Guest Post: Lesbian Vampire Carmilla Remains Eternal in B-Movies by Gary Scott Beatty
Debi Moore
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Gothic novella Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu was first published in 1871, predating Dracula by several years. It tells the story of a young woman’s susceptibility to the attentions of a female vampire named Carmilla, and author Gary Scott Beatty is so captivated by her that he wrote up a new guest post for us all about her!
Move over, Dracula and Edward. True horror fans know Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla novella was the first to explore seductive vampire themes in literature.
With a Carmilla movie based on the lesbian vampire web series scheduled for fall release, Le Fanu’s creation may finally receive the recognition she deserves. Although she first appeared in 1871, a full 26 years before Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Countess Karnstein’s legend has been all but ignored by mainstream filmmakers.
Thanks to B-movie directors, who recognized the salability of a lesbian vampire theme in ’60s and ’70s horror, Carmilla has been kept alive (so to speak). However, you’ll find no faithful adaptations of the Carmilla novella here! Unhappy women and seductive visitors are the only plot threads holding these movies to the original source material.
In any event, here are a few of my favorites.
If you don’t mind horror with a slow burn, Let’s Scare Jessica to Death (1971) may be for you. The film follows a band of hippies into the country, where Jessica, the beautiful and talented Zohra Lampert, slips into insanity. I’m a fan of directors who can subtly turn normal creepy, and writer/director John Hancock can really turn on the subtle — a little blood ’n gore, an almost Lovecraftian build-up. Is it all just in her mind? Maybe…
What makes Let’s Scare Jessica to Death interesting? It dispenses with the usual Gothic trappings and over-the-top sexuality of other Carmilla movies. This is also why it’s probably the least-known on this list.
I’d like to think the husband in The Blood Spattered Bride (1972) is the biggest jerk to ever star in a Carmilla movie, but since I haven’t seen them all, I sadly can’t make that statement. Let’s just say that after this guy, portrayed by Simón Andreu, the vampire Carmilla (Alexandra Bastedo) is going to look pretty good to anyone.
What makes The Blood Spattered Bride interesting? In 1972, the world was still a male-dominated society. Wives were meant to be passive and pretty much put up with the kind of control the husband in this movie wields. He is actually confused that his wife is frightened of him. That, my friends, is scary.
If the first three minutes of Twins of Evil (1971) doesn’t grab you, you’re on the wrong website! Director John Hough (The Legend of Hell House) kicks it off with Peter Cushing and his gang of 19th century vigilantes burning a suspected vampire. Cushing is brilliant as Gustav Weil, the kind of sanctimonious religious fanatic that makes a superior horror movie villain (when on the wrong side) or hero (when right). Orphaned teenage twins Maria and Frieda come to live with him, and their passions lead them into trouble with male vampire Count Karnstein. (Apparently someone thought casting him female would be too much for audiences.)
What makes Twins of Evil interesting? Peter Cushing gives the performance of his career, stating, “I have tried always to be a good man.” Americans are marching around with torches these days — it’s good to revisit the mindless horror of mob rule.
Many may tell you Crypt of the Vampire (La cripta e l’incubo) (1963) is the most faithful adaptation on film, but even Christopher Lee can’t save this yawnfest, more Gothic than horror. For a movie with possession, witch burning, family curses, and sexual overtones, this one sure plods along. As a result, nothing makes it interesting.
Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla, first published as a serial in The Dark Blue, is in the public domain and available free from Project Gutenberg. You can also find it at Amazon and all the other usual outlets.
Enjoy! She’s bad, she’s evil — but so seductive.
Gary’s graphic novel Wounds is now available on Amazon and Comixology. For more from Gary Scott Beatty, visit him on Twitter and Facebook.
Wounds Synopsis:
Wounds throws us into a world where nothing is beyond doubt, except a father’s concern for his wife and daughter. If you enjoy that “What th-?” factor in graphic novels, you’ll enjoy Wounds.
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