Incense for the Damned (1971)

A group of friends search for a young English Oxford student who has disappeared whilst researching in Greece. They are shocked to find that, wherever he has been, certain unsolved murders ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Hartford-Davis (as Michael Burrowes)

Writers:

Julian More (screenplay), Simon Raven (novel)

Stars:

Patrick Macnee, Peter Cushing, Alexander Davion

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Patrick Macnee	...	Derek Longbow
Peter Cushing	...	Dr. Walter Goodrich
Alexander Davion	...	Tony Seymore (as Alex Davion)
Johnny Sekka	...	Bob Kirby
Madeleine Hinde	...	Penelope (as Madeline Hinde)
Edward Woodward	...	Dr. Holstrom
William Mervyn	...	Marc Honeydew
Patrick Mower	...	Richard Fountain
David Lodge	...	Colonel
Imogen Hassall	...	Chriseis
John Barron	...	Diplomat
Valerie Van Ost	...	Don's wife
Theo Moreos	...	Mayor
Nick Pandelides	...	Monk Superior
Andreas Potamitis	...	Police Chief

Storyline

A group of friends search for a young English Oxford student who has disappeared whilst researching in Greece. They are shocked to find that, wherever he has been, certain unsolved murders have taken place. Not believing that their friend could be the perpetrator of such acts, they press on with their search, finding him under the spell of a beautiful Vampire, whose blood-sucking methods include the use of sado-masochism. Believing they have killed her, the group return home, unaware that their friend is now a Vampire.

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Plot Keywords:

psychotronic film | falling from cliff | orgy | hallucinations | drug party | 

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although completed in 1969, Bloodsuckers did not get a general cinema release until 1971. Filming took place April-May 1969 (copyright 1969).

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Quotes

Tony Seymore: Are you trying to tell me that a girl sucking blood from a man's neck can induce an orgasm?

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Alternate Versions

The film had been extensively re-edited during post-production and the initial UK cinema version was cut further by the BBFC with the orgy scene being extensively shortened and a shot of a man kissing a woman's breasts completely removed. The film then reverted to the title of "Bloodsuckers" in the UK and the 1986 video release featured the same cut cinema print. The 2003 DVD release featured a re-edited print (including previously excised shots of the body of a stabbed topless woman) but the orgy scene was only included as an extra on the disc. BBC TV show the uncut version (with the orgy scene included in the movie) as "Incense For The Damned".

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Connections

Featured in Dusk to Dawn Drive-In Trash-o-Rama Show Vol. 5 (1998)

User Reviews

Despite The Nice Cast This is a Misfire

Blood Suckers (1970)

* (out of 4)

When a friend of theirs goes missing, a group travels to Greece to look for him. They are being led by Derek (Patrick Macnee) but soon they realize that they're up against something much bigger than him. It appears the friend got involved with a beautiful woman who may be part of a vampire cult.

BLOOD SUCKERS is known under several different titles including INCENSE OF THE DAMNED and FREEDOM SEEKERS. No matter what you call this film the only thing that remains true is the fact that it's a major disappointment and it should have been much better. With that said, the film set unreleased a couple years before it was eventually given an American drive-in release with BLOOD THIRST but there's no question that the shelf is where it belongs.

I will at least give the film credit for trying to be something more than a low-rent horror picture as there's a lot of discussions about various subjects. The idea that vampires are connected to some sort of sexual disorder is an interesting idea but there's just not much done with it. The film is poorly put together and it just has a very cheap look and feel to it. The film is ugly to look at and there's just nothing here that makes for a good picture.

What's worse is that there's a pretty good cast wasted here including Macnee who is giving it his all but there's just not much here. Peter Cushing appears at the start and the end of the film and is good too but it have very little impact on the final film. BLOOD SUCKERS is pretty much dead on arrival and what little horror there is doesn't make up for all the bad stuff.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

September 1972 (UK)

Also Known As:

Blood Suckers

Filming Locations:

Worcester College, 1 Walton St, Oxford OX1 2HB, United Kingdom

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lucinda Films, Titan International Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1