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Ingrid Pitt, George Cole, Madeline Smith, Kate O'Mara, Peter Cushing ... see more see more... , Ferdinand "Ferdy" Mayne , Dawn Addams , Douglas Wilmer , Carl Finch , Kirsten Betts , John Forbes-Robertson , Harvey Hall , Olga James , Janet Key , Pippa Steele , Graham James , Shelagh Wilcox , Charles Farrell , Madeleine Smith

This sexy horror story from Britain's Hammer Films finds Ingrid Pitt playing three roles, the most notable being a lesbian vampire who will resort to biting a man only when it is absolutely necessary.... read more read more... A doctor and a manservant are victims, but only after she has exhausted all attempts to sink her fangs into the bosoms of young women. The General (Peter Cushing) finds his daughter Laura (Pippa Steel) is victimized by the bite of the vampiress. With the help of Baron Hartog (Douglas Wilmer), they try to end the horror brought by the blood-sucking beauty. Blood, gore and a few decapitations are depicted before the wooden stakes and crosses are brought out. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

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61% liked it

1,729 ratings

Critics

43% liked it

7 critics

R, 1 hr. 31 min.

Directed by: Roy Ward Baker

Release Date: October 4, 1970

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Flixster Reviews (142)

  • cancercapricorn2002
    October 14, 2010
    cancercapricorn2002
    Vampire Lovers is a particularly fine example and a cultural milestone that heralded the arrival of vampyric characters as being romantic, charismatic and seductive. For all the strength of the cast in this film ? George Cole and the always great Peter Cushing, for all it's whim... read moresical, dreamlike eroticism and relatively slick execution this film rises head and shoulders above its peers solely by virtue of it's leading lady.

    Essentially defining the vampire for the generation of films that would follow Ingrid Pitt carries the cast and production effortlessly on a tide of charisma, charm, grace and almost preternatural beauty.

    While this film is undoubtedly exploitative and resolutely sexist, it manages to inadvertently empower it's female lead albeit at the cost of the bevy of blushing, fainting beauties who line up only to fall under her spell. The patriarchal men who populate the film, dotting about looking worried, grumpy and pallid, just look pathetic next to the animalistic, virile goddess squaring up against them. As they cower behind their trinkets of religion, powerless to stop their women being spirited away, we inadvertently begin to side with the vampires. Just observe the scene where Ingrid's Carmilla bears down on the young buck who storms in to rescue the dizzy young virgin from our anti-heroine's clutches: Is it me or does the phallic sword that he wields seem to droop slightly as she surges down the stairs towards him?

    Weight is lent to Ingrid's performance not only by her almost unbelievable natural charisma, but also by her acting abilities. This woman possessed more talent than the horror genre often asked of it's ladies - Check her out working the subtle nuances of her craft as the spectre of a smile creeps across her face on hearing that she is to be taken in by yet another unsuspecting band of aristos. Also fantastic is the scene where a couple of male characters discuss the fact that the predator amongst them is a woman? 'an extremely beautiful woman'. We are then treated to a quick cut-away to Ingrid sitting in a chair managing to look haughty, sexy, smug, dangerous, seductive and powerful all at the same time.

    The film's much vaunted eroticism, through solely projections of male fantasy, are undoubtedly stirring. Ingrid's seduction of Madeline Smith when she chases her round the room before falling onto the bed alongside her is as erotic as anything I have seen on screen and the real life revelations that, at the time the film was made Madeline was a virgin, while Ingrid was almost certainly not, make it all the more intoxicating. That Ingrid did not go on to achieve greater success as an actress is a sin, after all she was (and is) a fine actress and surely one of the most beautiful women alive. That she went on to have a successful writing career and continues to be worshiped by a legion of fans is understandable.

    To conclude Vampire Lovers is a great film from the latter days of Hammer studios and worth seeking out
  • newvogueravyn
    July 9, 2010
    newvogueravyn
    The plot synopsis here is actually rather misleading, as the film is more subdued sexually than one might assume. It's also a fairly close retelling of Le Fanu's Carmilla.
  • RCCLBC
    March 21, 2008
    RCCLBC
    One of the best (cheesy) vampire movies EVER!

    Vampire chicks ROCK!
  • moviewaffle
    April 1, 2012
    moviewaffle
    The first instalment in Hammer's "Karnstein" trilogy, based on Sheridan Le Fanu's "Carmilla". Ingrid Pitt is a lesbian vampire seducing the local virgins for their blood. Crazy as it seems now, this was one of the most positive portrayals of homosexuality at it's time. Pitt's bl... read moreood-sucker is the sort of romantic vamp who would be a big hit with teenage girls today, a doomed anti-heroine at odds with a world she doesn't fit in. Roy Ward Baker does a great directing job, the sets designed so his camera can fly through keyholes and up staircases. As always Cushing is immense but this is most definitely Pitt's movie.
  • monkeybobbob
    January 15, 2012
    monkeybobbob
    Hammers classic vampire tale with Ingrid Pitt as a sexy vampire who prefers women and part of the infamous Karnstien vampire family who terrorised their town years ago and are back for more. Being made in 1970 this isn't some lesbian softcore porn flick, this is more about the te... read morease and brief looks at tits and stuff(although we do see Pitt totally wet and naked in one scene - yes) but in 1970 this was called shocking but as with a lot of Hammer films, this is classy stuff while still remaining dark with a decent plot and performances. Also featuring Peter Cushing, Kate O'Mara and Brit acting daddy George Cole.
  • jusstpete
    May 13, 2012
    jusstpete
    Vampire Lovers is a particularly fine example and a cultural milestone that heralded the arrival of vampyric characters as being romantic, charismatic and seductive.
  • fb137801577
    April 4, 2012
    fb137801577
    "The Vampire Lovers" marked a significant change going on in the mighty hammer horror factory in England. By 1970 horror films began to change, especially on the European front thanks in part to Paul Nashy and Jess Franco, and nudity became a key ingredient as horror films became... read more more exploitative. Hammer followed suit of the competition by injecting skin and other exploitative elements into their pictures. Some view this as the downfall of the studio, while others find it to be the most interesting era of the company. For me, I'm torn, but there's no denying that "The Vampire Lovers" ended up being an entertaining exploitative romp from Hammer.

