DVD Review: CARMILLA, THE LESBIAN VAMPIRE (2004)

If anyone watches CARMILLA: THE LESBIAN VAMPIRE and thinks that it looks familiar, you might have seen the film VAMPIRES VS. ZOMBIES. CARMILLA is the ORIGINAL UNCUT, UNRATED version of Creepy Six Films’ 2004 flick VAMPIRES VS. ZOMBIES, which was first released in the U.S. and Canada with an R-rating, and over three full minutes of gore and undead mayhem were cut from the movie. Now you can watch the film the way it was intended to be, with all the great zombie gore re-instated into this updated version. The film was written and directed by Vince D'Amato and was produced by Creepy Six Films. Here is the basic plot:

Beautiful young Jenna Fontaine falls victim to a strange vampire plague that causes all sorts of wild hallucinations. With her father, Travis, she sets out to find and eradicate the source of the vile infection, a vampire baroness names Carmilla. Their destination is Carmilla's hometown where the apocalyptic horror began, and where Jenna and Travis are to meet their mysterious friend, The General Banding together, they'll have but one opportunity to destroy Carmilla. Carmilla, however, has other plans for Jenna. On reaching the town they find themselves facing off against Catholic schoolgirl zombies, cannibals, demon nuns and the ferocious vampire locked in Travis's own trunk! All while Carmilla is slowly seducing Jenna's body and soul.

I have to admit, I wasn't putting out much hope for this film. I have watched lots of Vampire movies lately, and I was getting a little burned out on them. I was pleasantly surprised, though, when I found out very early in the film, that this is no ordinary, run of the mill Vampire flick. This flick has Vampires, but also contains a good amount of Zombies as well...and while that sounds like 2 genres that would be impossible to mix, somehow the makers of this film managed to do so in a way that doesn't seem that out of place. They actually mesh the two genres very well and make one entertaining film....one that both Vampire and Zombie films should find entertaining.

The acting in the film is good overall, although there are a few times when lines are either over-acted or just sound like they were read line for line off the script, but that is only a few times and not the norm throughout the film. The direction and pace of the film is wonderful, with hardly any slow spots and nice, quick 77 minute run time.

One thing I was really surprised about from this film was the gore level. I knew I was in for a treat when I watched the opening scene of a Zombie scrambling up the road, only to be met head on by a driver aiming right for the zombie. The result is one of the coolest Zombie deaths by car collision you will ever see. There is a lot of blood and gore in this film.....from the crawling zombie squirting blood and other bodily fluids from the rips in his flesh (stomach turning!!) to beheading and some good 'ol slicing and dicing of both Vampires and Zombies.

This is one film you will definitely want to check out!

Also noteworthy on this DVD is the inclusion of 2 short films from director Vince D'Amato, "Heads Are Gonna Roll" and "Sex & Death: 1977", of which the latter film is remarkably entertaining, even though I have to admit I don't understand what is going on in it at all! That didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying it, though! Other special features on this DVD are are "Making of Carmilla" feature, Director and Producer Commentary, Outtakes, Photo Gallery, trailers, and a interview with star Brinke Stevens.

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for CARMILLA

(trailer is NotSafeForWork! Contains nudity and gore galore!)

CLICK HERE to buy CARMILLA on DVD!

(click "add to cart" at the very bottom of the page)

CLICK HERE to visit the Creepy Six Films official website