Blood Countess (2015) User Reviews (12)

Don't believe the hype

[idierkschnieder · 3/10 · 16 January 2020]

I've seen a few movies filmed and produced in Russia recently, partly because they get more of an airing as Russia is hyped as an up and coming movie producing nation.

If this film is anything to go by, the hype is not to be believed: this film is at best boring as nothing ever happens. It takes an hour to get to the point which is that Lady Bathory is helping all those orphan kids for her own, cruel reasons, and even then, the movie still goes on without any major upsets.

Judging by the synchronized version, it might be well written and the settings seem to be accurate but it still leaves you feeling empty and that you have wasted your time watching this.

If you want to see a film about Lady Bathory, the 1971 Hammer film 'Countess Dracula' might hit the sweet spot a lot more than this.

Drag (Queen)

[kosmasp · 3/10 · 2 June 2021]

No there isn't really a Drag Queen in this ... if you want to use those words against me, I mean the movie is dragging and there is a Queen in the center of it. Not just any ... but the infamous child killing one. At least that is what the rumors are saying.

Considering that story as background it is almost an achievement to make a movie as boring and full of cliches as this. Yes there may be worse horror movies or movies in general than this ... that does not make this better in any way shape or form. Especially the really ... I do not want to be mean actually. They are just kids, they may get better at the art of acting. But in this right here, they really add to the disaster and to the downfall.

Bait and switch

[atbell-1 · 3/10 · 31 August 2023]

3 is what I give for did not finish

Why? 40 minutes in and I don't care about any of it. This lady was accused of killing 600 people and no one is dead yet. Or somehow I missed it by not paying close enough attention.

There's something here for sure, the cinematic elements are fine, the myth is horror movie gold, the locations are fine. Acting and editing are unremarkable but that's probably because I lost interest. So I would maybe say the script could use work at the top end, like the plot probably needs an overhaul. You do what you can with the budget you've got I guess.

So the main problem, like the zombie show I tried to watch that had no zombies, this woman is being called the blood queen right in the title, where's the blood?

Fantasy, far from historical accuracy!

[mrmoose-65132 · 1/10 · 18 April 2021]

The gaps in this movie are about as wide as the Grand Canyon! For starters Csejte Castle is not located in Transylvania, but in northeastern Slovakia! The castle shown in this film is Hunyadvara, which never belonged to the Báthory estates! While the Báthory family had roots in Transylvania, she never lived there. Secondly Erzsébet Báthory never killed anyone or had anyone tortured to death!

The Báthory family was very interesting to say the least! The Báthory family, which had played an important part in Hungarian history since the 13th and 14th centuries, had several distinct branches, including those of Somlya and Ecsed. One of these branches had given Transylvania its princes, including István Báthory who would later become one of the most highly respected monarchs of Poland. István's sister Anna Báthory of Somlya would marry György Báthory of Ecsed; their children were Erzsébet and her brother, hymn writer and judge István. Erzsébet's cousin Zsigmond and nephew Gábor would also become Princes of Transylvania and play important parts in the case surrounding her.

In plain English Erzsébet was a very rich and powerful woman! In fact rich enough that she could support any rebellion against the Hapsburg King of Hungary. A trumped up charges was introduced against her by György Thurzó, the Palatine of Hungary and ally of the King Matthias II. As Palatine, he was therefore committed to Matthias II's political strategy against Gábor Báthory the Prince of Transylvania, a relative of Erzsébet. The charges were made up and based upon lies in order to confiscate her properties and ruin the Báthorys of Transylvania and the Nádasdys of Hungary. Erzsébet. Was married to Count Nádasdy at an early age, and their son took a part in a rebellion against the Hapsburgs.

Even though the trial investigation was painstakingly extensive, it failed to turn up any concrete evidence to prove Countess Báthory's guilt in shedding the blood and snuffing out the lives of hundreds of victims. It did, however, contain numerous signs of a show trial: the construction of forged evidence, the dissemination of false rumors, and the use of horror stories to intimidate and manipulate witnesses. As she was of Noble birth she could not be executed, only her servants were, in punishment of her unproven crimes she was mot allowed to live her castle, the only estate she was allowed to keep. During her trial, the countess was never permitted to speak for herself, nor was anyone else allowed to testify on her behalf. Following their torture and interrogation, all but one of Erzsébet's personal servants were executed. Imprisoned for life, Erzsébet Báthory would survive the day of her arrest only by four years; she died on 21 August 1614. Thus this was not about horrific crimes that she allegedly committed but about politics, wealth and power.

Thus this film is just based upon BS and myths.

The real torture is watching it!

[gisellegalop · 1/10 · 14 July 2021]

From the cheap wigs to the awful acting, I cannot express this enough: it was a total waste of time. Don't watch it, plain simple.

You're welcome.

Impressive (for all the wrong reasons)

[backup-50362 · 1/10 · 15 August 2022]

You'd think this can't possibly be bad since it's based on such a shocking and weird legend, but... it is pretty bad.

Let's start with what's good, though - the two child actors are likeable, the cinematography is good, and the set design is cool for what I assume was a low budget.

