The Velvet Vampire
Directed by Stephanie Rothman
A married couple are invited to the desert home of bisexual female vampire Diane LeFanu, not realizing she’s a centuries-old bloodsucker keen on adding them both to her stable of lovers. Female vampires who swing both ways have been a staple of the genre since Sheridan LeFanu’s “Carmilla” and 1936’s DRACULA’S DAUGHTER. But THE VELVET VAMPIRE stands out for being one of the few such tales directed by a woman, in this instance cult director Stephanie Rothman (TERMINAL ISLAND) who mixes gauzy erotic dream sequences, comedy and nightmarish neck-biting in very fun fashion.
A married couple are invited to the desert home of a bisexual female vampire.
Cast: Michael Blodgett, Sherry E. DeBoer, Celeste Yarnall
Member Reviews
Some really nice dreamlike sequences and a gorgeous looking antagonist. I also enjoyed the music but the kills are pretty disappointing. Still worth a watch in my opinion.
Some interesting imagery, particularly the slow dissolves. Unintentionally funny at times, due to poor writing and flat acting. A bit sexy at times, but nothing special.
With the passing of Roger Corman, I felt the need to watch one of his films. This wasn't a project with his intimate involvement. He didn't write or direct. Shudder had it their Roger Corman curation, as he was an uncredited executive producer. I'll admit that dune buggies in the desert are an unique touch in a vampire film. For most of the film, the vampire seems quite unconventional. But toward the end, suddenly crosses and sunshine are very important. There is a whole lot of naked in the film, which is interesting with a female director. There is a graveyard with shabby plywood tombstones, that wouldn't have lasted nearly a century of weather. I think only Plan 9 from Outer Space had a more chintzy graveyard. This film suffers from the horror trope of having people that are literally too stupid to live.
Weird ass dune buggy commercial
A bit of a slow burn that I feel could have benefitted from more of the titular vampire who truly leans both ways instead of the rather uninteresting hetero seduction. Still a well-constructed piece when it comes to atmosphere and set design, and Diane Le Fanu makes for a very alluring vampire mistress!