Lust for a Vampire poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Ralph Bates, Michael Brennan, Nick Brimble, Jonathan Cecil, Erik Chitty ... see more see more... , Helen Christie , Christopher Cunningham , Harvey Hall , David Healy , Barbara Jefford , Suzanna Leigh , Caryl Little , Sue Longhurst , Judy Matheson , Jack Melford , Christopher Neame , Luan Peters , Mike Raven , Pippa Steele , Yutte Stensgaard , Vivienne Chandler , Melinda Churcher , Michael Johnson , Pippa Steel

This is one of three Hammer films loosely based on Sheridan LeFanu's book Camilla, which gives the standard vampire story a lesbian twist. The other two films are The Vampire Lovers and Twins of Evil.... read more read more... In this film, Count Karnstein, through a magical ritual, relies on the feedings of the newly re-fleshed and voluptuous vampire Mircalla (Yutte Stensgaard) for his own sustenance. This keeps her very busy indeed. She finds a ready supply of victims at a girls' finishing school. Her troubles begin when two male teachers from the school decide to investigate. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Flixster Users

45% liked it

2,219 ratings

R, 1 hr. 35 min.

Directed by: Jimmy Sangster

Release Date: September 2, 1971

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: December 4, 2001

Stats: 88 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

hammer starlettes Vampire Girl Lust for a Vampire Lust for a Vampire Lust for a Vampire
Upload a Photo | View All Lust for a Vampire Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (88)

  • ajv2688
    December 26, 2010
    ajv2688
    If they wanted to make a soft core exploitation picture, they should have made it and kept the vampire plot out of it, because it doesn't help the story anyway. It could help the story, but they don't allow it to develop that way.
  • cancercapricorn2002
    October 14, 2010
    cancercapricorn2002
    Like The Horror Of Frankenstein, this is one of the most reviled Hammer efforts - but, again, I found it not that bad after all! Still, being one of the countless vampire-themed outings from the studio, it does feel like a tired rehash of better films; actually, it happens to be ... read morethe middle part of Hammer's "Karnstein Trilogy" (inspired by J. Sheridan Le Fanu's classic short story "Carmilla") - if, admittedly, the least of them. As was the case with The Vampire Lovers and would be again with Twins Of Evil, the main behind-the-scenes credits weren't the usual Hammer stalwarts: producers Harry Fine and Michael Style, screenwriter Tudor Gates and composer Harry Robinson. While the latter's score is appropriately grandiose for the most part, the love song - apparently inserted without director Sangster's consent, or even knowledge - is a total embarrassment!

    It starts off well enough: all-too-typical material, to be sure, but very atmospheric (Carmilla's reincarnation, for instance, or the scene where hero Michael Johnson is surprised at the dilapidated Karnstein Castle by three cloaked female figures he takes to be vampires) and reasonably entertaining for all that. Other effective moments include: Carmilla's botched seduction of the Suzanna Leigh character; a couple of falls down a well, rendered stylized by the use of slow-motion; and the climax with the vampires trapped inside their flaming castle (lit by the inevitable torch-bearing villagers).

    However, following the demise half-way through of top-billed Ralph Bates (yet another impressive turn from Hammer's candidate to replace Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee), the film slowly falls apart; reportedly, Cushing was supposed to have played the scholar/would-be vampire disciple - but I can't help feeling he'd have been both too old and ill-suited for the role. Similarly, Sangster replaced Terence Fisher: it would have been interesting to see Hammer's top director tackle "Carmilla" - but I wonder how he'd have handled the erotic aspects of the story. With its full-frontal nudity and scenes of lesbian love-making, The Vampire Lovers had been credited with pushing the boundaries of permissiveness in Hammer horror - and this certainly follows in that tradition, with the script coming up with every possible excuse to have its scrumptious female cast disrobe!

    The film does suffer from the lack of a star cast or even those familiar Hammer faces (other than Bates, that is): there's no denying that leading lady Yutte Stensgaard looks great throughout but, ultimately, she makes for an inadequate vampire which to me is no fault of the actress since she's made to play the character as being more pathetic than evil); Suzanna Leigh is an equally attractive heroine; Barbara Jefford and Mike Raven, however, don't exactly ignite the screen as the Karnstein descendants (he was an especially poor choice and Hammer apparently realized this, to the extent that they had his voice dubbed by Valentine Dyall - while close-ups of Christopher Lee's eyes were roped in to 'aid' his character display the requisite fierceness!); Helen Christie is unintentionally funny as the headmistress of the school (where a good deal of the action takes place), who breaks down at ill-fated Police Inspector Harvey Hall's interrogation after a girl goes missing - which she fails to report immediately so as not to damage the school's reputation.

