Shiver of the Vampires (1971)

If you've never seen a Jean Rollin film this is as good a place as any to start. His films are no doubt an aquired taste. Story is not important. Mood, composition and style is what a jean Rollin film is all about. This is one of my favorite Rollin films and if you want to wet your beak I suggest this one or Lips of Blood. Be warned! There are many people who absolutely HATE these films. I find them hypnotic and moody.

For those of you who have seen the film and are wondering if this Blu-ray edition is worth dropping $20.00: YES! For one thing you get the English dub, which I had never heard before. It's quite different from the French version, and almost turns it into a film you've never seen before. When it comes to foreign films I usually like to watch it with the original language soundtrack with English subtitles. But, I always get annoyed because no matter how fast you can read, you have to take your eyes off of the actors/action even if it's just for 2 seconds. Now you can watch in French or in English. Secondly the film has never looked this good. It isn't perfect. The original 35mm negatives had scratches on them and it appears that a great effort was done to remove them, but there are times when they couldn't get them all, especially (I'm guessing) at the beginning of each new real. Colors are much more vivid on this edition than on any other version I've seen. The film looks very good on a 16x9 T.V. I have the last dvd release and it wasn't even enhanced for 16x9, so finally we get to see the film fill the screen without being stretched or cropped.

So, for the Rollin fan this is worth picking up. If you are curious about Jean Rollin, give it a try, but know that this is NOT anything like a modern American vampire film, or even like a 70's American vampire film, or even a 50's/60's Hammer vampire film. Rollin is truly one of a kind, and that's one thing, like him or not, we can all agree on!

"Shiver of the Vampire" (1971) is directed by Jean Rollin. The movie is about a recently married couple that decide to visit relatives in Italy. But upon reaching the town where their cousins live they find out that they have become deceased. As a director Jean Rollin seems at times a bit amateurish in the way he handles timing, framing and editing of his movies as well in the lack of strong plots or characterization. The cast appears to be a mixture of naive and experienced actors. Still I can't help but find things intriguing and interesting about his films. With Jean Luc Godard films it is said that there are at least 20 minutes of interesting ideas in his films when most films have nothing of interest. The same thing might be said with Jean Rollin's films. Like a voyeur I still find myself fascinated with his films and images even when they seem lacking in sophistication at times. This film holds up well along with other Jean Rollin films like "Requiem for a Vampire" and "Fascination".

This film has evidently been remastered but there are still many instances of dust showing. In the special features there is included a two minute introduction as well as a 39 minute interview with Jean Rollin. Also included is a 20 page booklet with an essay by Tim Lucas, editor of Video Watchdog.

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Two newlyweds find themselves in the midst of bloodthirsty (and sex-crazed) vampires when they stop off to visit their last remaining relatives in France. Jean Rollin's third vampire film is no less strange, twisted, and stylish than any of his others, before or after. SHIVER OF THE VAMPIRES seems to benefit greatly from the works of Mario Bava, as the wild use of color paints the screen in similar tones of blue and red. The odd imagery has a sexy female vampire randomly appear in the most interesting of places, including the inside of a grandfather clock and dropping down through the fireplace. It is difficult to tell whether Rollin is attempting to make a pretentious art film or more sleazy Eurotrash, as several of the scenes make odd use of the camera for no apparent reason (particularly when the two vampire brothers deliver their dialog while bobbing their heads through the arms of a scale). The two foppish cousins give way to high camp, along with the progressive rock beats that line the film. Like the works of Jess Franco and Joe D'amato, SHIVER OF THE VAMPIRES and Jean Rollin will only cater to a very selective audience, though this may be a good starting point for anyone that is interested in experiencing the French Horror of the 1970's.

-Carl Manes

I Like Horror Movies

Read Best Reviews of Shiver of the Vampires (1971) Here

If you are unfamiliar with the cinema of Jean Rollin, he made erotic, gothic, atmospheric films. If nudity is not your cup of tea, don't watch his films. You won't get it. Jean Rollin was making films in the 1970's, when film makers where pushing the limits of what they could put on screen. Whether it was nudity, sex or violence. And Jean Rollin used all of them to great effect with his french gothic style to make some of the most unforgettable imagery you will ever see. In Jean Rollin's fantastic film from 1970 The Shiver Of The Vampires, this is most true.

