The Living Dead Girl (La Morte vivante) poster & wallpaper
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Marina Pierro, Francoise Blanchard, Carina Barone, Michael Marshall, Fanny Magier ... see more see more... , Patricia Besnard-Rousseau , Jean Berel , Jean-Pierre Bouyoux

Jean Rollin, the French filmmaker who has earned a potent cult following for his unique blend of eroticism and horror, directed this disturbing tale of a woman who has come back from the dead. When th... read more read more...e grave of Catherine (Francoise Blanchard) is disturbed by an earthquake and fouled by a chemical spill, the young woman, not long deceased, rises from her tomb with a taste for blood and a desire to return to the home where she grew up. Catherine finds herself drawn to Helene (Marina Pierro), who became her "blood sister" as a child. Similarly, Helene feels compelled to help her old friend, and as they are drawn closer together, Helene finds young women to satisfy Catherine's ever-increasing lust for blood and flesh. La Morte Vivante was released in English-speaking countries as The Living Dead Girl. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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2,227 ratings

Unrated, 1 hr. 31 min.

Directed by: Jean Rollin

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DVD Release Date: November 9, 1999

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Flixster Reviews (96)

  • ajv2688
    November 1, 2011
    ajv2688
    A great horror movie. It's faster paced than Rollin's other movies, and a lot more bloody, but it still has enough of his signature atmosphere and beauty. The story is really good too, easy to follow, and very spooky. I loved it. Plus the ending is surprising and brilliant.
  • cancercapricorn2002
    May 27, 2011
    cancercapricorn2002
    La Morte Vivante, or The Living Dead Girl as it's more commonly known as to English speaking audiences, starts with three men in a white van pulling up outside the Valmont family Castle where they unload some barrels of toxic waste. They take the barrels into some catacombs benea... read moreth the Castle & dump them there, one of the guys suggests that they venture into the Valmont Family tomb, open the coffins up & steal any jewellery. While doing so a small Earth tremor cause one of the barrels to topple over & leak it's contents, the fumes fill the tomb & brings the corpse of Catherine Valmont (Francoise Blanchard) back to life & Catherine proceeds to kills the three men. Catherine heads upstairs into the Castle & starts to remember her childhood friend Helene (Marina Pierro) while touching a sentimental music box. Catherine phones Helene & plays the tune from the music box to her which instantly reminds her of Catherine so Helene sets off for Valmont Castle. Meanwhile Greg (Mike Marshall) & Barbara (Carina Barone), two American's on holiday, spot Catherine & thinking she looks weird Barbara takes some photo's of her, back at the nearby village Barbara ask's some locals who she is & they all claim that she died over two years ago. Back at Valmont Castle & Helene turns up to find Catherine & two dead bodies, Helene quickly discovers that Catherine needs to drink fresh blood to survive & decides to help Catherine in her quest for victims...

    This French production was co-written & directed by Jean Rollin will be a bit weird for most people's taste's. The script by Rollin & Jacques Ralf moves along at a nice pace & isn't too boring. The basic premise is decent enough & had plenty of potential with with a re-animated flesh eating blood drinking zombie roaming around but in the hands of Rollin he turns it into a tragic love story. Catherine knows what she is & is guilt ridden, she tries to regain her humanity but in the end can't & it all ends in tears with a very downbeat climax, she doesn't like what she is but can't do anything about it & Rollin manages to create some sympathy for her. La Morte Vivante was shot partly in both English & French although the dialogue is very sparse & minimal as Rollin, as usual, likes to tell the story through images.

    Anyone familiar with French director Rollin's work will not be surprised that La Morte Vivante is full of surreal images, plenty of interesting locations, some nicely lit scenes & has a nice elegance about it. Rollin doesn't forget about the gore either, a man has his eyes poked out, people have their throats ripped open & torn out, there are graphic scenes of bodily mutilation & blood drinking along with a girl being tied up & tortured. There is a fair amount of nudity as well.

    Technically La Morte Vivante looks basic but is generally well made. The special make-up effects aren't that realistic but solid for a low budget film. The acting is variable but Blanchard does a pretty good job at expressing emotion & most of the ladies are easy on the eyes.

    La Morte Vivantes is a good horror film with a slightly deeper & involving story than one might expect & it passes an hour and a half easily enough. However there are very few meaningful character's, it's a bit shallow & the subtitles may put some people off. Obviously an absolute must for Rollin & Euro horror fans alike but other more casual viewers may be advised to give it a miss.
  • PC79
    October 27, 2006
    PC79
    Classic! Different, must see!
  • TransmissionsFromNostromo
    February 27, 2011
    TransmissionsFromNostromo
    A lovely performance by Blanchard as a the pathetic titular blood-drinker. A bit much with the abundance of nudity and overacting of the victims. BTW, the song quotes "Daughters of Darkness," not this film.
  • Angelinathedemoness
    February 18, 2009
    Angelinathedemoness
    A rare gem from french horror master Jean Rollin. Great atmosphere. reccommed to any fan of gothic horror
  • johnemersonsfoot
    October 3, 2007
    johnemersonsfoot
    For some reason, I just never seem to be able to get into anything involving the supernatural if it comes from france. Good concept, but I just couldn't find myself actually caring about anyone involved.

View All The Living Dead Girl (La Morte vivante) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Staci Layne Wilson
August 22, 2005
Staci Layne Wilson, About.com

Click the read the review. Full Review

January 1, 2000
Chicago Reader

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
October 6, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

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