This movie is an historically-inclined version of the tale of Elizabeth Bathory, a famous countess who is known as being one of the most prolific serial killers in history. If the legends are to be believed, she murdered somewhere around 650 young virgin girls and bathed in their blood in order to keep herself looking younger. Although there is some debate around whether the murders were real or just a product of the politics of the time, the film ascribes to the historical account of events. The film is German, but it is done in English, so no subtitles here.
Julie Delpy plays the titular role and directs the film as well. The ambiance is done well and there is none of the cleanly glitz that many historical films seem to indulge in. The peasants are dirty and ugly and the royalty are bizarre and ugly. Both the cinematography and the sets look great. The overall immersive feel of the film is excellent.
The focus of the film avoids concentrating on the legends which have spawned more than enough vampire-related tales. This is an attempt to get closer to what might have happened and is successful in that regard. It starts with a brief introduction to the main character and then proceeds quickly into the ‘present day.’ Bathory’s circumstances and loves are presented to the viewer as a backdrop for what she eventually turns into.
When they finally get to the meat of the story, it doesn’t dwell on a horror theme. More time is devoted to showing the breakdown of Bathory’s mental capacity and the reasons she feels the need to look younger, even at the expense of so many lives. The murders only account for around one-third of the film, with the rest devoted to the events which lead up to and follow them.
There is one minor flaw with the end of the movie, however. Bathory gets a short monologue that is morally strange and contrasts sharply with all the killing she’s been up to. It’s hard to take what she has to say seriously after she’s murdered hundreds of people in the name of vanity. Other than that, the only major problem is that the movie is rather slow. As far as historical dramas go, this one wins for realism, although some may find it to drag a bit.