the rest of the way. To top things off the script makes little sense, with several characters who seem to be of some importance just popping in and out a few times to no dramatic end whatsoever.

While "The Vampire Lovers" has its fans, its no classic and certainly not as good as some of its Hammer predecessors. It was a trendsetter--but in all the wrong ways.