Review by Peter Syslo
LIPS OF BLOOD (1975 - France ) is a new DVD release from Salvation/Redemption USA (www.salvation-films.com). The DVD features a high-quality 16:9 anamorphic video transfer (from the original negative), enhanced audio (with subtitles), an introduction by director Jean Rollin, two cast interviews, stills gallery, and a feature-length audio commentary by director Jean Rollin. To sum up the movie, LIPS OF BLOOD is a vampire epic which is similar in style to Rollin's other vampire films; it has a European-gothic flavor to it, which is more atmospheric than straight up thrills, chills, and kills. It neither assaults the senses nor pu ts the viewer on-edge; what you have with LIPS OF BLOOD is an enjoyable, erotic vampire tale which has a surreal and romantic (in the supernatural sense) tone/atmosphere.
LIPS OF BLOOD is written and directed by Jean Rollin. The film stars Jean-Lou Philippe, Anne Briand, Nathalie Perrey, and Willy Braque.
The film is about a man (Philippe) who feels a strong connection to the abandoned ruins of a castle, which he first sees in a picture at a party. He swears that he has a real-life memory of it; at the same time, he also begins to see visions of a beautiful woman (Briand), with whom he also feels a connection. He questions his mother (Perrey) about his feelings/memories but she seems to try to deter him from pursuing the truth. Very soon, the ghostly woman leads him to an underground crypt, where he unwittingly releases three female vampires who begin to prey upon people in the streets of Paris – but for some strange reason, they protect him. He finally seeks out the ruins, he finds out the truth, and he finds out who the mysterious and beautiful woman really is.
LIPS OF BLOOD was a good film - Rollin is a masterful director who knows how to tell a story. This picture is more of a classic/romantic kind of vampire tale, which has an interesting twist at the end (which was very fulfilling). Actually, you can see some of the cultural differences here; if it were an American film, it may have ended in a completely different manner. In a nutshell, it is sort of a dark romance, with a legendary component to it which involves the whole town covering up a secret. I liked the film because it really hearkened back to the romantic tales of "Dracula" and "Frankenstein" – there is an old European feel to it and the gothic atmosphere makes it very enjoyable.
In the spirit of his other films, Rollin continues in the tradition of gothic eroticism, with this one. There is substantial nudity in the film, which doesn't seem out of place at all – for some reason, nudity and the vampire really do go hand-in-hand. I guess that is because the vampire is a character who is basically a sexual metaphor or an outpouring of sexual desire. Plus, it works in this film because it is a passionate story to begin with; actually, all of the female vampires are enticing and they are reminiscent of the "brides" of Dracula.
Aside from the atmosphere, the horror aspects are pretty good. The vampire kills are realistic and the vampire makeup/fangs look good for 1975. It is strange, but two of the vampires look like blond versions of Christina Ricci – the resemblance is uncanny. There is some blood, which is appropriate for the vampire content, but it is not overdone (and again, it looks very realistic). This film rests mainly on the story and the darkly romantic atmosphere – which is very nice and poetic, in a way.
Cutting to the chase: LIPS OF BLOOD was a pretty good film. It may not be for every horror fan, but if you like some of the older, classic horror films then you would probably enjoy it (if you bought the collection of 50 classic horror films and you appreciate them, then you may be into this film). Also, if you enjoy French horror, or European horror, in general, it would be worth it to watch the film. I have gained a greater appreciation for Rollin's work over the past year – it is a change of pace, but it is nice and I must say that I "dig" French horror. Again, this film has a classic/romantic feel to it, which relies more on atmosphere and story than shock and gore; it is a vampire tale which is done in a stylish way. The acting really is superb, throughout – even the female vampires are believable (sometimes roles like that just amount to naked women wandering around the set) - and the whole film looks great. A lso, the special features on this disk are excellent. The intro with Rollin is interesting and informative, the interviews are well-done, and the audio commentary by Rollin is a treasure (though he does have a thick accent, so listen closely!). If you are looking for something different and rewarding, shift gears, slow down and enjoy a tale from the old country. I give LIPS OF BLOOD an 8/10.