Synopsis
In the heart of Styria the Karnstein Family, even after their mortal deaths, rise from their tombs spreading evil in the countryside in their lust for fresh blood. Baron Hartog whose family are all victims of Karnstein vampirism, opens their graves and drives a stake through their diabolical hearts. One grave he cannot locate is that of the legendary beautiful Mircalla Karnstein. Years of peace follow that grisly night until Mircalla reappears to avenge her family's decimation and satisfy her desire for blood.
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Cast
- Ingrid PittMarcilla / Carmilla
- Peter CushingGeneral von Spielsdorf
- George ColeRoger Morton
- Kate O'MaraThe Governess (Mme. Perrodot)
- Ferdy MayneDoctor
- Douglas WilmerBaron Joachim von Hartog
- Madeline SmithEmma Morton
- Dawn AddamsThe Countess
- Pippa SteelLaura
- Jon FinchCarl Ebhardt
Recommendations
- 75
Chicago Reader
This eroticized vampire tale resulted from the last significant surge of creative energy at Britain's Hammer Films, which thereafter descended into abject self-parody. - 70
The New York Times
The Vampire Lovers, praise be, does manage to be a departure from a hackneyed, bloody norm. It also is professionally directed, opulently staged and sexy to boot. - 60
Time Out
It is well mounted and enjoyable, with solid performances: the pre-credits sequence, in particular, has a dreamy beauty. But some of the action is a bit flat; and overall it marks the point at which vampirism in British movies became so overtly erotic that the films virtually ceased to be about anything except sex. - 50
TV Guide Magazine
While The Vampire Lovers is an interesting and entertaining effort, containing excellent performances from both Pitt and Cushing, writers Harry Fine and Michael Style and director Roy Ward Baker seem to shy away from actually addressing the questions of sexuality and repression inherent in the material. - 50
Portland Oregonian
In this loose adaptation of Sheridan LeFanu's Carmilla, Ingrid Pitt became a Hammer favorite as a lesbian vampire. This has a few nude scenes and Cushing; something for everyone. [22 Aug 1977, p.38]
