The Devil's Plaything (1973)

Director: Joseph W. Sarno

Starring: Nadia Henkowa, Anke Syring, Ulrike Butz, Nico Wolferstetter, Flavia Keyt, Alon D'Armand, Claudia Fielers, Natasha Michnowa, Eric Mancy, Christa Jaeger, Heidrun Hankammer, Marie Forsa

More info: IMDb

Tagline: Pleasures that fire the flesh...horrors that freeze the blood...nothing is forbidden to the Plaything of the Devil.

Plot: Nestled in the mountains of Germany, a grim and secluded castle stands - the haunted legacy of the beautiful medieval vampire Baroness Varga. Put to death for her ravenous hunger for female blood, the Baroness uttered a curse that she would one day return to forever satisfy her unnatural lust...and that day has finally come! Four women have gathered at the castle unaware that its darkly seductive housekeeper is a satanic high priestess presiding over a coven of delectable servants who each night perform sensual rituals and profane acts to keep the Baroness' spirit alive. As the women are drawn deeper into the ultra erotic nightmare, it will be the most uninhibited among them who shall serve as the vessel into which the Baroness passes...to continue her unholy reign of terror!

My rating: 7/10

Will I watch it again? Yes.

#111 on Drive-In Delirium Vol. 2 (part of the TRAILER TRASH PROJECT)

I LOVE Eurosleaze/Eurotrash 70s horror.  They're usually chock full of nudity, vampires and boredom.  Generally the pacing of these types of films is as slow as molasses but this one actually held my attention all the way until the end so it's going to get major points for that alone AND I had two glasses of wine which is usually the death curse and a fast track to putting me to sleep.  But besides that unusual feat, it's got TONS of nudity.

EVERY SINGLE ACTRESS in this picture gets naked.  The only other two actors are dudes.  Read that first sentence again a few times.  See that picture of the gals?  They do that all through the picture and behind it, the music is this groovy bongo beat.  I was totally digging it, Man.  This flick's got lesbian vampires and incest!!!

The story is pretty simple and it's one that you've probably seen a variation of at some point but Sarno, and with a nice sparse score by Rolf-Hans Muller, was able to make an erotic vampire tale without getting lost in the cliches.  For example, you rarely see vampire teeth and when you do, it's subtle...like this...

I really dig that.  It bugs the piss out of me that most vampire movies have that wide-eyed-open-mouth-big-teeth hissing shit whenever a vampire goes for the jugular.  Why would a vampire be so theatrical AND every single time they go to eat?  Do you do that when you pick up that ear of corn or piece of cherry pie?  I don't think so.  You should try doing that the next time you have dinner with anyone and see how they react.  I'm going to.

Why am I strangely sexually attracted to this broad in black?

 I really dig that she has a crucifix made out of garlic.  Nice touch.

I've got the Retro Shock-O-Rama DVD release and it's got a few trailers and a 7-minute interview with Sarno.  The print is widescreen but it's dirty as hell and it's beautiful that way.  It's got that rough grindhouse look to it that's just perfect, especially with the dirty sound pops and all.