Vampyres (4 Stars)

Have you ever bought a film, watched it, and then forgotten all about it? You look at a DVD on the shelf, you're sure you've watched it, but you can't remember what it's about? That's the case with this film. Amazon tells me I bought it on July 20th 2004. I probably only watched it once. With a title like this it's no surprise I bought it. I'm fascinated by vampires and vampire films in general, so I've bought quite a lot of DVDs like this without knowing them.

Now my memory is refreshed. This is a British horror film made in 1974. It's in the style of the later Hammer Horror films: less suspense and more nudity. Two beautiful women, Fran and Miriam, live in a remote country mansion. They pick up men on the road, take them home and seduce them. After having sex they kill the man and drink his blood. The problems start when Fran falls in love with a victim and keeps him alive.

The plot is a bit confused. A young couple are camping near to the mansion. When Fran meets her she says she recognises her and is glad to meet her again after such a long time, but this is the last we hear of it. This loose end is left dangling. Fran and Miriam are not typical vampires.They become vampires by being murdered and returning as bloodthirsty ghosts. Strange. Every vampire film and television series reinvents vampires. Somebody needs to define the parameters of what is and isn't a vampire.

Nevertheless, this is enjoyable escapism. It's not up to the standard of the 1960's Hammer Horror films, but it's worth watching.