BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment

SnoReptilePlenty Memorable, crazy movie

Pacionsbo Absolutely Fantastic

Zandra The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Leofwine_draca This is a slow-moving art-house flick in the vein of other French blood-drinking classics such as DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS. These films are obviously an acquired taste, but I found this to be delightfully creepy in a spooky kind of way. There isn't a plot as such, just a series of weird visual images directed in Jean Rollin's inimitable style. With these type of films the camera always stays static and there always seem to be femme fatales dressed in flowing white robes who somehow move in a magical slow motion.Surprisingly, for a flick of this kind, the acting is actually rather good, especially from the three leads. Lahaie manages to be sinister-looking and beautiful at the same time, which is no mean feat. This is a film which is high on atmosphere, and low on action. There's a lot of sex to spice things up, but the main focus of the film is the hypnotic women and their desire for something. This something is never explained until the ending of the film, making it very suspenseful.The ending isn't straightforward as you might think; instead, there's a clever twist in the tale which comes as totally unexpected. But the film works best when concentrating on some truly unique images - the best being the scene where a black-clad Lahaie goes on a killing spree with a scythe, quickly slaying those who stand in her way. The most disturbing scene would have to be the ending. This is a strange, frightening film which offers up no explanations as to why what we see occurs; it just happens. There is no happy ending, no linear plot to follow and no good or evil. Thus, it's a very interesting and rewarding film.

Scott LeBrun This intriguing piece of work from the French cult director Jean Rollin is deliciously erotic, although the uninitiated should be warned that the horror elements on hand only come into play for the final portion of the picture. Until then, what we get is a masterfully directed work of art from a filmmaker who's not really out to "scare" us, per se. For the balance of "Fascination", it's more of a drama, albeit a thickly atmospheric and effectively enigmatic drama which will have the viewer curious as to where it's going (provided, of course, the story hasn't been spoiled for them already). The acting is top notch from the leads, with two sexy, sexy ladies at the centre of things who ensnare a man in their figurative web.While it's best not to know too much going in, it's worth noting that this tale, taking place in France in 1905, is not really about vampires. It's about a bandit, Marc (Jean-Marie Lemaire) who escapes from his greedy associates and finds refuge in an old isolated castle. He meets two lovely young lasses inside, Elisabeth (Franca Mai) and Eva (Brigitte Lahaie), who claim to be servants awaiting the return of their employers, but we can sense that there's more to them than meets the eye. They seduce Marc into hanging around, for their own mysterious reasons. Intrigued and amused by them, he does remain on the premises until some visitors appear late at night.Enhanced by the beautiful music by Philippe d'Aram and featuring extremely striking lighting schemes by cinematographer Georgie Fromentin (those shots of the walkway at night are downright spooky), "Fascination" turns out to be an intoxicating story of the decadence and fetishes of the upper class, and the result when a man such as Marc discovers their secrets. There's a sufficient amount of nudity and sex (both heterosexual and lesbian) to tantalize viewers; Lahaie is a vision, and figures in the most memorable images of the film when she wields a wicked scythe.Dedicated cinephiles and fans of the Eurohorror of the 1970s would do well to check this one out.Eight out of 10.

Leroy Gomm At the turn of the century, doctor's prescribe the drinking of ox blood to put the rose back in the cheeks of anemic ladies. Of course these wealthy women have developed a taste for something more, human blood. Once each year, a coven of elite women gather at a remote castle dwelling, and sacrifice a man to slake their blood thirst. Two women are sent first to find an unwary victim, who here happens to be a well dressed bandit on the run seeking shelter from other bandits. What follows is a series of seductive cat and mouse games between the sexes until the coven arrives at night so a proper ceremony can be made at midnight. Bridgette Lahaie ignites the screen with her seductive feminine charm. With either a knife, scythe, or simply a smile, she is deadly. Rollin's obsessive view of lesbian eroticism is perverse in just the right way, his camera loves everything about women, titillating us with glimpses of flesh seen here and there, all juxtaposed amidst the finest fairy tale like setting one could imagine. His locations are indeed as unique and delightful as the dream like worlds he creates.

HumanoidOfFlesh A thief(Jean Marie Lemaire),on the run from fellow gang members,takes refuge in a château populated only by two young women—Eva (Brigitte Lahaie)and Elisabeth (Franka Mai).The man is seduced and lured to stay for a forthcoming soirée,while the young ladies-themselves indulging in lesbian encounters—turn out to be initiates in a cult of bourgeois women addicted to drinking human blood.Jean Rollin's "Fascination" is simply an awesome lesbian vampire flick.The pace is pretty slow,but there is plenty of sleaze and beauty to enjoy.The film is loaded with stunning visuals for example the image of a nude Brigitte Lahaie with nothing but her impossibly statuesque figure,cape and scythe moving down the bridge and over the moat to the castle or truly surreal scene of Eva and Elizabeth dancing on the bridge in matching white gowns while an old-style phonograph plays classical music.Overall,I deeply enjoyed this one and you should too,if you liked "The Living Dead Girl" or "Lips Of Blood".