I cannot (yet) claim to be an expert on Jean Rollin's films, and, so far, neither can I claim to be a big fan of what I've seen. While "Fascination" of 1979 has its qualities, I do not quite understand the enthusiasm that of some of my fellow Eurohorror / cult-cinema fans seem to have about Rollin in general and this film in particular. One of Rollin's many erotic vampire films, "Fascination" certainly is a nice exercise in elegantly delirious style, and furthermore profits from an incredibly sexy female cast (above all cult-siren/pornstar Brigitte Lahaie), and yet it is undeniable that it is overall a confused and virtually plot-less film that has its lengths in spite of a running time of only 80 minutes.
Sometime in the early 20th century, the robber Marc (Jean-Marie Lemaire) seeks refuge in an eerie mansion in rural France. He meets two seductive beauties, Eva (Brigitte Lahaie) and Elisabeth (Franca Mai), who are as fascinating and erotic as they are mysterious. Hiding out from his partners in crime, Marc is not yet aware of the secrets the mansion bears...
The film is stylish and elegant from start to finish and doubtlessly has some moments that are downright mesmerizing, but that does not quite make up for the fact that it is also quite senseless and has no inner logic whatsoever. Marc insists on staying in the mansion in the beginning, for example, but later on in the film, when the mansion is full of hot women dressed in nothing but see-through veils, he suddenly wants to leave. This doesn't make sense in my book. Most of the female cast members are stunningly beautiful, particularly the ravishing Brigitte Lahaie, Francesca Mai and the mysterious Fanny Magier. Though most of the female cast members walk around naked or scarcely dressed a lot, the film is not quite as focused on the erotic aspect as one might expect. The majority of lesbian / erotic vampire films from the 70s are actually quite a bit sleazier than this one. "Fascination" is wonderfully shot, the cinematography is beautiful and dream-like and the settings are elegant. The film is also enjoyably bizarre, and, as mentioned above, Brigitte Lahaie and her fellow female cast members are nice to look at. Sequences as the one in which Lahaie carries a scythe, wearing only a cape, are mesmerizing and beautiful. It is undeniable, however, that the film has hardly a plot and no suspense whatsoever. In regard of that, again, it is amazing that the film never really gets boring.
Overall "Fascination" is watchable for my fellow Eurohorror / Cult-cinema fans, though I cannot share some people's enthusiasm. Personally, as far as nonsensical European erotic horror goes, I will probably always prefer the Spanish Exploitation deity Jess Franco, of whom I'm a big fan, over Rollin.
Sometime in the early 20th century, the robber Marc (Jean-Marie Lemaire) seeks refuge in an eerie mansion in rural France. He meets two seductive beauties, Eva (Brigitte Lahaie) and Elisabeth (Franca Mai), who are as fascinating and erotic as they are mysterious. Hiding out from his partners in crime, Marc is not yet aware of the secrets the mansion bears...
The film is stylish and elegant from start to finish and doubtlessly has some moments that are downright mesmerizing, but that does not quite make up for the fact that it is also quite senseless and has no inner logic whatsoever. Marc insists on staying in the mansion in the beginning, for example, but later on in the film, when the mansion is full of hot women dressed in nothing but see-through veils, he suddenly wants to leave. This doesn't make sense in my book. Most of the female cast members are stunningly beautiful, particularly the ravishing Brigitte Lahaie, Francesca Mai and the mysterious Fanny Magier. Though most of the female cast members walk around naked or scarcely dressed a lot, the film is not quite as focused on the erotic aspect as one might expect. The majority of lesbian / erotic vampire films from the 70s are actually quite a bit sleazier than this one. "Fascination" is wonderfully shot, the cinematography is beautiful and dream-like and the settings are elegant. The film is also enjoyably bizarre, and, as mentioned above, Brigitte Lahaie and her fellow female cast members are nice to look at. Sequences as the one in which Lahaie carries a scythe, wearing only a cape, are mesmerizing and beautiful. It is undeniable, however, that the film has hardly a plot and no suspense whatsoever. In regard of that, again, it is amazing that the film never really gets boring.
Overall "Fascination" is watchable for my fellow Eurohorror / Cult-cinema fans, though I cannot share some people's enthusiasm. Personally, as far as nonsensical European erotic horror goes, I will probably always prefer the Spanish Exploitation deity Jess Franco, of whom I'm a big fan, over Rollin.