The Devil's Plaything (1973)

A lesbian vampire's soul is kept on in the bodies of her descendants.

Director:

Joseph W. Sarno

Writer:

Joseph W. Sarno

Stars:

Nadia Henkowa, Anke Syring, Ulrike Butz

Cast

Cast overview:
Nadia Henkowa	...	Wanda
Anke Syring	...	Julia Malenkow
Ulrike Butz	...	Monika
Nico Wolferstetter	...	Peter Malenkow (as Nico Wolf)
Flavia Keyt
Alon D'Armand
Claudia Fielers	...	Samana (as Irina Kant)
Natasha Michnowa
Eric Mancy
Christa Jaeger
Heidrun Hankammer
Marie Forså	...	Helga

Storyline

Nestled in the mountains of Germany, a grim and secluded castle stands - the haunted legacy of the beautiful medieval vampire Baroness Varga. Put to death for her ravenous hunger for female blood, the Baroness uttered a curse that she would one day return to forever satisfy her unnatural lust...and that day has finally come! Four women have gathered at the castle unaware that its darkly seductive housekeeper is a satanic high priestess presiding over a coven of delectable servants who each night perform sensual rituals and profane acts to keep the Baroness' spirit alive. As the women are drawn deeper into the ultra erotic nightmare, it will be the most uninhibited among them who shall serve as the vessel into which the Baroness passes...to continue her unholy reign of terror!

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Plot Keywords:

incestuous kiss | incest | incestuous desire | castle | vampire | 

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Taglines:

Unga svenska stjärnfyndet Marie Forså i en erotiskt laddad thriller

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Genres:

Horror

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality, graphic nudity and brief violence

Details

Country:

Sweden Switzerland West Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Curse of the Black Sisters

Filming Locations:

Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

Monarex, Saga Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min (DVD) 85 min (R-rated)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

User Reviews

Penis-shaped Candles! Need I say more?

Well, there you have it, another disillusion on my account. Two, actually! First of all, even though I like to think of myself that I know a little something about 70's euro-exploitation and its most prolific contributors, I never heard about Joseph W. Sarno before. Here's a guy who made over seventy rancid and cult-laden exploitation movies and I haven't seen a single one! How? Why? What happened here? Secondly, and even worse, just when you think to have found a new source for obscure cult movies, that director's most famous and supposed "masterpiece" turns out to be an irredeemably dull and irritating film. Admittedly, lesbian vampire movies form a pretty insignificant sub genre as a whole, but some of them bath in ominous atmosphere and curious sensuality (like José Larraz' "Vampyres" or Harry Kümmel's "Daughters of Darkness"). Joseph Sarno's film has nothing to offer, except copious amounts of gratuitous nudity and even that becomes boring rather quickly. The events take place in a secluded old castle, hidden deep in the German mountains, where five centuries ago lived a malicious and bloodthirsty (literally) baroness. Her loyal disciples still throw naked dance parties in the castle's catacombs, which are lit by penis-shaped candles…AUCH, and hope to resurrect the baroness any time soon now. Suddenly (don't even ask how) the castle is full of young and sexy female guests, so even more erotic rites ensue. Sounds delicious and entertaining enough, but "The Devil's Plaything" contains a massive number of sequences where literally nothing happens and where the cast members' ignorant facial expressions are simply unendurable! Sarno isn't capable of creating suspense or building a Gothic atmosphere (or maybe he just didn't bother to) and the actresses' capacities restrict themselves to standing in front the camera topless and pull a really pathetic face. Please do yourself a favor: no matter how desperately you strive to see all lurid lesbian-vampire movies of the 70's, this one isn't worth a penny! Even the repertoires of Jess Franco and Jean Rollin are pure art compared to this dud.