Vampyros Lesbos - Enzian Theater

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Vampyros Lesbos

In a career that spanned 57 years and over 200 films, the Vatican once called Spanish exploitation maverick Jesus ‘Jess” Franco “the most dangerous director in the world”.  This, his retelling of the “Dracula’s Guest” story has gained a following over the decades via its erotic flights of surreal imagery, psychedelic soundtrack, and iconic performance by Franco muse Soledad Miranda as the Countess and has been often cited (and programmed along with Jean Rollin) as a controversial but still recognizable foundational work of early queer cinema.

Ewa Stoemberg (She Killed in Ecstasy) stars as Linda, a woman with recurring dreams about a woman seducing her. When Linda’s sent to an island off the coast of Istanbul, she meets the very Countess of those dreams. After quickly falling under the woman’s spell, Linda finds she’s not the only one with an obsession for the Countess. With a thin plot to roll with, Franco creates dazzling scenes of arty softcore bliss infused with psycho-sexadelic tunes.

Freaky Fridays ticket prices include a free popcorn and soda or lemonade for all attendees! Alcohol can be purchased at Eden Bar. Regular food service will not be available for Freaky Friday events. So, come early, and fuel up outside for the night ahead!

1971, 89 minutes, Spain, Directed by Jess Franco, Unrated (Treat as NC-17)

  • “While it’s hard to dispute Vampyros Lesbos as an object produced primarily for the titillation of the male gaze, there’s something thrilling about reclaiming a film so terrified and almost worshipful of the carnal power that queer women possess.”

    – Nadine Smith, THEM
  • “Jess Franco's 1970 erotic horror has become a cult landmark in Eurotrash entertainment.”

    – Essi Berelain, LOUDER
  • “The Sistine Chapel of foreign vampire sexploitation films…Hallucinatory and surreal sequences involving scorpions in pools, 1970s modern architecture and furnishing and so much nudity it might be a plot device make this movie a must see for connoisseurs of the genre....whatever that is.”

    – ROTTEN TOMATOES
  • “Vampyros Lesbos is worth talking about because, even though it wasn’t made with a queer audience in mind, it still had something to say to an audience starved for content, and even amongst the false equivalency of lesbianism with monstrosity, there’s still an affirmation of existence, the reality of lesbian desire.”

    – Leigh Monson, BIRTH.MOVIES.DEATH
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