picture frames
slaughter of the vampires full frame
la strage dei vampiri slaughter of the vampires 1962 is one of those rare italian gothic horror films that is spoken about in near reverence and awe among cognoscenti of the genre . luxuriant in its romantic eroticism receptive to the notion that purple prose can win a womans heart and body the film emerges as an anti modernist credo disdainful of rationalist ideology . it is not for cynical man to understand these things flowery words and gifts of star kissed roses from a vampire with streaked hair black eye shadow and brilliant rouge . auteur roberto mauri as director and scriptwriter of this gothic dream was firmly aware of this rebellious dimension to his film as he weaved his magic with composer aldo piga anchoring a romantic score to times long gone and cinematographer ugo brunelli providing many chilling shots of ominous nature and frightful nighttime fancies . dieter eppler a frequent presence in german krimis shines weirdly as the unnamed vampire . hidden in the bowels of a wine cellar he spreads a rat like death through a castle and into the psyche of the women living there who accept his fanged penetrations with sighs and entreaties . sex just as love is surrender its orgiastic release a sweet expiration . these are the ancient lessons of the vampires resonating with melancholic wonder after destructive dawn . mirek lipinski latarnia fantastique international . br br actor dieter eppler interview with the vampire trailer still gallery . br br presented in black & white .