TWO ARTHOUSE HORRORS FROM HARRY KÜMEL

4 stars

Radiance Films. Daughters of Darkness: Limited Edition 4K/UHD Blu-ray and Limited Edition Blu-ray Malpertuis Limited Edition Blu-ray. 13th October

Here’s a duo of films which, if your sensibilities lean towards the arthouse, you will appreciate in these splendid releases from Radiance. First up is DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS (1971), a sort of vampire story, though there are no fangs on show.

Stefan (John Karlen) and Valerie (Danielle Ouimet) are newlyweds. When their train is delayed, they miss the ferry to England and have to stay in a deserted Ostend, at a grand, and empty hotel – they are the only guests at first and are given the Royal Suite by Pierre the concierge (Paul Esser).

That is until the mysterious Countess Elizabeth Bathory (a marvellous Delphine Seyrig) arrives, with Ilona (Andrea Rau) her secretary. Pierre recognises Elizabeth from years ago, when he first started at the establishment as a bellboy – which is our first hint (apart from the name) that all is not as it seems. She takes the room next to our honeymooning couple, though she initially wanted the suite they are in.

After reading about a series of killings of young girls, Stefan and Valerie visit Bruges and see the aftermath of the latest murder – the fourth in a week, with the body drained of blood.

Back at the hotel the couple finally meet Elizabeth, who explains the bloody history of the Bathory family – before long they are falling under her spell… will they survive this encounter with the enigmatic seductress?

This was directed by Harry Kümel, who has created a gorgeous looking, visually striking film, beautifully shot by Edward van der Ender – which looks stunning on this 4K release. Most of the small cast are excellent, the only bum note being Ouimet, who is a bit vacuous. A Belgian/French/German production this was shot in English, and was originally called the appropriate “Les lèvres rouges” (Red Lips). Granted some may find this erotic horror a touch on the slow side, but it has a dreamlike quality which I found entrancing.

Next up is the much weirder MALPERTUIS (1971). Also known as “The Legend of Doom House”, probably to make it more exploitable, I remember seeing this back in the early days of VHS – on the Intervision label if memory serves me. I expect at the time I thought it was arty farty nonsense.

Time and maturity has changed my appreciation! It is still arty, but in a fabulously surreal, near camp manner. Jan (Mathieu Carrière) disembarks from his ship and wanders into the town where he was born. He’s makes his way to Beacon Quay and spots his sister, the beautiful Nancy (Susan Hampshire – who also, somewhat confusingly, plays several other roles) and chases her through the empty streets. Night falls and following a fight in a bar, Jan awakens in a room. Nancy is there and excited to see him. He discovers he is in Malpertuis – the labyrinthine house of the bedridden Uncle Cassavius (Orson Welles). “This house is hell and Cassavius is the Devil”. Jan understandably wants to leave. However, Cassavius wants to see the young man before he dies – as he wants him to take over and become “master of the world”. To complete his life’s work. Does this strange old man have some kind of power?

The house is full of a gallery of odd characters, family members and servants. They are all gather by the old man’s bed for a reading of the will – they learn there is a vast fortune, but in order for any of them to inherit, they must remain in the house and never leave… last one standing gets it all! Things get more bizarre as the plot progresses.

Apparently when this was first shown at Cannes it was in a compromised version, which was hastily put together by Richard Marden. Unhappy with the results Kümel later re-edited it to the way he wanted it – that is the version on this disc (the Cannes cut is also included in a much lower quality encode). Not sure what version I would have seen back in the day.

This is one strange, but nonetheless compelling story – difficult to categorise, with often near nightmarish imagery. Is it fantasy… supernatural… horror? The performances are often over the top (including Welles of course), which seems appropriate within the film itself. There’s great music by Georges Delerue, amazing looking sets by Pierre Cadiou, gorgeously captured by George Fisher’s colourful cinematography and skillfully brought together by the director.

There is the usual round up of great extras

Daughters of Darkness –

Audio commentary by authors Virginie Sélavy and Lindsay Hallam

Interviews with director Harry Kümel and critic Anne Billson/with Delphine Seyrig/with critic and author Kim Newman

A couple of lots of behind the scenes footage

Video essay by Kat Ellinger

A couple of shorts by Kümel – Anna the Maid and Aether

Plus limited edition 80-page perfect bound booklet featuring new writing by Suzanne Boleyn, Martyn Conterio, Joseph Dwyer, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Mairéad Roche

Malpertuis –

Audio commentary by Harry Kümel and assistant director Françoise Levie

Interviews with Harry Kümel/with author and gothic horror expert Jonathan Rigby/with Michel Bouquet and Harry Kümel from Belgian television/with Susan Hampshire/with source novelist and co-writer Jean Raymond

An archival documentary on the making of the film

A featurette on the casting of Welles, including rare outtakes of the actor

Harry Kümel revisits locations from the film

The Cannes cut – the rejected version of the film which premiered in Cannes in Standard Definition

The Warden of the Tomb – Kümel’s early film based on Franz Kafka’s play

Trailer

Plus reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow and Limited edition 80-page perfect bound booklet featuring new writing by Lucas Balbo, Maria J. Pérez Cuervo, David Flint, Willow Catelyn Maclay, Jonathan Owen