(This is the 2nd film in a sort of Trilogy. 1: The Rape Of The Vampires (1968) 2: The Shiver Of The Vampires (1970) and 3: Requiem For A Vampire (1971))

Jean Rollin had a rather sphycadelic and comedic side, and The Shiver Of The Vampires is possibly the most psychedelic and comedic (intentionally so) of all his films. You can find plenty of other reviewers commenting on the story and what not. But I wanted to comment on this Blu-ray release. (Though I did add a detailed plot at the end of this review.)

I'm so insanely happy that Redemption has released these films that otherwise might have been thrown in the dark and never seen again, so that a new generation of film fans can see the works of genius Jean Rollin. Transferd from a beautiful 35mm print of the film, it looks better than one can imagine. It has some scratches thru out the film, which I love! It adds so much and makes you feel like you're setting in the theater in 1970! The audio sounds beautiful, especially the eerie sound effects in the night scenes! The menu is beautiful with the super cool psychedelic music from the film.It has the original french trailers for this film along with The Nude Vampire (1970) The Iron Rose (1973) Lips Of Blood (1975) and Fascination (1979) Plus the original US trailer for The Shiver Of The Vampires ALL IN HD!!! This is my first blu-ray in the "Cinema of Jean Rollin" collection. The case has the number "2" on the bottom of the side that shows when it's on a shelf. So part of the fun will be buying the rest of the collection and finding the rest of the numbers in the it! This is the first Jean Rollin film I ever saw, it was on Epix Drive-In a while ago. I have now seen most of his films and love them all, but this one holds on one of my favorites. A good start if you have never seen a Jean Rollin film before. Fascination and Lips Of Blood are also vary good starters.

A trend I see among many reviews of Jean Rollin's films on here are people saying "not a family movie." I suggest you look a little into a movie before you throw it up on the TV for grandma and the kids to see. The trailer for most of Jean Rollin's films are on YouTube. Though I must say as a word of warning, these movies are basically rated x. No one under 17 admitted.

That in mind, The cinema of Jean Rollin is exquisite, unique and beautiful to look at. And The Shiver Of The Vampires is, in my opinion, one of his best.

I did not write this, but if you are interested here is the plot in detail (some spoilers): "Two newlyweds, Isle and Antoine, are on their honeymoon, on their way to visit Isle's two cousins. When they arrive in the town they discover that her cousins died the day before. Isle and Antoine go to the chateau where they lived anyway. Once there they are greeted by two female Renfields who show them to a room.

Isle goes to the cemetery to visit the graves of her cousins, and a woman named Isabelle tells Isle that she was about to get married to both of her cousins, but in a way she was already their brides. Isle decides to sleep alone on that night because she is upset. While getting ready for bed a woman emerges from the grandfather clock. She introduces herself as Isolde and takes Isle back to the cemetery where she bites Isle in the neck. Antoine, feeling lonely, goes to see Isle, but she isn't in her room. He searches the castle and comes to the chapel where it seems a human sacrifice is taking place. Two of the participants turn out to be Isle's cousins and explain they must kill the woman or she will become like them — vampires. Antoine goes back to find Isle in her room and isn't sure whether it was all a dream.

The next morning at breakfast the Renfields tell Isle and Antoine that her cousins aren't really dead. Antoine goes to the library to meet the cousins but is instead knocked out by books. When he comes to, Antoine goes back to the dining room where he finally meets the cousins. That night Isle decided to sleep alone again, leaving Antoine angry. Isolde returns to Isle and bites her in the neck again. Isabelle tells a friend that Isle's cousins were once vampire slayers and were bitten by vampires. Isabelle later discovers that the cousins are still alive and under Isolde's control and Isolde tells her she is no longer welcome at the castle. She grabs Isabelle and pierces her breasts with her pointed nipple covers. Angry at her for doing this the cousins rape Isolde.

That night the Renfields wake Antoine and take him to the chapel where a ceremony is about to take place that involves Isle, Isolde, the Renfields and the cousins. Antoine breaks open the door to discover they have all disappeared. Not sure whether this was also a dream, he runs to Isle's room to tell her they must escape. She tells him no and that her cousins are the only family she has left, so Antoine decides to sleep on the couch in her room. The next morning Isle cries out that the sunlight hurts her eyes when Antoine opens the curtains. That night is Isle's initiation when she will be given the final kiss and made a vampire. Antoine tries to break it up by taking Isle away. The cousins follow them to a beach. Isolde tries to get into her coffin but finds it on fire. The Renfields put a cross on the tomb door, sealing Isolde inside, so Isolde bites her wrist and dies. Antoine begs Isle to go with him but she stays with her cousins as they await the sunrise."

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