BLOOD AND ROSES (1960)
Article #382 by Dave Sindelar
Viewing date: 4-1-2002
Posting date: 8-25-2002

A vampire is jealous of the love a nobleman bears for another, and possesses a woman in order to win him for herself.

This is an interesting vampire tale, relying on subtlety and imagery to tell its tale, rather that the usual gothic touch you expect to find in this sort of story. In fact, it may rely on it a shade too much; sometimes lyrical degenerates into boring, and there are moments toward the end that are just way too arty for the movie’s own good. Still, it’s like nothing else out there; its images of dead roses are powerful and memorable indeed, and it somehow evades becoming silly and laughable. There’s a part of me that’s very tempted to dismiss the movie, but I have to admit that some of the images, especially the fireworks in the cemetery, stick with me. I may have to dwell on this one a bit more before I can decide just what I can make of it.