The Vampire Lovers

The Vampire Lovers is a 1970 British Gothic horror film directed by Roy Ward Baker and starring Ingrid Pitt, Peter Cushing, George Cole, Kate O'Mara, Madeline Smith, Dawn Addams and Jon Finch. It was produced by Hammer Film Productions. It is based on the 1872 Sheridan Le Fanu novella Carmilla and is the first film in the Karnstein Trilogy, the other two films being Lust for a Vampire (1971) and Twins of Evil (1971). The three films were somewhat daring for the time in explicitly depicting lesbian themes. Plot In Styria, 1794, a female vampire in a diaphanous gown materializes from a misty graveyard and kills a man she lures out of a tavern. While going back to her grave, she finds her shroud missing. She is thus forced to face Baron Hartog, a vampire hunter who was stalking her in order to avenge the death of his sister. He decapitates her. Decades later, Austrian General Spielsdorf is throwing a ball in his estate to celebrate the birthday of his niece, Laura. A countess, who has recently moved into the general's neighbouring property, is in attendance with her daughter Marcilla. After talking with a mysterious man in black, the countess tells the general she has to go visit a sick relative and asks him to care for Marcilla in her absence. Despite Marcilla's strange demeanour, Laura befriends her. Marcilla seems to be sexually attracted to her new friend. Laura starts experiencing violent nightmares where she is attacked by a giant cat, then dies of a gradual anemia. On her breasts, two puncture wounds are discovered. Marcilla disappears, and General Spielsdorf leaves to find Baron Hartog. Marcilla, now going by the alias "Carmilla", is reunited with the countess. They stage a carriage breakdown near the residence of Mr. Morton, a wealthy Englishman living in Styria and a friend of the general's. Once again, the countess manipulates Mr. Morton into offering hospitality to her alleged relative (this time introduced as her niece). Carmilla later attempts to seduce Morton's daughter Emma, who resists her more romantic overtures. Emma also falls ill and starts suffering from nightmares of the giant cat, while her breasts show the same wounds as Laura. After Emma's father has to go to Vienna on a business trip, Emma's governess, Mademoiselle Perrodot, is seduced by Carmilla and becomes her accomplice after sleeping with her.