Fascination [DVD]

Product Information

SPECIAL FEATURES: Cast-Crew Interview(s), Interactive Menu, Photo Gallery, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: This erotic horror film from controversial cult director Jean Rollin is among his best. Er findet Zuflucht hinter den Mauern eines Schlosses, das verlassen scheint, aber zwei junge Frauen beherbergt. They are presented without audio as none exists, but in high definition and both are quite a bit more explicit than the content that appears in the feature version of the film. Of course, this now iconic cinematography and imagery associated with the film doesn't hurt things either. The marriage between Larry and Vera Maitland (Carl Harbourd and Dorothy Bartlam) may be over before it begins when Larry falls for glamorous actress Gwenda Farrell (Madeleine Carroll).

Rarely have women been shot with such obvious adoration as they have here, though Rollin pays almost as much attention to the locations and sets as he does to his starlets, ensuring that the film always looks top notch even when the ladies aren't on screen. There are loads of clips and stills used here to represent the director's work and this documentary, while not quite comprehensive given that it was made before Rollin finished working, is quite a great addition to this release - it's also presented in high definition. The story centres on two women, chosen by the group, who have to find a man they can ritually slaughter and communally consume in a cannibalistic vampiric feast. Redemption Films USA and Salvation Films present Fascination in a standard keepcase offering with artwork that perfectly exemplifies the film. If you're a Rollin fan, get this captivating film on Blu-ray immediately; if you're not, consider opening your mind and putting your toe in the inviting waters - you may find yourself jumping in completely!mono track is also in perfect condition, sounding better than ever and featuring improved optional English subtitles. Though it has gone through a restoration process viewers will notice a drop in quality compared to other films in this range. Jean Rollins films are not for everybody - they're trippy, dreamlike and almost surreal at times and frequently involve graphic violence coupled with kinky sex, all qualities that are bound to turn off less adventurous viewers.

Madeleine Carroll - soon to find fame as Hitchcock's premiere ice blonde in The 39 Steps - stars in this risqué comedy of manners and infidelity, an early talkie from 1931. Transferred in 2014 courtesy of a grant from the bfi's Unlocking Film Heritage fund, Fascination is one of those joyous (re)discoveries which definitively fills a gap in our knowledge of early British talkies whilst opening our eyes to how daring such films could be in the right hands.

She uses her body to speak when dialogue would have probably felt forced or phony and while there's no doubt that her experience in the most intimate of positions in front of the camera probably helped a lot with her work here, you've got to give her credit for emitting a seriously intense screen presence that is as memorably bizarre as it is seriously sexy. Unfortunately, Mander directed only three more films before concentrating wholly on acting, carving out a lucrative niche during his final working years as an in-demand character actor. Skin tones look nice and natural, there is no evidence of obvious noise reduction, compression artifacts or edge enhancement, and the end result is a very film-like presentation. Instead, at the end of the film (77:14), a silent blank screen plays until 78:10 - the BBFC runtime - then credits are shown on a black background, the disc finally ending at 79:34. Rollin's a true original, his films truly aren't like anyone else's, and I award big points for originality.

Rollin is brilliant at creating a hypnotic, dreamlike atmosphere, and he has a real feel for surreal imagery. The sound quality of the film has never been spectacular, but the audio here is pleasant and distortion-free, with Philippe D'Aram's beautiful score seeping over the decadent imagery like a bloody veil. There's no dancing around it: Rollin's fine exploitation vampire film aims to titillate by churning the mind around all the curves and contours of the female body with sumptuously-shot nude scenes, and it does so with splendid period artistry. The usual five Rollin Blu-ray-related trailers are also included along with liner notes by Video Watchdog's Tim Lucas.

By far one of the best looking of Rollin's many beautiful and macabre films, the classic image of Lahaie clothed in a black cape and wielding a scythe definitely leaves an impression as do many of the scenes that occur later on in the film once the supernatural elements are in full swing. Yet there's something about the feasting elements that blend well with its ideas, though all the uniqueness in the world cannot shelter a film so light on story with the plotholes and poor supportive acting structure that it exhibits. She visits Gwenda in her dressing room, whereupon the two ladies talk over their mutual attraction for Larry. R0 America- Redemption/Salvation - No cuts known (81:49 NTSC, excluding the modern Redemption Introduction.