Dracula's Fiancée (3 Stars)

An infant girl is laid on the steps of a convent in Paris, the Order of the White Virgin. That sounds innocent enough in itself. It's something poor unmarried mothers have been doing for centuries, putting their children into God's hands. But this child is different. As she grows older she exerts an influence over the nuns of the order. They all live to serve her, preparing her for the day she will marry someone they know only as "the Master". It's as if this young woman, whom they call Isabelle, is the White Virgin that their order was created to serve.

Of course, the film's title gives away who the Master is. Dracula has been living in a parallel universe for years. He can only return to our world after marrying his designated bride, Isabelle. It's a rather complex ceremony which you won't find in any other vampire books or films. First three nuns have to be sacrificed. Then Isabelle has to be tied to a wooden beam in the water while the tide is coming in. A grandfather clock is placed on the beach which is the doorway for Dracula to enter our world and take his bride. Does that make sense to you? If not, you should be watching "The Little Mermaid" instead.

Despite the best efforts of an aged vampire hunter to stop the ceremony, Dracula arrives to take his bride, and they all live happily ever after.

This is the last vampire film made by Jean Rollin, five years after "Two Orphan Vampires". It's his most ambitious film, showing that he had more money at his disposal. There's an orchestral score, and there are dozens of extras, things missing from his previous films. For me as a fan of his whole body of work I don't find it necessary. One thing does disturb me, though. Large parts of the film take place at night. Darkness isn't Jean Rollin's style. His films thrive by the use of daylight and bright colours.

This film is currently out of print, but I've been informed that a remastered Blu-ray release is planned later this year. Even though I consider this to be Jean Rollin's weakest vampire film, I still feel tempted to buy it.