Demdike@Cult Labs | 3rd August 2012 03:51 PM | My contribution for a possible fan pick.
One of my favourite Spanish films has always been The Loreley's Grasp.
Its a film about a German legend in the small town of St Goarshausen on the banks of the river Rhine. The Lorelie itself is a huge rock which soars out from the waterline.
Due to the narrowness of the Rhine, the extremely strong current and dangerous rocks below the waterline, over the years many vessels have come to a nasty end here.
Naturally legends began to form as the decades passed, in this case of a siren whose song lured unsuspecting boats onto the rocks and their impending destruction. The Loreley is also the adopted name of said siren.
Amando De Ossorio's brilliantly atmospheric film from 1974 takes this legend and ups the ante in horror terms. The Loreley in question, played by the stunning Helga Line, needs human hearts for a perverse ritual. Fearing for its students a nearby school for young women (ie -beautiful women only too happy to wear transparent negligees and bear their breasts at the drop of a hat) hires a hunter, charmingly played by Tony Kendall to track down the Loreley and put an end to the murders.
The film features graphic moments of flesh ripping horror amidst its otherwise beautiful gothic trappings, De Ossorio bringing an almost romantic feel to the production, lovingly created by his wonderful cinematography.
Although The Blind Dead films remain at the top of De Ossorio's resume, for me The Loreley's Grasp wins the gold medal. |