    This is not one of the better efforts from Hammer but worth a look if you can get your hands on the DVD.
  • harrycaul
    October 21, 2007
    harrycaul
    Enjoyable enough but rather silly middle part of the 'Carmilla trilogy', loosely based on a story by J.S. Le Fanu. This film was preceded by "The Vampire Lovers" and followed by "Twins of Evil", neither of which it is equal to. Yutte Stensgaard is lovely to look at but, alas, no ... read moreIngrid Pitt in the acting stakes - no pun intended. Mike Raven makes a poor Christopher Lee substitute. Look out for a cracking blooper in the final scenes when the camera crew can be glimpsed to the left of the frame as a coach hurtles towards a group of villagers.
  • drblood
    June 24, 2007
    drblood
    Rumour has it that Yutte deeply regrets ever having starred in this film.
  • moviewaffle
    April 1, 2012
    moviewaffle
    The follow up to "The Vampire Lovers" is cheap and shoddy in comparison though still fun for fans of Hammer. Ingrid Pitt refused to return, rightly citing a poor script, so Yutte Stensgard steps in as Carmilla. Though she's very easy on the eye she just can't compete with Pitt's ... read moreelectric charisma. Jimmy Sangster, who wrote many great scripts for Hammer, directs this one in bland fashion. Ralph Bates is fun as a struggling poet who bluffs his way into a teaching job at an all girl boarding school. Respect.
  • monkeybobbob
    February 18, 2012
    monkeybobbob
    Hammer vamp action. This isn't quite as dark as The Vampire Lovers but still has its moments as a female vamp preys on the pupils of a girls finishing school to keep her, and her vampire masters, lust for blood going and to make sure the Karnstein family still have a hold over th... read moreeir town after hundreds of years. Not amazing but worth a look for Hammer fans.
  • Lyndaofwirral
    January 12, 2011
    Lyndaofwirral
    Zero horror but plenty of fake blood, soft porn and even lesbianism. It's quite fun but definitely one of Hammer Films' more camp late offerings.
  • fb137801577
    April 5, 2012
    fb137801577
    "The Vampire Lovers" was a huge box office hit thanks to Hammer successfully fusing exploitation elements into their gothic horror stencil with female nudity and lesbian elements. Every huge success deserves a sequel so "Lust for a Vampire" was quickly put into production and mar... read moreked the second entry into what would become known as the Karnstein trilogy. Typical with quickly made sequels lots of flaws rear their ugly head out the abrupt production time.

    Taking place 40 years after the events of "The Vampire Lovers", our lovely Carmilla Karnstein (know played by Yutte Stensgaard) gets reincarnated by virgin sacrifice performed by her two family members seen in the previous film. She soon is back to her evil deeds, infiltrating a all girl school nearby seducing fellow students when they are not exorcising in flowing white robes while at the same time falling in love with the Literature professor.

    The all-girl school plot element is unintentionally campy to say the least. They seriously set up an all-girl school only a short hike away from the notorious Karnstein castle, a place known for deaths of beautiful young women for centuries? BAD IDEA! The setting just comes off as crass and just to serve as an easy element to get some lesbian action into the story... but fans might be disappointed as there isn't as much as "The Vampire Lovers".

    Swedish bombshell Yutte Stensgaard takes over the titillating role from Ingrid Pitt, whom turned down the film for reasons unknown (was she doing anything else of importance at the time... I mean really?). Yutte Stensgaard does lack some of the screen presence that Pitt emitted but damn is she easy on the eyes! Up-and-coming Hammer star Ralph Bates also has a rather throw-away role as a history professor obsessed with the history and evil of the Karnstein family.

    Director Jimmy Sangster, a longtime screenwriter for Hammer penning many of their most memorable films, makes second directing effort and was hired in a on the fly when original director Terence Fischer had to bow out due to broken leg. Due to that production problem he still manages to craft the same loveable gothic atmosphere that fans of Hammer expect, yet sadly isn't able to get past the scripts flaws which causes the film to fall into campy territory at many moments.

    "Lust for a Vampire" has an odious prominence amongst many Hammer fans but it's not near as bad as it's reputation. Sure it has flaws with its script but it Jimmy Sangster is still able to give the film the loveable gothic feel we fans expect. Plus it has the sexy Yutte Stengaard which can always make a film seem better than it is! Though not near as successful as "The Vampire Lovers", a third Karnstein film entitled "Twins of Evil" emerged the same year with better results.
  • mpghoul1973
    June 5, 2007
    mpghoul1973
    The second entry in Hammer studio's Karnstein trilogy. Its not as good as The Vampire Lovers, but its still a fun lesbian vampire film. The absence of Ingrid Pitt in this is missed.

View All Lust for a Vampire Reviews

Critic Reviews

Steve Crum
November 1, 2004
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan

Sex and violence cheapie is pain in the plunging neckline.

Roger Greenspun
May 9, 2005
Roger Greenspun, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Leo Goldsmith
February 18, 2011
Leo Goldsmith, Not Coming to a Theater Near You

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Vamp
    Vamp (100%)
  • Vampyres
    Vampyres (88%)
  • The Hunger
    The Hunger (0%)
  • Et mourir de plaisir (Blood and Roses)(To Die with Pleasure)
    Et mourir de plaisir (Blood and Roses)(To Die... (100%)

More Movies like Lust for a Vampire

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

Lust for a Vampir... : Watch Free on TV

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for Lust for a Vampire. Want to create one?

Video Clips

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Meet Other Fans

Add Lust for a Vampire to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?