Movie Review: Crypt of the Vampire (1964) directed by Camillo Mastrocinque, aka “Terror in the Crypt”, original title “La Cripta e l’incubo”
Antiquarian Friedrich Klauss (Jose Campos) has been summoned to Castle Karnstein in Styria by Count Ludwig Karnstein (Christopher Lee). It seems that some two centuries before, one of the Karnstein clan had been accused by the others of practicing blasphemous dark magic. She maintained her innocence, but as she was executed, she pronounced a curse on the family, saying that she would return in the form of one of them, and kill them all. The village of Karnstein fell into ruins over the years, leaving only a mostly intact bell tower that sometimes rings when the wind blows. Recently, a number of the scattered Karnstein clan have been turning up dead in horrific fashion, and the Count’s daughter Laura Karnstein (Adriana Ambesi) is worried that she may be the fated murderer.
Laura may have been influenced in this by the mysterious dreams of death she’s been having, and her nurse Rowena (Nela Conjiu), who’s a dabbler in the occult. Pretty maidservant Annette (Vera Valmont), who’s having an affair with the Count, doesn’t get on at all with Laura and would be thrilled for an excuse to get rid of her. Friedrich’s job will be to search the castle’s records and library for clues to the appearance of the original witch which were erased or hidden upon her ignominious death. With luck, they will be able to prove that Laura isn’t the reincarnation of the curse.
Friedrich is quickly smitten with Laura (though not to the extent that it interferes with his work), and she’s coolly interested. After all, they don’t get visitors often at the castle. But a couple of days later, there’s a carriage accident nearby. A noblewoman and her daughter were traveling too fast, and it has quite worn out the daughter Ljuba (Ursula Davis). Laura agrees to put Ljuba up at the castle so the mother can rush on. Despite her “delicacy”, Ljuba recovers quickly, and proves a charming companion for Laura. Soon the girls are inseparable friends.
But the curse still lurks, and the reappearance of a hunchbacked peddler (Angel Midlin) frightens Laura. She and Rowena need to get to the bottom of this, lest Ljuba become the latest one to die.
This atmospheric quickie is loosely based on the classic Sheridan le Fanu story Carmilla, which will spoil certain details of the ending if you’ve read it or seen other adaptations.
The limited budget is well spent, and the acting is decent. Christopher Lee as always is intense, and there’s smoldering chemistry between the actresses playing the very good friends. One clunker is the dubbing for Ljuba’s mother, which makes her sound wooden in a way that should immediately arouse suspicion in the people she’s talking to.
Young women wander about in nightgowns (racy for the time period) and there’s a couple of bare backs implying that nothing is worn in front in a couple of the scenes. That said, nothing is shown more in the way of physicality than some warm hugs. Oddly enough for a horror movie, the Satan worshiper isn’t a villain as such.
Content note: some blood (in black and white), hanging, a severed hand, prejudice against the physically deformed.
Not one of the best Christopher Lee movies, but worth watching if you’ve exhausted all of those, or have a thing for implied lesbians.
