The Reincarnation of Isabel (1973)

A group of vampires keep the body of a witch in a castle cellar. They require virgin blood to resurrect her. A party of people arrive and things kick off.

Director:

Renato Polselli (as Ralph Brown)

Writer:

Renato Polselli

Stars:

Mickey Hargitay, Rita Calderoni, Raul Lovecchio

Cast

Credited cast:
Mickey Hargitay	...	Jack Nelson
Rita Calderoni	...	Isabella / Laureen
Raul Lovecchio	...	Occultist (as Raoul)
Christa Barrymore	...	Christa (as Krista Barrymore)
Consolata Moschera	...	(as Moschera Consolata)
William Darni	...	Richard Brenton
Max Dorian	...	Doctor
Marcello Bonini Olas	...	Gerg (as Bonini Marcello)
Cristina Perrier	...	Glenda
Stefania Fassio	...	Steffy
Gabriele Bentivoglio	...	Priest
Vittorio Fanfoni	...	(as Fanfoni Vittorio)
Anna Ardizzone
Marisa Indice
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tano Cimarosa	...	(scenes deleted)

Storyline

In the late-1300s, the beautiful and innocent Isabella is tortured and burned at the stake for supposed witchcraft, in front of her lover who swears revenge. Several hundred years later, the well-off Jack Nelson and his niece, Laureen, celebrate the latter's engagement at their newly-acquired and fully renovated castle, unbeknownst to them that in the château's dank cellar, evil occultists participate in ancient black magic rites, sacrificing youthful virgins. What are their intentions? Is Laureen next in line?

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Plot Keywords:

witch | italian gothic | softcore | supernatural horror | female stockinged legs | 

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

17 January 1973 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Rites, Black Magic and Secret Orgies in the Fourteenth Century

Filming Locations:

Castello Piccolomini, Balsorano, L'Aquila, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

G.R.P. Cinematografica

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Videoclub (2013)

User Reviews

One of the weirdest and most entertaining Eurohorror movies I've ever seen! I didn't know what the hell was going on most of the time, but I still loved every minute of it!

This movie is best known as 'The Reincarnation Of Isabel', though I watched it as 'Black Magic Rites'. It's also sometimes titled 'The Ghastly Orgies Of Count Dracula'. Anyway, whatever you call it this is one freaky movie! This kind of quasi-psychedelic Eurohorror is I admit an acquired taste, but as I'm already a big fan of this kind of thing I find it hard to be objective about it. Despite (or maybe because of!) an impossible to follow plot, plenty of lousy acting and any excuse whatsoever to get the babes topless this is one of the weirdest and most entertaining movies of this type I've ever seen! Rita Calderoni from 'Nude For Satan' co-stars with Mickey Hargitay, the former bodybuilder and husband of Jayne Mansfield, who appeared in 'The Bloody Pit Of Horror' (by the way, if you're curious you can see Arnie play Hargitay in 'The Jayne Mansfield Story'). If you've seen 'Nude For Satan', imagine it was re-edited by someone tripping on acid and you'll have some idea of what '...Isabel' is like! If I resort to cliches and say you have to see it to believe it, it's because it's true... The plot... well, who knows what the plot is about! Some guys dressed up like Satanic superheros are sacrificing virgins in an attempt to resurrect their long dead leader, the witch (or was that vampire?) Isabella, who was burned at the stake by angry villagers hundreds of years before. I think. Oh, and Dracula's in there somewhere but I can't quite recall why. There are lots of flash backs and just about everybody plays two roles, so it's quite difficult to work out what the hell is going on most of the time! But you know what? It doesn't matter. I loved every minute of it.