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Fascination
[Redemption]
1979; color
Directed by Jean Rolin
Starring: Franca Mai, Brigitte Lahaie, Jean-Marie Lemaire, Fanny Magier & Muriel Montossé
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Fascination is probably the most accessible, or least surreal, of any of Jean Rollin's films I've seen thus far, vampire and otherwise. He doesn't necessarily get hung up in the Dracula story this time around, choosing to focus more on blood drinking, blood lust and an obsession with death. (Not the actual act of dying but the idea that anyone can be the grim reaper.) Set in the early 1900s, we're briefly introduced to a doctor who recommends his female patients drink a glass of ox blood every day to combat anemia. As one woman cautiously sips a glass of the stuff (in an empty yet bloody slaughterhouse) two other ladies look on and gulp a little more lustily. One laughs at the first woman and comments to the other, 'It's just ox blood.' Next up we meet a group of people who we soon learn are a gang of robbers. The nicest dressed one of the lot, Mark, who appears to be the leader, shows the stolen gold to the others and tells them he'll meet back up with them in a month, after he's laundered the booty in London. The rest of the gang isn't too happy with that and demand, with guns drawn, that he split the haul up on the spot. He says no dice, and flees with his former associates in hot pursuit. Just as he thinks he's gotten away, he comes across an isolated, spooky chateau and decides to hide out there. Initially he thinks the place is deserted but in no time flat finds himself in the company of two very weird young women. Considering he's walking around he place holding a handgun, they realize he's some sort of criminal and soon enough they begin to conspire to fit him into their own mysterious agenda. Meanwhile, the gang, who've been shadowing Mark all along, lay siege to the chateau. But before they can exact any kind of revenge and get the gold, one of the two girls kills them all in almost silent and remorseless fashion. The two keep saying how Mark must stay until midnight, when everything will change and their guests - including death - are due to arrive. Content enough to make time with two fairly hot and horny French girls, he gets comfy and decides to see what's going to happen. Sure enough, a little before 12:00 AM five more women arrive. Once everyone's inside and acquainted with Mark, their true plans are revealed and he decides it's time to leave, and leave fast. Unfortunately, the reaper's scythe can stretch pretty far on the grounds of the chateau and Mark soon ends up a midnight snack for a cult of blood drinkers. The film ends rather abruptly shortly after that, but not before an unexpected twist that makes the ladies seem even more deranged. I've seen comments and reviews stating Fascination is a good starting point for newbies to Rollin's films and I won't argue that. While it's no Demoniacs (my personal fave of his flicks), it's definitely recommended viewing.
—the Kommandant
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