Daughters of Darkness (AKA La Rouge aux Levres) (1971) Limited Edition 4K UHD/Blu-ray Box Set Review
Newlyweds Stefan (John Karlen – THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY) and Valerie’s (Danielle Ouimet – THE POSSESSION OF VIRGINIA) honeymoon is disrupted by the arrival of Countess Elizabeth Bathory – played with ethereal menace by Delphine Seyrig (THE DAY OF THE JACKAL) – and her mysterious companion.
As night falls and secrets surface, the couple are drawn into a hypnotic vortex of seduction and vampiric terror. Acclaimed for its stunning visuals and unapologetic eroticism, DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS is considered a landmark in queer horror cinema and remains one of the most seductive vampire films ever made.
DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS stands out from the other erotic-vampire movies that rolled out theatrically during the early Seventies, all of which, in comparison, felt anaemic and lacking. I was seduced by the lush and elegant production values and felt bewitched by its dreamlike aura.
Belgium director Harry Kümel has delivered an erotic, stylish gothic horror which is the most stylish vampire flick before Bowie, Sarandon and Deneuve starred in 1983’s THE HUNGER. The film’s ripe and lively colour palette – there is a lot of red – compliments DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS’ stimulating and sexual tone. In short, I loved it. There is not one thing that I can find fault with; my only complaint is that I had not discovered it sooner.
DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS SPECIAL FEATURES:
• 4K restoration from the original negative by Blue Underground, approved by director Harry Kümel
• Audio commentary authors Virginie Sélavy and Lindsay Hallam (2025)
• New interview with director Harry Kümel and critic Anne Billson (2025)
• Archival interview with Delphine Seyrig in which the actor discusses her career (1989)
• On set footage with Harry Kümel and stuntman Thierry Hallaert (1970)
• Behind-the-scenes footage of Delphine Seyrig shooting a scene from the film and an interview with Harry Kümel (1971)
• Interview with critic and author Kim Newman (2025)
• Immoral Tales: Daughters of Darkness, Class, Cruelty, and the Cinematic Legacy of Bathory – a visual essay by Kat Ellinger, author of the monograph on the film (2025)
• Anna the Maid – Harry Kümel’s short film based on a Jean Cocteau poem about a murderous maid (1958, 5 mins)
• Aether – Harry Kümel’s short film about the surreal visions of a man following an accident (1960, 7 mins, co-directed by Herman Wuyts)
• Limited edition 80-page perfect bound booklet featuring new writing by Suzanne Boleyn, Martyn Conterio, Joseph Dwyer, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Mairéad Roche
• Limited edition of 2000 copies, presented in rigid box and full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings