The Shiver of the Vampires

The Shiver of the Vampires is one of the strangest and most surreal films to come from director Jean Rollin, serving up a nutty mix of hippie vampires, lesbian seduction, and moonlight ceremonies in a graveyard bathed in red and blue light. Newlyweds Isa and Antoine (Sandra Julien, Jean-Marie Durand) stop off at a castle to visit the bride's oddball cousins (Jacques Robiolles, Michel Delahaye) only to discover that the relatives are dead—although after dark, they show up for dinner. Isa is later seduced by Isolde (Dominique), a statuesque vampire high priestess who makes her memorable entrance stepping out a grandfather clock. Released in 1971, this is a mad skin-flick for surrealists, with naked women wandering wordlessly through the hallways. The sketchy performances, slapdash effects, and narrative abstraction are typical of Rollin, whose reputation never really extended beyond cult fans who appreciated the distinctive style and imagery of his sex-and-horror films, as well as his ability to create an unsettling atmosphere out of simple locations and minimalist sets. Newly remastered for DVD and Blu-ray—with both the original French-language version with English subtitles and an English dub track—extras include an introduction by and interview with Rollin, along with a 20-page booklet. Kino is also releasing a number of other Rollin films, including Fascination, The Iron Rose, Lips of Blood and The Nude Vampire. Falling somewhere between exploitation and outsider art, this is a strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)