One of Hammer's last films, I am sad to say that they went out with a whimper. To the Devil...a Daughter is a mess and was just trying to be another Exorcist/The Omen clone. Too bad too because it started off promising.
The first half of the film isn't bad and held my interest. A satanic priest (Christopher Lee) is going to use a nun (Nastassja Kinski) in some sick satanic pact with the devil but her father blackmails the priest and is trying to save his daughter. He enlists an American author (Richard Widmark, who looks embarrased being in this) who has written books on satanism to help him protect his daughter.
What I enjoyed about the first half was that the film plays out like a mystery. Sure, it borrows a little from Rosemary's Baby and The Exorcist but the film doesn't tell you exactly what is going on and you start to piece together what is happening. Ah! A thinking person's horror film! This I like and the slow pacing doesn't bother me and it's always great to see actors I like in an interesting but yet vauge story.
Then suddenly, the film falls apart completely. With bizarre flashbacks and scenes of orgies and some bloody baby monster which may be the worst puppet I have ever seen in a film, the To the Devil... a Daughter turns laughably bad and just down right cheap. The suspense and mystery gets completely wiped out and confusion and boredom take over. When we finally get the climax, it literally makes no sense at all and ends abruptly. Apparently, the original ending was scrapped and the writers were asked to end the film this way. Christopher Lee was furious, the author to the novel this was based on was also furious and Richard Widmark walked off set numerous times because of issues with the production. I don't think the original ending could have saved the film since it started to go downhill at the 1 hour mark. Shame too since the first half was promising.
And for those that did see this, that was not Christopher Lee nude. To you the viewer...a stunt double.
Man of a Thousand Faces
The great Lon Chaney from London After Midnight
Oct 12, 2010
October 11th - COUNT YORGA, VAMPIRE (1970)
I apologize for this being late as the wife and I spent the night in Niagara Falls for a mini vacation. I did however bring my portable DVD player up with me and I continued my streak of watching a horror film every day. I brought with me the DVD of Count Yorga, Vampire and I am happy to say it was a good choice.
A bunch of young friends get mixed up with a count who happens to be a vampire. When he bites one of them, the friends get a doctor who believes in vampires to help defeat the count. Very basic plot which is more or less a re-telling of the Dracula story. But the film works thanks to its creepy atmosphere and for me, it's 70's setting. Why are 70's movies more scary than any other films? Maybe it is just me but those films have always been scarier than anything made before or after. There is a scene in a van where Count Yorga attacks a couple outside his castle. You've seen this kind of scene before in other films where it's either a serial killer or monster but the direction, music, writing all work so much better here that it is frightening. What really works the most is actor Robert Quary as Count Yorga. He is charming and yet menacing and has a certain ego where he knows he can kick your ass and there is nothing you can do about it. Even with the white make up and cheap fangs, he was kind of creepy.
What I also like about the film is there are touches of humor that work well. Nothing over the top or silly but little bits here and there that made me think of An American Werewolf in London.
At a tight 93 minutes, this film goes by fast. I found the film really well done even for its low budget. Count Yorga, Vampire would make for a good rainy Saturday afternoon movie or a decent Halloween selection. The film is followed by a sequel and I can't wait to see it.
A bunch of young friends get mixed up with a count who happens to be a vampire. When he bites one of them, the friends get a doctor who believes in vampires to help defeat the count. Very basic plot which is more or less a re-telling of the Dracula story. But the film works thanks to its creepy atmosphere and for me, it's 70's setting. Why are 70's movies more scary than any other films? Maybe it is just me but those films have always been scarier than anything made before or after. There is a scene in a van where Count Yorga attacks a couple outside his castle. You've seen this kind of scene before in other films where it's either a serial killer or monster but the direction, music, writing all work so much better here that it is frightening. What really works the most is actor Robert Quary as Count Yorga. He is charming and yet menacing and has a certain ego where he knows he can kick your ass and there is nothing you can do about it. Even with the white make up and cheap fangs, he was kind of creepy.
What I also like about the film is there are touches of humor that work well. Nothing over the top or silly but little bits here and there that made me think of An American Werewolf in London.
At a tight 93 minutes, this film goes by fast. I found the film really well done even for its low budget. Count Yorga, Vampire would make for a good rainy Saturday afternoon movie or a decent Halloween selection. The film is followed by a sequel and I can't wait to see it.
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