Powerful

Just what I expected

best movie i've ever seen.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

I caught this film on TCM last night and it stuck with me throughout the day. The idea of the young girl going off alone, on a perilous journey, is nicely portrayed, and feels very authentic. They actually accomplished a lot on such a limited budget: the lighting, sound, costumes, makeup, and music are creepy, and there is some inventive camera work that I can't quite figure out how they achieved with the huge, bulky cameras of the 70s. If the laughing children don't give you the heebie-jeebies, the singing old woman will have you checking your closet before you go to bed. Lesley Taplin as the titular character is marvelous, filled with a self-assured confidence that makes you regret her limited roles; surely the films of the 70s, 80s, & 90s could have found prominent roles for this talented woman with a unique face.Unfortunately there is some horrible acting that ruins any buzz you might get from this dark, atmospheric film, chiefly among them Richard Blackburn as the reverend. Still, I think this is a pretty entertaining film for a dark night.

This is an unusual and enjoyable film that may have ambitions beyond it's means but is nevertheless a very brave attempt to do something just that little bit different. We begin with Cheryl Smith as the angelic, purer than pure, Lila Lee, star of the local church and living under the protection of her minister in the absence of her gangster father. Both here and later in the scenes with the magnificent lesbian vampire, Lemora, played by Lesley Taplin (Gilb) there are unmistakable hints that these older 'guardians' have more than the interests of the virgin child at heart. The opening scenes in the church and the later ones in Lemora's residence are colourful and rather grandly shot but it is the sequence depicting the young girl's seeming trip to find her father that is most astounding. From the moment she leaves the protection of the minister, she seems not only most vulnerable but the sets seem flimsy and almost laughable, but I'm guessing that this was deliberate and that even the bumpy creaky bus with the unbelievable driver are all designed to let us know that maybe not all is how it seems here. After this great sequence we meet the impressive Lemora and various zombies but despite a rather creepy bath scene there is just a little too much, running about. Still, unusual and well worth seeing.

The film is set in Georgia of the 1920s. Sweet innocent 13 year old Lila Lee (Cheryl Smith) goes to visit her sick father. Unknown to her it's a trap all set up by Lemora (Lesley Gilb) a woman vampire with distinct lesbian tendencies. Will Lila Lee fall into her clutches or escape? I caught this originally on late night TV many years ago. The print was faded, in terrible condition and (slightly) edited--but I knew I was seeing something different. I didn't see the whole thing--I was exhausted (it started at 1 am) and I couldn't stay awake...but it never left me. Now it's finally available in a truly stunning transfer by Synapse. The picture and sound are crystal clear and the colors very vivid.The film is very creepy--there are a LOT of sexual innuendos thrown at Lila at the beginning (but it IS needed for the story). The lesbian touches are there but not explicit--this movie is very PG (no blood, gore, nudity or swearing). Still they come through and actually help the movie. The low budget this film was made on shows often but it works in the films favor. There's atmospheric lighting, eerie sounds, creepy settings and a nonstop feeling of dread. Also Gilb is VERY imposing as Lemora. Despite the rating this is an adult movie--as others have said--a fairy tale for adults.There are plenty of things wrong with this however. The script wanders all over the place (but then fairy tales do too), the ending drags a bit and the acting is terrible all around (Smith is bland and Gilb's acting is SO bad I was giggling at times). Still, despite all that it works. A one of a kind vampire movie. Not for everybody. I give it a 9.

A dark, atmospheric little film, it is quite bizarre and intriguing to watch, with shadow enhancing lighting, flashy colours, great sets, and a fine lead performance by Cheryl Smith, who is a perfect choice to play an innocent uncorrupted. On the other hand, the writer-director gives off a somewhat restrained performance as a priest, and towards the end, the film heads off into rather messy territory, with excesses of horror and too many slow motion, plus it takes forever to wrap the story up. There are some interesting ideas at hand, and a few worthwhile production elements, but overall this is a film that is much more so interesting than it is great.