A Virgin Among The Living Dead 1973

Hmmm. I'm on the fence here. This was a favorite of mine, but it doesn't live up to my first impression. Initially I found Virgin to be a heavyweight Gothic experience and overlooked its big flaws. Its not like the flaws spoil the mood, but I can't say its one of Franco's very best. Still I highly recommend this, even as a starter.

The plot follows a young woman who arrives at a castle for her father's inheritance. She meets her strange extended family and the eeriness builds until she is losing her mind. I think this is Franco's first time using this plot structure and while this script is more basic than its reworkings (Daughter of Dracula has the same setup, Other Side Of The Mirror has the same climax), this is the moodiest and more bizarre of the films. Shit, I think its the best shot of the three. It has its camp and its tediousness, but it is very effective, beautiful and sexy.

It has a low ranking among horror fans because its title evokes a Romero movie with tits and Franco fans don't give it enough praise because it its plot is so minor, but I think its a minor classic. The famous title was added in 1981 as were zombie scenes shot by the great Jean Rollin.

The cast is really special. You have Franco all-stars and some great bit players that I hope return. Christina von Blanc is the lead, exquisite from head to toe and very vulnerable in her acting. Britt Nichols and Anne Libert are phenomenal as the mysterious and evil supporting actresses (the pair appear in my next two reviews btw). And we get Jess Franco as a very creepy and yet hilarious Morpho-esque manservant and Howard Vernon at his best in a more loose and unassuming villainous role.

SPOILER ALERT: The ending will make or break the film for you and while I think it wasn't quite sold perfectly, its still awesomely appropriate when you sit with it. Its a kinda replay of Venus in Furs' ending, but way more logical and built up. Does it turn the entire film into a dream? Or was the film real and she met vampires? The film leaves you with questions, no happy ending but still some poetic closure and a free interpretation. LOVE IT!

Well, jeez. Writing my feelings and thoughts down, I guess this is one of my favorites from Jess Franco. The camp really only adds to the spookiness and the tediousness is fairly low for a Franco film with lesbians in it. Of his films that I've seen, this is the best contribution to the EuroHorror genre and its easily comparable to the genius '72 Spanish vampire film "Blood Spattered Bride" and Jean Rollins' Gothic masterpieces. Its just so full of atmosphere and weirdness and old-school existential terror. I hope the opinion on this film changes just like mine has. But I loved it to begin with. But I gave it a fair critiquing and it still passes the test.