Daughters of Darkness

Daughters of Darkness is a 1971 erotic horror film co-written and directed by Harry Kümel and starring Delphine Seyrig, John Karlen, Andrea Rau, and Danielle Ouimet. Set in a nearly deserted seaside hotel in Belgium, the film follows a newlywed couple who encounter a mysterious Hungarian countess, Elizabeth Báthory, and her enigmatic companion. As tensions rise, the couple is drawn into a disturbing psychological and sexual game, with fatal consequences.

A surreal, stylish take on the vampire mythos, Daughters of Darkness blends gothic horror with psychological drama and eroticism. Kümel infuses the film with visual references to Marlene Dietrich and Louise Brooks, while exploring themes of gender, power, and identity. The narrative draws inspiration from historical accounts of Erzsébet Báthory, but recasts her as a seductive, controlling figure in a postwar, decadent setting.

Critics have praised Seyrig’s performance as the charismatic vampire countess and interpreted the story as a commentary on patriarchal control, queer desire, and the disintegration of traditional gender roles.