Review of The Countess (2009) by Eleonora B — 09 Apr 2011

This could have been a great movie. Sadly it is only average. Julie Delpy obvioulsy has her lifeblood in this film. She directed it, played the leading part, created the music...she hired tons of great actors, chose a perfect set and perfect costumes. And she is really as beautiful as I have always imagined Erzebet Bathory to be. I like HOW she shows the events in this movie, but I don't agree completely with the story she tells.

The Countess Erzebet Bathory, who is listed as the worst serial killer of all times, was a very powerful and intelligent woman. She and her husband were so rich that even the King lent money from them. After her husband died, she refused to marry again and managed everything on her own. She got accused of having tortured and killed over 600 virgins and of bathing in their blood. And of using witchcraft. It is said that she wanted to preserve her beauty and youth. And she must have killed out of extreme sexual lust! She formed a powerful and dangerous couple with her companion and confidant Darvulia (oh yes, those evil, evil lesbians...).

This movie provides an explanation for Bathory's blood rage: she was heartbroken. And she wanted to stay young and beautiful for the man she loved. Hm...not very convincing. An intelligent woman, loving mother and fair mistress becomes an insane murderess just to please a man? Come on. There must have been a bit more. I think that explanation insults her intelligence. She wanted to torture and kill and she had the capabilities. Servants who helped her. And who cared for peasant-girls? No one. It was easy for her to find enough girls to satisfy her needs. She was a crazy murderess, but that was very convenient for all those people who owed her a lot of money. The family of a sentenced murderess was not allowed to keep any posessions...

The legend of Erzebet Bathory has many different aspects. Some may be true, some not. But what is here presented, is a bit too simple and unsophisticated for me to believe it.