Blood Countess (2008) (4 Stars)

"I sit, take up this pen and prepare to write the truthful story of my life in this year, 1611, and yet I hesitate, for there are only ghosts and shadows here to listen to my tale, but still, it is a tale that must be told. I am Elizabeth, Countess Bathory of Hungary, born of royal blood, yet wrongly condemned to this place to be walled up, stone by stone, in this room and left to rot and die, not for my sins, but for the sins of others; the sins of my husband, my cousin the king, but most of all for the sins of the church and its men, condemned for them and by all of them; a woman condemned by men; a woman whose youth is slipping away. Yet I possessed the means of eternal youth".

This inner monologue at the beginning of the film gives a message that would fit in "The Countess", a film made a year later. However, it's a very different film. The description on the DVD box more accurately describes the film: "The depraved lesbian mistress of historical times and her insatiable lust for young teen slaves". This is an exploitation film in which the emphasis is on female nudity rather than historical accuracy.

After the opening introduction the rest of the film is told in a flashback, as Elizabeth remembers it. Elizabeth's cousin Nora was a soldier who captured young virgins and imprisoned them in the castle. Were there female soldiers in 1601? The most beautiful women are sent to Elizabeth as serving girls, while the rest are kept imprisoned to be tortured and killed. When Elizabeth is taking a bath the executioner, Dorothea, drips blood through a hole in the ceiling into the bath. Sometimes Dorothea has to be scolded because she takes too long. She spends too much time torturing the virgins before she kills them.

Elizabeth is a lesbian and uses her serving girls to please her sexually. If any girl fails to satisfy her she's killed with the others.

The blood makes Elizabeth look younger, but the effect is only temporary. She attributes this to the virgins being peasant girls. She thinks that if she bathes in the blood of a virgin noblewoman she will remain young forever. She gives Nora the assignment to capture a young baroness, maybe luring her to the castle under false pretences.

If a serving girl displeases the Countess too much she's crucified.

Serving girls come and go. Elizabeth's first love is Nora. Is that what they call a kissing cousin?

I feel somewhat guilty for giving this film the same rating as "Countess Dracula", which I reviewed yesterday. I pondered for a while before I started this post. "Countess Dracula" is a classic horror film, whereas "Blood Countess" is an exploitation film that is little more than an excuse to present naked women being tortured. I stand by my ratings. "Countess Dracula" is a very good film within the parameters of what it sets out to achieve. The women are beautiful and the torture isn't too explicit. Even the crucifixion scene is tame. The background music is so loud and pompous that it sends shivers down my spine. I enjoyed the film, so I give it four stars.

"Blood Countess" was made in 2008 and shouldn't be confused with other films with the same name. It's now out of print and can only be purchased from the production company Bound Heat. Click here to order the film.