Daughters of Darkness (1971)

Delphine Seyrig seduces as “glampire” Countess Elizabeth Bàthory in Harry Kümel’s 1971 Belgian horror classic DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS.

The film follows Valerie (Danielle Ouimet), who is traveling through Europe with her husband Stefan (John Karlen) on their honeymoon. They stop at an empty hotel to spend the night and shortly after they meet a Countess who becomes fixated on them.

Countess Elizabeth Bàthory (Delphine Seyrig) is a glamorous vampire with the style and grace of a movie star from the 1930s. Bàthory is modelled after the infamous Hungarian noblewoman who is said to have taken the lives of hundreds of women and bathed in their blood to maintain her youth. Strangely, despite being the villain, she is the most likeable character in the film. She seems to care for Valerie and explains to her that her husband has ulterior motives. She states that:

“He wants to make of you what every man wants of every woman. A slave, a thing, an object for pleasure.”

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

 It turns out that the Countess is partially correct; Stefan is also a closeted homosexual who is prone to violent outbursts.

In her book “Vampires and Violets,” historian Andrea Weiss notes the formula typically seen in these lesbian/bisexual vampire films: A woman is entranced by the female vampire’s seductive nature and then a man saves the day. Further, the nudity and lesbian themes are utilized to titillate the heterosexual male viewer, which temporarily allows for lesbianism to exist. Once the male gaze is satisfied, the male character in the film sets things back to ‘normal’ to keep heteronormative dominance in place.

What makes DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS so interesting is that, while at times problematic in its depiction of queerness, it seems to be against heterosexuality. The audience is meant to root for the queer women. Unfortunately because of the time period (and because it’s horror) this doesn’t end in a happily ever after. But, despite the death of this hypnotic “glampire,” her queer lust finds a way to live on at the end.

 DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS is one of my favourite horror films, you can find it streaming on @shudder and AMC (USA/Canada), & TUBI (USA) – it’s also available for rent/purchase via YouTube & AppleTV.

DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS
1971. Belgium/France/West Germany.

Director: Harry Kümel

Screenplay: Pierre Drouot, Jean Ferry, Harry Kümel & Joseph Amiel

Starring: Delphine Seyrig, Danielle Ouimet, Andrea Rau & John Karlen