DRACULA'S DAUGHTER

(a.k.a. DAUGHTER OF DRACULA' LA FILLE DE DRACULA; A FILHA DE DRACULA)

A narrator opens the film as director Jess Franco's (BLOODY MOON; VENUS IN FURS) camera zooms in towards a castle overlooking a remote beach. The narrator tells us this is Castle Karlstien, the one-time home of Count Dracula.

We learn that Dracula's reign of terror has been over for quite some time. But, the narrator warns us, "meanwhile ...". And the action shifts to a beautiful young woman preparing to take a bath.

A female eye peeps at the woman, from a crack in her door. The eye widens as the woman disrobes and gets in the bathtub. The female voyeur can resist no longer, and bursts into the room to attack the woman.

Shortly afterwards, we meet an elderly ailing woman who currently presides at the castle. She has gathered family and friends around her in her dying moments - one of whom happens to be Jefferson (Franco, in a substantial role).

The gathering are waiting in particular for the arrival of the woman's daughter, Luisa (the lovely Britt Nichols, DEVIL'S ISLAND LOVERS; TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD). She arrives not long afterwards, making a play first to hug her cousin Karine (Anne Libert, A VIRGIN AMONG THE LIVING DEAD) then rushing to her mother's side.

The room is emptied so the mother can talk to Luisa in private. She hands the key to the family tomb to Luisa, and tells her to check it out, advising that the family is descended from vampires.

The following morning, a female body is found washed up on the beach. This results in the arrival of the inquisitive police inspector Ptuschko (Alberto Dalbes, HUNCHBACK OF THE MORGUE) and young journalist Charlie (Fernando Bilbao, THE EROTIC RITES OF FRANKENSTIEN). They visit the local tavern for a chat, and agree to help each other find the killer. They discuss the locals' superstitions regarding a curse on the castle, and that it once housed a vampire. Jefferson, who has been sat in the bar listening intently, is very quick to urge Charlie not be too dismissive of these rumours ...

Meanwhile, Luisa visits the family tomb and gets the shock of her life when she encounters two coffins - and Dracula (Howard Vernon, FACELESS) springs to life from one of them.

Inevitably, Luisa realises her destiny of becoming the latest vampire in the family chain, and fulfils her earlier attraction towards the sultry Karine by seducing and vampirizing her.

Which leaves Jefferson and the two hopeless investigators to save the day ...

DRACULA'S DAUGHTER was apparently made back-to-back with THE EROTIC RITES OF FRANKENSTIEN, utilising much of the same cast and crew.

In many ways, this is feasible as the film does seem to have been thrown together with a minimum of preparation or cost, and most scenes seem improvised both in terms of dialogue and camera direction.

Having said that, it's an atmospheric piece thanks to a languid pace and frequently stunning cinemascope photography. The beach and castle-on-the-hill locations are difficult to get wrong, and Franco has the added advantage of sunny weather on his side too. So, the film looks great.

Although the film is tame in terms of horror content, it makes up for this with frequent bouts of female nudity. Many of the sex scenes are genuinely erotic (again, largely due to their lazy pacing and improvised roll-out), with Franco's camera zooming in for close-up after close-up of pink flesh.

The zoom-ins are plentiful, as is the norm for a Franco film of this period (early 1970s) but they're not too intrusive.

It's interesting to see Franco in a slightly bigger supporting role than normal too, and although he looks like an over-fed Jarvis Cocker he undeniably has enough charisma to steal every scene he's in.

Redemption's disc offers the film in a 79-minute cut (passed uncut by the BBFC - although it would seem from various online sources that perhaps a longer cut exists. Whether this includes more sex, gore or simply storyline is not clear).

The anamorphic 2.35:1 transfer is generally bright and sharp. The print used shows some age, with grain here and there. It's also speckly on occasion - but overall it's a solid enough presentation that serves the movie's UK DVD debut well.

The French mono audio is good and consistent, albeit a little on the quiet side. Optional English subtitles are available.

Static menus include a scene-selection menu allowing access to DRACULA'S DAUGHTER via 6 chapters.

Extras include a gallery of 22 stills from the movie, and a gallery of promotional artwork (in actual fact, this is just 2 poster reproductions!).

We also get a few trailers - 99 WOMEN, VENUS IN FURS, CITY OF THE DEAD, FASCINATION and PLAYGIRLS AND THE VAMPIRE.

Finally, Redemption continues to plug their record labels with audio tracks from 14 of their artists. Highlights include The Courtesans, Death of Dawn and Snow White.

It's nice to see the well-thought-of LA FILLE DE DRACULA finally get a UK DVD release. It's not essential by any stretch of the imagination (the film OR this disc), but Franco fans will be pleased about its availability nevertheless.

Review by Stu Willis