Italian slashers were the dominant sub-genre in the 1970s, but the rest of Europe was breaking taboos with their own mix of gender-blind sex (usually lesbian) and ghoulish violence (usually vampires.) Daughters of Darkness is perhaps the best entry point, adult but not overly-perverse and containing a sampler of what usually stands out in these films. (This might be because Belgium, France, West Germany and Spain all had a hand.) The lighting, sets and costumes are as meticulous as a Wes Anderson film, creating a erotic and dangerous tone the story only acts on when necessary. The three beautiful female leads come on with a definite anti-male attitude. Strongest of all is Delphine Seyrig (Jeanne Dielman) claiming to be Elizabeth Bathory, the “Bloody Countess” who would bathe in the blood of virgins to preserve her youth. Sometimes silly, sometimes creepy, the film is at least an interesting curio and a good cautious step into this particular type of Horror.
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