The history of the Hungarian countess Elizabeth Bathory, surrounded by a mass of dark secrets and a halo of ominous mystery, gave rise to many legends. The legend that she took the lives of almost 600 young virgins ranked Elizabeth as one of the most famous serial killers (according to the Guinness Book of Records). Therefore, it is not surprising that her extraordinary personality attracts the attention of artists and is exploited by filmmakers. Director Andrei Konst presented his interpretation to the audience in the film “Bloody Lady Bathory” (2015). The actors who took part in the creation of the tape made up a successful international ensemble.
Horror Interpretation
The ancient story of the countess’s terrifying atrocities, according to critics, recalls a well-known scary children's tale. The main characters - the elder sister Alleta (Isabelle Allen) and her younger brother Misha (Lucas Bond) - by fate, do not fall into the house of sweets to the witch, but into a no less dangerous environment - under the care of Elizabeth Bathory (the brilliant Svetlana Khodchenkova) in her family Castle. There are many children who serve the countess, periodically satisfying her sadistic inclinations.
At this time, the Hungarian autocrat received rumors about the ongoing disappearances and killings in the castle district, so he sends Attila (Pavel Derevyanko) to investigate the circumstances . It is for him to figure out what is happening. So briefly you can describe the storyline of the film "Bloody Lady Bathory" (2015). The actors involved in the project, to the best of their abilities, realized the script written by Matthew Jacobs.
Creators
The picture is a joint project of the Russian Federation and the USA. She became a film debut for director A. Const and screenwriter Matthew Jacobs. It is not surprising that in the film "Bloody Lady Bathory" (2015), the actors and roles were selected by types to each other under the supervision of a production group, which included the artisans of Russia and America. The authors tried to reproduce the dark and bloody story of a medieval murderer, but, as cinema experts say, the terrifying atmosphere of the tape is conveyed only thanks to the incessant sinister musical accompaniment of the composer Nathaniel Levisei.
The operator of the picture was an amateur of extraordinary perspectives Maxim Alexander, who gained experience in "Mirrors", "Maniac" and in the movie "Hills Have Eyes". But the modest budget spoiled the frame, giving the picture the character of a television play that unfolded in five locations. Extras in the film "Bloody Lady Bathory" (2015), extras actors also presented extremely ineptly, all the scenes are like a medieval cosplay festival.
Atmosphere
All the attempts of the creators to realize the tense atmosphere turned into separate scenes of strained intimidation, which would look more spectacular in the form of short half-hints. The lack of factual data on the details of the countess's atrocities led to an almost complete absence of these moments in the narrative of the tape. Therefore, the picture, positioned as a thriller with elements of the horror about the Blood Countess, turned out, oddly enough, practically without blood, without suspense and without meaning. The movie “Lady Blood Bathory” (2015) has an IMDb rating of 3.60.
However, reviewers-viewers in their reviews, contrary to the verdict of experts, noted the costumes and scenery of the tape in a positive perspective. Many were impressed by the deserted and majestic halls of the castle, patterned recreations, landscapes of the surrounding nature. These components to some extent still emphasize the atmosphere of the Middle Ages, and the semi-lit cellars and smoldering candles in the rooms add mystical sensations.
Acting Ensemble
Critics, analyzing the acting game of the performers of the thriller “Bloody Lady Bathory” (2015), noted the certain superiority of the more experienced young Isabelle Allen, who previously shone in the musical “Les Miserables”, over her screen partner Lucas Bond. For the boy, the project of Andrei Konst was the debut in a big movie, and the image of Misha was the first in his acting career. A little later, the superiority of Allen, who played the gypsy girl Aletta, over almost all other performers becomes obvious. The skill demonstrated by them deserves to be rated “satisfactory” and is similar to the level of lyceum workers of everyday domestic TV shows.
As for the leading woman, Svetlana Khodchenkova, there are no complaints about her game. Russian actress, after participating in the Hollywood blockbuster "Spy, Get Out!" and Wolverine: Immortal, each new project confirms its status as an international class star. She perfectly conveyed the sophistication and graceful movements of her heroine, inherent in the ladies of the highest European society of the seventeenth century. However, especially skeptical viewers noticed that the image of the killer, who enjoys her own atrocities, is revealed more weakly by her. At certain points, Khodchenkova's eyes clearly read anger and irritation, instead of a sadistic desire to hurt.
Verdict
If we remove two episodes from the story: sexual intercourse in the middle of the tape, which is not clearly inserted, and the verbal description of Lady Bathory of the individual details of her crimes, the picture will turn out to be a terrible children's tale. On the contrary, if you add a thick atmosphere of suspense and a couple of bloody moments - an adult eerie story based on real events will come out. However, the creators did not succeed either one or the other. Visualization, together with the talent of Svetlana Khodchenkova and Isabelle Allen in total, do not outweigh the gloom of the script, the stretched and unimpressive atmosphere of horror, as well as the mediocre skill of most actors. The film “Bloody Lady Bathory” (2015) can be recommended for one-time viewing.