Interesteg
What makes it different from others?
Inclubabu
Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.
Clarissa Mora
The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.
Cody
One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.
Leofwine_draca
This is a slow-moving art-house flick in the vein of other French blood-drinking classics such as DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS. These films are obviously an acquired taste, but I found this to be delightfully creepy in a spooky kind of way. There isn't a plot as such, just a series of weird visual images directed in Jean Rollin's inimitable style. With these type of films the camera always stays static and there always seem to be femme fatales dressed in flowing white robes who somehow move in a magical slow motion.Surprisingly, for a flick of this kind, the acting is actually rather good, especially from the three leads. Lahaie manages to be sinister-looking and beautiful at the same time, which is no mean feat. This is a film which is high on atmosphere, and low on action. There's a lot of sex to spice things up, but the main focus of the film is the hypnotic women and their desire for something. This something is never explained until the ending of the film, making it very suspenseful.The ending isn't straightforward as you might think; instead, there's a clever twist in the tale which comes as totally unexpected. But the film works best when concentrating on some truly unique images - the best being the scene where a black-clad Lahaie goes on a killing spree with a scythe, quickly slaying those who stand in her way. The most disturbing scene would have to be the ending. This is a strange, frightening film which offers up no explanations as to why what we see occurs; it just happens. There is no happy ending, no linear plot to follow and no good or evil. Thus, it's a very interesting and rewarding film.
Bonehead-XL
Highly regarded by hardcore Rollin fans, "Fascination" is a break from the arty vampire flicks he's best known for
Sort of. The director actually seems more interested in telling the story then nudity and pretty images. It's by far the most polished of his films I've seen.Which isn't to say it doesn't feature his trademarks. In the late 1800s, a thief swipes some coins from his fellow thieves. Despite the female tempting him with her heaving bosoms, he continues into the forest with his loot, the others in pursuit. Eventually, he comes to an isolated lake-surrounded château, home to two mysterious women. The girls immediately manipulate the guy, doing everything they can to keep him there until midnight. The girls, lesbian lovers and master seducers, keep whispering about a mysterious ritual. What does this have to do with the opening scene of a woman drinking ox blood for her anemia? It's a highly erotic film. I counted three sex scenes and there's far more nudity. The girl, locked in a room, enjoy each other's company, caressing one another's backs and suckling each other's breasts. A pretty hot scene, especially since Franca Mai and Brigitte Lahaie are gorgeous. Eva, the blonde, seduces the young man into another stimulating scene and, later on, she is forced into servicing one of the other thieves in a stable. Despite being more plot-focused, it's still fair to say the film crosses over into soft core porn.The horror elements slowly work their way in. The most famous scene involves Lahaie, clothed only in a black robe, swinging a giant scythe, an eroticized version of the Grim Reaper. Murder shows up more then once, bloodily slashing through the subplot. Once night falls and black fog rolls over the lake, a cult of women appear and the movie turns out to be a vampire story after all, of sorts. So if boobs are distracting and you're wondering when the horror will show up, be patient.A woman in white standing in butcher's shop, the walls and floors covered with blood, is the first striking image. Eva writhes on the bridge in a see-through pink dress. Faces, half-bathed in shadow, peer around a wooden plank. So, no skimping on the visuals. What there isn't any of is funny camp or over-the-top pretensions. That's good and fine and probably makes the movie highly accessible, but it also makes it a little less fun. Mai and Lahaie both give good performances and Rollin keeps his embarrassing tendencies under wrap. I can certainly recommend "Fascination." But I actually think I like the director's work better when he's trippier and goofier. We'll see how that opinion evolves as I continue my journey.
christopher-underwood
A fine film, beautifully photographed. Leisurely, yes, even majestic but I consider it unfair to refer to this dreamlike splendour as, 'boring'. Such a subjective term, anyway but tends to be slapped upon films such as this because they do not adhere to the 'normal' narrative structure. What in life does, I ask myself? Actually, I have found some of Rollin's films just a little too seemingly meaninglessly repetitive but rest assured this beauty doe not fall into that trap. Beautiful ladies appear and disappear in colourful, flowing see through gowns. There is a baddie who might yet be more of a goodie than the good ladies, plus great use of a Gothic location. I must also mention the gorgeous, Brigitte Lahaie. She did much work with the erratic, Jess Franco but she never looked better than she does here, deadly scythe notwithstanding.
deheor
A thief who is fleeing the partners that he double-crossed comes across a mansion with only two beautiful (and odd) occupants. His plan to stay until nightfall seems to be easily achievable when he finds out the home owners have no desire for him to leave.From this simple premise Rollin creates his most engrossing work with the thief coming to realize that his greatest threat may not be the crooks outside the house but the ladies within. Though slow moving this film ratchets up the tension as midnight approaches and a mysterious ceremony is soon to begin.Strong performances abound with special mention to frequent Rollin star Brigitte Lahaie who has never looked (or acted) better. The women in this film are all incredible and like in all of his films, Rollin shows a photographer's eye for beauty. Once again Rollin indulges in his fondness for lesbian sex scenes but they don't overpower the film like they do in some of his other works.For anyone who has not yet seen a Rollin film, either this one or 'Grapes of death' would make excellent starters although, obviously, keep the kids away.