A cult movie from 1971 that plays with the erotic and the terrifying and is now available in a restored format. Based on the legend of Elizabeth Bathory, a Hungarian countess who killed young women in the 16th and 17th centuries, Hary Kümel co-wrote and directed this film, which is set in a Belgian hotel by the sea, empty because it’s winter. A young newlywed couple (who should have chosen another location) meet a lesbian countess (played by Delphine Seyrig) and her apparent secretary, both shrouded in an air of mystery.
With Les Lèvres rouges, aka The Daughters of Darkness, Delphine Seyrig takes a daring leap into a role that’s as magnetic as it is eccentric. What could possibly draw her to the démodé character of Countess Báthory who’s playing a game of seduction with a seemingly innocent couple of newlyweds against the Ostend’s stormy landscapes? Is it the sheer delight of camp, champagne, and glitter? A myriad of stunning gowns? Perhaps it’s the quirky blend of genres where vampire lore collides with arthouse flair? Or maybe it’s a playful nod to the legendary Marlene Dietrich? Could it be a rare opportunity to embody female homosexual desire? Whatever the reason, it all comes together beautifully, resulting in a bit of a trashy tale of a woman’s emancipation, where danger leads to liberation, and seduction is salvation. 4K restoration of a 70’s kind of cult classic. (Anastasia Lukovnikova)
