Vampire films don’t have the same effect as they used to decades ago. Thanks to film franchises like “Twilight” and “Underworld,” the idea of a vampire film is normally mixed with some other genre (such as teen drama or action/thriller) and treated almost as a joke. However, decades ago, films featuring the undead that want to drain your body of blood were much more experimental and erotic. The very nature of vampirism has always lent itself to stories told in a more adult way. And one of the leaders of bringing that level of eroticism to the screen was French filmmaker Jean Rollin.
Thanks to the Quad and Kino Lorber in collaboration with Redemption Films, we’re honored to have the exclusive first look at the trailer for the upcoming Jean Rollin retrospective, “Très Outré: The Sinister Visions of Jean Rollin,” which begins October 18.
Back in the late-‘60s, Rollin was a relatively unknown filmmaker. That all changed when he released “The Rape of the Vampire” in 1968. Suddenly, due to the controversial nature of his filmmaking style and the subject matter, Rollin became a filmmaker that people began to take notice of. Over the next decade or so, the Rollin would release over a dozen more films that embraced horror in a way that had never been done before. With poetic dialogue, surrealistic imagery, and yes, sexuality, Rollin became a master of the genre.
The retrospective highlights a dozen films from the incredible filmmaker, showing a type of vampire/horror film that many film fans didn’t even know existed. Plus, for those that are familiar with Rollin’s work, Kino Lorber has brand-new restorations that are sure to give you a chance to see the films like never before.
As mentioned, the retrospective hits the Quad in New York City on October 18 to 23. Check out the trailer below, along with a beautiful poster from artist Philippe Druillet:
Here’s the full breakdown of the films being shown at the Quad:
Très Outré: The Sinister Visions of Jean Rollin
October 18 – 23
The Demoniacs
Jean Rollin, 1974, France/Belgium, 77m, DCP
Fascination
Jean Rollin, 1979, France, 80m, DCP
The Grapes of Death
Jean Rollin, 1978, France, 85m, DCP
The Iron Rose
Jean Rollin, 1973, France, 86m, DCP
Lips of Blood
Jean Rollin, 1975, France, 88m, DCP
The Living Dead Girl
Jean Rollin, 1982, France, 86m, DCP
The Night of the Hunted
Jean Rollin, 1980, France, 87m, DCP
The Nude Vampire
Jean Rollin, 1970, France, 90m, DCP
The Rape of the Vampire
Jean Rollin, 1968, France, 95m, DCP
Requiem for a Vampire (Caged Virgins)
Jean Rollin, 1971, France, 95m, DCP
The Shiver of the Vampires
Jean Rollin, 1971, France, 95m, DCP
