Plot
In an Austrian village centuries ago, a group of religious vigilantes calling themselves the “Brotherhood” are abducting innocent young women and burning them at stake in the name of a fanatic Christianity that sees witchcraft and the work of the devil at every turn.
The real scourge, however, lies within the gloomy castle where Count Karnstein dabbles in Satanism and black magic, but craves true evil. Resorting to human sacrifice, he resurrects the vampiress Countess Mircalla Karnstein from her tomb. The vampiress rewards the nefarious count by turning him into an undead fiend as well, and the newly sired vampire count immediately turns his attention to Frieda, one of the lovely twin nieces of Gustav Weil, the Brotherhood’s stern, Puritanical leader.
Fascinated by the dark count, the wild and rebellious girl is easily enticed to secretly visit his eerie castle in the gloom of night. Let’s just say that poor Frieda will never be the same… Crosses and sharp stakes will feature prominently in the inevitable retaliatory raid launched by the Brotherhood.
We walk the Earth, but we exist only in Hell!
Critique
7Taking inspiration from a John Peacock stage play (“Children of the Wolf”, 1970) the final chapter of the Karnstein trilogy is a fittingly shadowy Gothic that redeems the series after the mediocre “Lust for a Vampire” (1971).
Produced by British Hammer Films, “Twins of Evil” blends witchcraft and vampirism themes – somewhat haphazardly, to be honest. The vampirism angle is given the feminine touch, following the tradition of Irish writer Sheridan Le Fanu in his lesbian vampire novella “Carmilla” (1872). The result is a rather refined work (the cinematography and art direction are truly evocative), skillfully directed by a future master of the genre.
The cast turns in good performances with Peter Cushing standing out in the role of the obsessed Puritan, apparently attempting, not without a subtle irony, to evoke Vincent Price in “Witchfinder General” (1968). Makeup and special effects hold their own and with a textbook decapitation and a couple of splatterific stabbings, violence definitely trumps the erotic dimension when all is said and done.
Fans of independent horror will find something to enjoy here.
More Info
- Inspired by a character created by Sheridan Le Fanu
- Loosely based on the play "Children of the Wolf" (1970) by John Peacock
Quotes
- They worshipped the devil, and he taught them delights that you will never know! Of punishment, inflicting and receiving it.
- Oh, Lord of Darkness, I am weary of this world and its pathetic pleasures. Teach me to reach beyond the flesh!
- We walk the Earth, but we exist only in Hell!
- The Devil has sent me twins of evil!
Trivia
- At the time, the Collinson twins (Madeleine and Mary) enjoyed a certain notoriety for their titillating debut film “Some Like It Sexy” (1969). In October 1970, they were also the first identical twin “playmates” chosen as “Playboy” magazine’s Playmate of the Month. This was their final film.
- The Hammer-produced “Karnstein Trilogy”, set in Styria, Austria, is loosely based on Irish writer Sheridan Le Fanu’s lesbian vampire novella “Carmilla” (1872). The three movies are: I) “The Vampire Lovers” (1970); II) “Lust for a Vampire” (1971); III) “Twins of Evil” (1971).
Products
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| Product name | Price | |
|---|---|---|
 | Carmilla (Clockwork Editions) | |
 | Twins Of Evil (Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack) | |
 | Twins of Evil | |
 | Twins Of Evil (1971) – 4K UHD + Blu-ray Limited Edition Hardbox | |
 | Carmilla, Deluxe Edition: The Dark Sapphic Romance that Inspired Dracula |
| Nome del prodotto | Prezzo | |
|---|---|---|
 | Carmilla. Ediz. integrale, annotata e illustrata | |
 | Le Figlie Di Dracula | |
 | Carmilla. Ediz. integrale | |
 | Carmilla |
| Product name | Price | |
|---|---|---|
 | Carmilla: The dark sapphic romance that inspired Dracula | |
 | Carmilla | |
 | Twins of Evil | |
 | Twins Of Evil (1971) – 4K UHD + Blu-ray Limited Edition Hardbox |
| Nombre del producto | Precio | |
|---|---|---|
 | Carmilla (edición especial en tapa dura) (Ediciones Conmemorativas) | |
![Drácula y las Mellizas BD 1971 Twins of Evil [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/713flY+8V+L._SL75_.jpg){kind=small} | Drácula y las Mellizas BD 1971 Twins of Evil [Blu-ray] | |
![Drácula y las mellizas [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71HFh6EGYuL._SL75_.jpg){kind=small} | Drácula y las mellizas [DVD] | |
 | Carmilla (El libro de bolsillo - Literatura) |
| Produktname | Preis | |
|---|---|---|
 | Dracula's Witch Hunt (Twins of Evil) | |
 | Dracula's Witch Hunt (Twins of Evil) | |
 | Draculas Hexenjagd | |
 | Carmilla: Der weibliche Vampir |
| Nom du produit | Prix | |
|---|---|---|
 | Carmilla | |
 | Les Sévices de Dracula | |
 | Edition officielle française - Les Sévices De Dracula | |
 | Edition officielle française - Les Sévices de Dracula - DVD | |
 | Carmilla |
| Product name | Price | |
|---|---|---|
 | Twins of Evil | |
| Carmilla | |
| Carmilla |