metalnoir Review of The Rape of the Vampire

The Rape of the Vampire (1968)

A genre-redefining revisionist and visionary masterpiece

[10/10 · 16 February 2007]

I had read about Rollin's work for years, but I only recently had the opportunity to see any of his films. This is, to date, the only one I have seen, and it far exceeded my expectations. To call the film "challenging" is an understatement; but, I believe, the director's intent is not to present a coherent narrative, but to indulge in his interest in dark poetry. The film plays less like a conventional "movie" than it does like avant-garde theater, and with this in mind, harsh critiques of the performances and the writing are immaterial. The structure with which the film unfolds makes perfect sense in every way. The monochrome images are stark, beautiful, radically unusual, striking, and unforgettable. Violence and sex scenes are artful as opposed to pornographic (reminding me of Jodorowsky's El Topo in this respect). Individual scenes play well within the format wherein they are presented. The budgetary limitations are negligible: the film's beauty is beyond reproach for all but the most closed-minded or prudish viewers. Approach the film as a two-act visual poem, and its rewards to the viewer will be manifold.