DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS (1971)

With special guest Carolyn Raship

Intro, Math Club, and Debate Society (spoiler-free) 00:00-33:25
Honor Roll and Detention (spoiler-heavy) 33:26-1:08:17
Superlatives (spoiler-heavier) 1:08:18-1:23:40

Director Harry Kümel
Screenplay Pierre Druout, Jean Ferry & Harry Kümel
Featuring Paul Esser, Georges Jamin, John Karlen, Danielle Ouimet, Fons Rademakers, Andrea Rau, Delphine Seyrig

Released May 28, 1971
Budget $750,000

SPOILER-FREE SYNOPSIS

Newlywed couple Stefan and Valerie are traveling across Europe by train, bound for Belgium, then England, where they are to meet Stefan’s mother.  But when the train makes an unexpected stop, the couple decide to hang out for a while in a seaside hotel in the town of Ostend.  Fortunately, It’s winter, so they have their pick of suites. But why is Stefan so hesitant to call his Mother to tell her he and Valerie are married?  And who is this new visitor, one Countess Elizabeth Bathory and her secretary Ilona?  Whoever they are, they soon begin to fixate on the newlyweds. Meanwhile, a series of grisly murders of young women are taking place in neighboring towns, and during a trip to Bruges, Stefan shows a strange interest in a murder that’s just taken place. What do Elizabeth and Ilona have to do with the murders, and why are they so determined to befriend Stefan and Valerie?  And why do the hotel concierge and a retired policeman think Elizabeth looks exactly like someone they knew 40 years ago?

SPOILER-FREE GUEST BIO

Carolyn Raship draws pictures and tells stories. She is an illustrator, writer, fine artist, and maker of comics who has written and directed theater and has written a short horror film based on Edgar Allen Poe’s classic tale, The Fall of the House of Usher. And she would like you all to know that she is currently in exile from her beloved Brooklyn. Check out Carolyn’s Patreon channel. Favorite recess snack: potato chips.

EPISODE NOTES

Music from “Daughters of Darkness” by François de Roubaix.

TRAILER

SUPERLATIVES

The Gaspar Noe Award for Most Disturbing Scene
Carolyn: The sex scene between Stefan and Valerie on the train
Eric: Stefan and Countess E’s “weirdo orgasmic historical blood talk/HJ sesh”
Bradford: Stefan and Countess E’s “weirdo orgasmic historical blood talk/HJ sesh”

The Ellen Ripley Award for Character Who Most Deserves to Live
Carolyn: Countess Elizabeth
Eric: Retired Policeman
Bradford: Countess Elizabeth

The Michael Myers Award for Character Who Most Deserves to Die
Carolyn: Stefan
Eric: Stefan
Bradford: Stefan

The Ken Russell Award for Most Baroque Screen Moment
Carolyn: Stefan’s death by cloche
Eric: The shower scene/death (by razor) of Ilona
Bradford: Stefan’s death by cloche

The Brad Dourif Award for Character Who Could Have Been Played by Brad Dourif
Carolyn: Retired Policeman
Eric: The hotel concierge
Bradford: “Mother”

FINAL LETTER GRADE

Carolyn: Passing Grade
Eric: B
Bradford: A