I have to admit it took me a while to warm to this episode - back in 1980 I was a little young to appreciate the eroticisms & subtleties of the plot - not to mention the not-inconsiderable charms of Suzanne Danielle!
But on seeing the episode's re-run in 1987, the experience was completely different. This really is an outstanding episode of this wonderful (but short-lived) TV series, and definitely one of the very best.
Suzanne plays Natalie - a writer/researcher who has now finished writing a book on the legend of a Carpathian countess who exacted revenge for her husband's cruel treatment of her by luring young males to her boudoir - and then ritually killing them by cutting out their hearts.
At the same time as she's publicizing the book, there appears to be a copycat serial killer in Suzanne's neck of the woods who is doing just that - it seems to be that the legend has become a reality.
Cliff, a local detective (Anthony Valentine) investigates, and soon befriends Natalie. She introduces him to the mysterious Mrs Henska, who it seems is the last descendant of the murderous countess.
Natalie and Cliff become quite romantically close as she helps him on his quest - but will he ever track down this crazed-but clever killer?
The whole deception of this story builds nicely, & Suzanne puts in a wonderful & believable performance as the seemingly demure Natalie.
There are some wonderful set-pieces of the killer luring and devouring her unsuspecting victims - and of course at one point we get the now-famous scene where we see a young Piers Brosnan as her latest one.
This is an intriguing and clever episode that adds a nice air of glamorous eroticism into the horror mix, & where we as the viewer are in-the-know long before the police!
Lots of memorable and beautifully-mounted scenes, & of course a very likeable & charming (but schizophrenic) killer who we are somehow hopIng might evade justice...
But on seeing the episode's re-run in 1987, the experience was completely different. This really is an outstanding episode of this wonderful (but short-lived) TV series, and definitely one of the very best.
Suzanne plays Natalie - a writer/researcher who has now finished writing a book on the legend of a Carpathian countess who exacted revenge for her husband's cruel treatment of her by luring young males to her boudoir - and then ritually killing them by cutting out their hearts.
At the same time as she's publicizing the book, there appears to be a copycat serial killer in Suzanne's neck of the woods who is doing just that - it seems to be that the legend has become a reality.
Cliff, a local detective (Anthony Valentine) investigates, and soon befriends Natalie. She introduces him to the mysterious Mrs Henska, who it seems is the last descendant of the murderous countess.
Natalie and Cliff become quite romantically close as she helps him on his quest - but will he ever track down this crazed-but clever killer?
The whole deception of this story builds nicely, & Suzanne puts in a wonderful & believable performance as the seemingly demure Natalie.
There are some wonderful set-pieces of the killer luring and devouring her unsuspecting victims - and of course at one point we get the now-famous scene where we see a young Piers Brosnan as her latest one.
This is an intriguing and clever episode that adds a nice air of glamorous eroticism into the horror mix, & where we as the viewer are in-the-know long before the police!
Lots of memorable and beautifully-mounted scenes, & of course a very likeable & charming (but schizophrenic) killer who we are somehow hopIng might evade justice...