    The plot is the first of a trilogy of films to revolve around the vampire Karnstein family (followed by "Lust for a Vampire" and "Twins of Evil"). One of the few surviving members (is 'surviving' the right term as clearly she's an undead bloodsucking freak) named Carmilla (Ingrid Pitt) starts to invade wealthy estate owners mansions by coercion and slowly starts to feed upon their nimble daughters.

    The new exploitative elements, though tame by today's standards, were shocking back in 1970. This includes a sultry love scene between two lovely women and vampire bites, get this, on busty bosoms! Of course this was all heavily censored for the original U.S. theatrical release but thankfully has been restored on recent DVD releases.

    The plot, based on novella Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu, is a slow burner, typical of Hammer horror pictures, but it's got just enough beheadings, sexy characters and bosoms to keep one's attention throughout. Veteran Hammer director Roy Ward Baker knows how to make an engrossing gothic Vampire chiller and he does just that and handles the new addition of exploitative elements with a sure hand.

    New to the hammer family is Ingrid Pitt, a voluptuous Polish actress that has a figure to die for. She has a mesmerizing presence, being able to convey both evil and sexy at the same time with her husky voice. Not surprisingly she earned a cult following after this picture and it's a damn shame she only did a few Hammer films, and sadly she didn't return for the sequels. Hammer regular Peter Cushing also shows up as General von Spielsdorf but it's a very standard role for the loveable actor and nothing we haven't seen from him before.

    Overall I liked "The Vampire Lovers" as the new approach with exploitative elements works thanks to being handled professionally by director Roy Ward Baker. For this I would much rather watch this than the works of exploitation extraordinaire Jess Franco as this has a sense of professionalism and looks great to boot. The new approach worked and "The Vampire Lovers" was a hit proving skin was the key and Hammer would include this ingredient in many of their films to come, not to mention the two sequels.
  • KassandraVictoriaOrgasm
    February 15, 2012
    KassandraVictoriaOrgasm
    The life force of a young woman is gradually drained from her each time she makes love to her lesbian lover. Her father is inflamed at her choice of a vampire for a sexual partner, and calls in two vampire hunters, one played by Cushing. There's plenty of action that opens with C... read moreushing's mentor burning a vamp's bust with a crucifix to determine that she is indeed undead, and then decapitating her. Cushing picks up the technique and also begins wasting femme vamps by decapitating them.. Hammer nearly rejected it at first, not for sensational violence, but because of the sexual taboos.
  • johnxerxes
    January 25, 2012
    johnxerxes
    Vampirism as a metaphor for lesbianism. Thank good old J. Sheridan for that, the Irish perv. But watching Ingrid Pitt and Madeline Smith lean and faint and generally tip toe through the halls in their low swooping nighties/dresses makes for a compelling movie. The fact that there... read more is a vampire on the loose takes awhile to settle in - or at least I guess it does. I mean the Doctor and the General seem to know right away, which does little to stop the lower classes from being eaten. Only when the Manor born languish do the men seem intent upon action. Such is the way of Hammer. Plodding third act slows the resolution and we never get a full explanation to who some of the more ominous figures are - such as the Camilla's Countess delivery service is or what happens to her. Not to mention the pale man in black. Who the heck is he? Still, utterly enjoyable because did I mention the low cut dresses? Yes!
  • willerror1
    August 2, 2008
    willerror1
    A wonderful entry in the vampire lesbian softcore sub-genre, and the last great Hammer Horror movie.

View All The Vampire Lovers Reviews

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
March 26, 2009
Variety Staff, Variety

Fairly flat dialog doesn't provide much of the unconscious humor that usually gives a lift to this type of entertainment. Full Review

Dave Kehr
January 1, 2000
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

This eroticized vampire tale resulted from the last significant surge of creative energy at Britian's Hammer Films, which thereafter descended into abject self-parody. Full Review

David Nusair
August 20, 2003
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

...would've worked better as a short... Full Review

May 24, 2003
Film4

Although it's over-long and has some genuinely silly moments and dialogue, this was a key film from Hammer. Full Review

Bob Bloom
November 3, 2002
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

Not the best of the Karnstein trilogy, but gory and sexy. What else do you need.

A.H. Weiler
May 10, 2005
A.H. Weiler, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
August 11, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Philip Martin
May 6, 2005
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

No review available.

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

Click to read the article Full Review

January 26, 2006
Time Out

Click to read the article Full Review

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  • This 1970 movie starring Ingrid Pitt is probably the most faithful adaptation of 'Carmilla' by Sheridan Le Fanu?  Answer »
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