PopHorror Let's Get Scared
I’m just going to come out and say it: I’ve never seen any of the popular lesbian vampires films nor have I ever seen anything from Hammer. I’m in no way the target audience for the film. Had it not been for seeing the trailer for Blood of the Tribades on the Frankenstein Created Bikers Blu-ray, I probably wouldn’t even know it existed. The trailer struck me as something you don’t see much of nowadays, especially in the realm of indie horror, which intrigued me and made me want to check it out. So what did I think?
Blood of the Tribades is the latest film from Sophia Cacciola and Michael J. Epstein (Ten 2014, Magnetic 2015). The film stars Chloe Cunha (Joy de V. 2013), Mary Widow (Magnetic 2015), Seth Chatfield (Ten 2014), Tymisha ‘Tush’ Harris, Kristofer Jenson, Zach Pidgeon (Bring Us Your Women 2015), Sindy Katrotic, Simone de Boudoir, Stabatha La Thrills (The Streets Run Red 2017), Lilith Beest, Irina Peligrad (Pony Trouble 2005), Maggie Maraschino (Grindsploitation 2016), Dale Stones, Andrew C. Wiley, and Savana Petruzello.
Two thousand years after the great vampire Bathor established the village of Bathory, superstition and religious violence take over as the men and women battle for control. When the men are afflicted with a mysterious illness, they become certain that the vampire women of Bathory are responsible for their ills, and thus, the hunt begins! Long-forgotten lovers Élisabeth and Fantine find that, with the help of those who were banished, it is their fate to piece together the past and help preserve what little of their society remains before Bathor’s impending return and judgment.
Blood of the Tribades is a gorgeous film in every way, which is even more impressive given its low budget nature. The film is beautifully shot and makes excellent use of its locations. The costumes look like something you would see in an old school vampire film. There is plenty of nudity from the female and male cast members. Be aware, this movie contains a bunch of dicks, both figuratively and literally, as the male characters are all dicks and most of them have their cocks out at one point or another (and sometimes they get cut off).
The cast all do a great job bringing their characters to life, with the standout characters being Giltine played by Sindy Katrotic and Grando played Seth Chatfield. Giltine almost feels like a character from a different movie with her midriff revealing outfit, badass attittude and her fighting skills, and she was easily my favorite character. Grando is the leader of a fanatical cult of male vampires who blames the tribades for their plight. He seeks to wipe them out, killing anyone who stands in his way. I honestly couldn’t tell if he believed his own bullshit, if his illness made him delusional, or if he was just looking for a scapegoat. My vote is on the latter.
The film features some awesome effects including a thorn slashing an eye (in extreme close up), several crossbow bolts to the chest, neck bitings, a man forced to walk on glass, a penis being severed then nailed to a tree via a crossbow bolt, and whippings. I thought the vampires having red smoke come out of their mouth when they are killed was a unique touch.
Taken at face value, Blood of the Tribades is a fun vampire film, but the story offers much more than that. The film focuses on issues such as feminism, women’s right’s, gay rights and the dangers of religious extremism. The cult sees the women as sinners for their lesbianism as well as for not bearing them children. They blame them for all their problems and want to wipe them out. At the same time, they desire them and are jealous of what they have. They frequently ignore facts that don’t suit their cause and kill anyone who try to do otherwise.
Final Thoughts
Blood of the Tribades is an excellent indie horror film whose look and style easily exceeds its small budget. The film features an excellent cast, impressive effects, a solid story and a rewarding ending and I highly recommend you check it out. You can rent or purchase a copy here.
