The Loreley's Grasp (1973)

The legendary Loreley has been living for centuries in a grotto beneath the river Rhein in Germany. Every night when the moon is full, she turns into a reptile-like creature craving for ... See full summary »

Director:

Amando de Ossorio

Writer:

Amando de Ossorio

Stars:

Tony Kendall, Helga Liné, Silvia Tortosa

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tony Kendall	...	Sigurd, the Hunter
Helga Liné	...	Lorelei (as Helga Line)
Silvia Tortosa	...	Elke Ackerman, the Teacher
Josefina Jartin	...	Boarding School Principal
Loreta Tovar	...	Martha (as Lolita Tovar)
José Thelman	...	Carlo Donati (as Joseph Thelman)
Luis Induni	...	Mayor
Francisco Nieto	...	Blind Violinist
Betsabé Ruiz	...	Bride-to-be (as Betsabe Ruiz)
Luis Barboo	...	Alberic, Loreley's Servant
Ángel Menéndez	...	Professor Von Lander (as Angel Menendez)
Sergio Mendizábal	...	Doctor (as Sergio Mendizabal)
Marisol Delgado	...	Brigitte (as Mary Sol Delgado)
Victoria Hernández	...	Teresa, Brigitte's Girlfriend (as Vicky Hernandez)
María Vidal	...	Maid (as Mary Vidal)

Storyline

The legendary Loreley has been living for centuries in a grotto beneath the river Rhein in Germany. Every night when the moon is full, she turns into a reptile-like creature craving for human blood. When one girl after another of a nearby boarding school is killed by her, a hunter named Sirgurd is engaged to kill the monster.

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Plot Keywords:

river | moon | monster | heart ripped out | rhine | 

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Taglines:

You'll Never Sleep Alone Again!

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Genres:

Fantasy | Horror

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Certificate:

X

Details

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

24 August 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Loreley's Grasp

Filming Locations:

Estudios Ballesteros, Madrid, Spain

Company Credits

Production Co:

C.C. Astro,Profilmes

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film had never been picked up by a German distributor during its initial release phase. Only in 2012 the film was released by Austrian label Shock Entertainment, who even created a German dubbing (in 70s style). In 2014 the film was released officially for the first time in Germany (by Mad Dimension).

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Goofs

When Sirgurd swims to the surface and is helped onto the speedboat, he tosses the bomb and says "Let's go". However the boat is still anchored.

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Connections

Edited into Amando de Ossorio: el último templario (2001)

User Reviews

Another Gem by Amando De Ossorio

The iconic Spanish Horror director Amando De Ossorio is doubtlessly best known for his four 'Blind Dead' films starting with "La Noche Del Terror Ciego" ("Tombs of the Blind Dead") of 1971. "Las Garras De Lorelei" (aka. "The Lorelei's Grasp"/"When the Screaming Stops" of 1974 is yet another great little gem in the man's repertoire, which must not be missed by any Eurohorror fan.

The film, which is (very loosely) based on the German Loreley myth and the Niebelungen Mythology, is set in a Village by the Rhine, which is struck by a series of gruesome murders. After a girl has been found with her heart ripped out, some voices claim that the gruesome murder was the deed of the Lorelei, a beautiful woman who turns into a monster by nights and devours human hearts. The hunter Sigurd (Tony Kendall) is assigned as a watchman for a nearby boarding school for (hot) girls, lead by the drop-dead gorgeous teacher Elke (Silvia Tortosa)...

Connecting the fascinating Niebelungen myth with Eurohorror simply must result in great entertainment, especially since the man in the director's chair is Amando De Ossorio. It is undeniable that the film has a strong (and charming) camp-factor, but it has just as many moments of genuine creepiness. While the dialogue is sometimes camp and some characters' actions make little sense at times, Ossorio succeeds once again in creating a rich and menacing Gothic atmosphere. The photography and score are great, and the locations and set-pieces are beautifully gloomy. The female cast is full of beautiful women. The Regular redhead Eurohorror beauty Helga Liné shines in the role of the eponymous she-monster, and looks both incredibly hot and somewhat eerie. Silvia Tortosa, who plays the sexy young teacher, is even more ravishing. Miss Tortosa, who is also known for "Horror Express", must have one of the most impeccably beautiful faces ever seen on screen. The cast includes many regular Eurohorror actors, such as the creepy-looking Luis Barboo, Luis Induni (who also was in many Spaghetti Westerns) and José Thelman ("La Noche Del Terror Ciego"). There is some female nudity, but compared to other contemporary Spanish Exploitation films (such as some by Jess Franco, Paul Naschy,...) the film is rather low on sleaze. As usual for De Ossorio, the gore is very graphic and intense, and very well-made in spite of a low budget.

Besides the "Blind Dead" cycle, "Las Garras De Lorelei" is one of Amando De Ossorio's most memorable films, and an eerie and outrageously entertaining little gem that no fan of European Horror should miss. Highly Recommended!