However, the main adult female cast (I thought they were the same woman for quite some time) combine bad acting, bad, misspelled dialogue and strong Russian dialects to the point that the movie is instantly unwatchable when they open their mouths.

There's nothing wrong with making a movie in your native language and just subtitle or dub it, why would they use actors who can't speak English for this?

Nothing interesting really happens in this movie. The kids swear a few times, so it can't even pass for a harmless kids movie, despite looking like one. Weird choices all over.

Oh and of course, in a movie with two children - a boy and a girl - if one must die, you can guess which one it will be. The queen has the girl tied up with a knife in her face for half the movie yet magically only the boy dies in the end. Absolute cringe.

Spoilers follow ...

[parry_na · 6/10 · 21 July 2016]

Two gypsy children captured for stealing are taken into the custody of the Countess Bathory, a feared and legendary lady who lives in a huge impressive castle. While the younger brother Mischa (Lucas Bond) makes awkward acquaintances with other juveniles who live in the castle grounds, the young girl Aletta (a tremendous performance from Isabelle Allen) becomes friendly with the countess herself and her many serving women. The girl's impudence is well matched against the Countess's regal bearing and they grow close, Bathory dressing her in Riding Hood Red.

Visually, this is a wondrously epic fairy-tale of the darkest kind. Colours, costumes, locations and design are truly faultless. Vibrant warmth glows from crackling torches and illuminate the interiors and provide a contrast to the increasingly cold, stark exteriors. A collection of European actors head the cast, and help give a sense of other-worldliness to the proceedings. Only the story itself lets things down; it really is paper thin, and tends to drag – although the visuals ensure this is not as much of a hardship as it would otherwise be.

Bathory, reputedly responsible for the deaths of 650 children as the opening credits tell us, is written as little more than a Wicked Witch despite the delicious playing by Svetlana Khodchenkova. Her two closest serving girls Dorata and Ilona, elegantly bedecked in royal blue, are my favourite characters. They are wonderfully arch, bitchy characters, terrifically played by Lia Sinchevici and Alexandra Poiana respectively.

Although darkness pervades this Gothic tale, the most gruesome moments are reserved for the very end, as Aletta recounts the fate of the various characters four years later.

Actually not bad!

[Hayden-86055 · 6/10 · 30 May 2020]

I went into this with low expectations, however it wasn't half bad at all! The actress who played the girl did a fine job, and the plot was very interesting and deceptive.

The Countess is well acted and suitably creepy, the other actors were alright but didn't stand out to me, but the sets were pretty lavish and whilst not a masterpiece I think as a low budget film you can't get much better than this.

6/10: Original plot and good acting for a low budget film

Worth the watch!!

[heydiddlediddle007 · 7/10 · 29 October 2019]

I took a chance on this movie on a very boring evening, I found the gothic theme very appealing. It was all fantastic and creepy. I wasn't sure that Lady Bathory was what she was suspected or perhaps one of her two minions. Let me tell you, Aletta stole the show. I hope Isabelle Allen will go far in her acting career because she's off to a fantastic start. Svetlana Khodchenkova was brilliant in her role as were the actresses that played Katja, Dorato and Iiona and of course Mischa. I can speak German but for those that can't I wish there were subtitles because it was brilliant. It's definitely not a movie for those not into the gothic creepiness but for those who enjoy it, this is a great pick!!

One of the better Erzebet Bathory films

[KylieRempel · 7/10 · 23 January 2020]

I have seen a couple attempts at putting the so-called Blood Countess on films. For instance The Countess with Julie Delpy, has fine acting, but is very slow and wants me to over identify with the countess and empathize with her.

This movie at least offers better production values, non-terrible child actors that you can root for and at least a nod in the direction of historical accuracy. (The one thing I am unclear on historically is any evidence that she might have killed any significant numbers of young boys. Her treatment of young girls is reasonably well-documented.)

So while it is a bit cheesy and overdramatic at times, it has much more going for it, than many adaptations of this historical tale. The actress playing the countess is also quite good at projecting a certain mixture of menacing intensity overlaid with a nonthreatening approachable veneer. Also these resourceful gypsy kid protagonists are great. Some small bits of it are predictable enough, but there a few surprises to hold your interest.

I'm not saying this should top any horror movie lists, but it certainly shouldn't be tossed at the bottom of the horror barrel with Asylum films either.

Good movie as a whole, with some problems

[nikola_bg-25486 · 7/10 · 4 September 2023]

Loosely based on the story of Elizabeth Bathory, almost turning it into a fairytale. I have no problem with such an approach, but there are some serious plot holes in this story. Sometimes you wonder why is this character doing this and why this man is with this woman, when they should be enemies, not a couple... (I'm avoiding putting spoilers, so no more details).

The setting is splendid - Corvin Castle in Transylvania. Much bigger than the actual castle of Elizabeth Bathory (I've visited both). The costumes are fine. The acting probably not so good. It's not a disaster, though.

Overall, probably among the better films about Bathory in recent years.

Better than I expected!

[poisonbrothertwo · 7/10 · 25 June 2021]

It's a tale about two gypsy orphans who find themselves in the care of the Countess. This movie is much better than I expected.