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Product Description
Bathory is based on the legends surrounding the life and deeds of Countess Elizabeth Bathory known as the greatest murderess in the history of mankind. Contrary to popular belief, Elizabeth Bathory was a modern Renaissance woman who ultimately fell victim to mens aspirations for power and wealth.
The various stories of her life resulted in her infamy as a cruel queen, the greatest murderess in the history of mankind and possibly her true identity as a vampire queen.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( Dolby Digital Stereo ), WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Anamorphic Widescreen, Behind the scenes, Cast/Crew Interview(s), Deleted Scenes, Documentary, Interactive Menu, Making Of, Music Video, Photo Gallery, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: The gruesome tale of Countess Elizabeth Bathory, notorious yet obscure, has been recounted by historians, writers, poets, playwrights, musicians, painters, and moviemakers. Tradition has it that Countess Bathory was the greatest murderess in the history of humankind, as documented by her entry in the Guinness Book of Records. She tortured her victims, exclusively women, before killing them. She bathed in their blood, and tore the flesh from their bodies with her teeth while they were still alive. But is that really true? In four centuries, no historical document has been found to reveal what had exactly happened. The plot of the film diametrically opposes the established legend. The film is based on the story of Elizabeth Báthory, a 16th/17th century Hungarian countess. Her story takes place in a part of the Kingdom of Hungary, now Slovakia. She is infamous for killing many young women because according to legend she thought that bathing in their blood would preserve her youth. Eventually the royal authorities investigated, and she was walled up in her castle, where she died three years later. ...Bathory ( 2008 ) ( Untitled Juraj Jakubisko Project )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Anyone who knows their vampire history will have heard of and know about Elizabeth Bathory (yes, I know that I have written her first name in English), after all she is supposedly the most prolific female serial killer of all time. This film is not however a horror movie. Bathory may have done some killing and may have tortured people, but since at least the 19th century until modern times there has always been a big question mark over what really went on.
Anna Friel brings home a great performance as Bathory and really brings this film to life. In a time of superstition and constant fighting with the Turks, Hungary has also to keep an eye open for Hapsburg intrigues. Spanning the late 16th and early 17th centuries, Bathory's husband is often away on wars, so Elizabeth has to manage the estates and bring up their children. When a mishap occurs her husband has to call in a woman that most consider a witch to save her, and thus the two women form a bond. As the 'witch' claims she can keep Bathory looking young, Elizabeth starts taking baths, but are these in blood, or something less innocuous?
Taking a few liberties with the facts this presents a thought provoking film, but I am not sure whether the surreal dreamlike imagery is really needed, or a couple of Catholic monks sent into the area to spy. These monks are like early James Bonds with gadgets that must have been made by an early Q.
If you like something a bit different that makes you question the folk tales that get handed down over the years, then you will probably enjoy this, but as I put above, there are a few things that this film would have been better without. Also included on this dvd are extras, a documentary feature, deleted scenes and a music video.
Anna Friel brings home a great performance as Bathory and really brings this film to life. In a time of superstition and constant fighting with the Turks, Hungary has also to keep an eye open for Hapsburg intrigues. Spanning the late 16th and early 17th centuries, Bathory's husband is often away on wars, so Elizabeth has to manage the estates and bring up their children. When a mishap occurs her husband has to call in a woman that most consider a witch to save her, and thus the two women form a bond. As the 'witch' claims she can keep Bathory looking young, Elizabeth starts taking baths, but are these in blood, or something less innocuous?
Taking a few liberties with the facts this presents a thought provoking film, but I am not sure whether the surreal dreamlike imagery is really needed, or a couple of Catholic monks sent into the area to spy. These monks are like early James Bonds with gadgets that must have been made by an early Q.
If you like something a bit different that makes you question the folk tales that get handed down over the years, then you will probably enjoy this, but as I put above, there are a few things that this film would have been better without. Also included on this dvd are extras, a documentary feature, deleted scenes and a music video.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
If anyone decides to publish a book listing the 100 weirdest films ever made in cinematic history, then this one deserves an honorable mention in despatches. Veteran Slovak director Juraj Jakubisko has certainly allowed his imagination to take flight. In fact it's meteoric ascent into the upper stratospheres leads one to suspect it may have been fuelled by eating a large surfeit of dodgy mushrooms. Where do you start really? Anna Friel resplendent in a wig that makes Marge Simpson's hairstyle look conservative. Monks that whizz about on clockwork skis and parachute off of castles, making Jason Bourne look like a slouch. The Italian painter Caravaggio turns up as a bit on the side for our lively countess of the title. Lots of half naked nubile young women being tortured for no apparent reason? You may be thinking, shame on you, that it's beginning to sound a lot better, but to the true blue cineaste it might be considered 'not in the best possible taste'. Then of course there is the unforgettable sight of a baby encased in a giant ice cube! Best not sticking that one in the old G and T methinks!
The film follows the life and times of Elizabeth Bathory a Hungarian countess reviled in history as a mass murderess. Jakubisko attempts to try and paint her in a rather better light. I watched the film in the hope of seeing an entertaining historical drama. I was pleased that the Transylvanian blood sucking vampires did not make an appearance, but was disappointed on all other counts. Apart from the nice costumes, Anna Friel's pretty face, and a few shapely boobs, there was nothing else worth watching. This turned out to be 135 minutes of mind boggling silliness. At times it reminded me of a Monty Python film, such was the gravitas that the actors delivered their ridiculously accented Eric Idle like lines with. It is so bad that it does actually manage to creep into the 'so bad its almost good category', making it interesting to watch as a curiosity. It is easy to see why this was one of the most expensive Central European productions ever made. The opulent costumes alone would have made even Edith Head herself a little envious. Alas it has all been flushed down the pan in the old time honored 'I'm a contender for the golden turkey award' tradition. This is one quasi fairy tale that turned out to be a right royal horror! Two stars for the 'so bad it's almost good' factor.
The film follows the life and times of Elizabeth Bathory a Hungarian countess reviled in history as a mass murderess. Jakubisko attempts to try and paint her in a rather better light. I watched the film in the hope of seeing an entertaining historical drama. I was pleased that the Transylvanian blood sucking vampires did not make an appearance, but was disappointed on all other counts. Apart from the nice costumes, Anna Friel's pretty face, and a few shapely boobs, there was nothing else worth watching. This turned out to be 135 minutes of mind boggling silliness. At times it reminded me of a Monty Python film, such was the gravitas that the actors delivered their ridiculously accented Eric Idle like lines with. It is so bad that it does actually manage to creep into the 'so bad its almost good category', making it interesting to watch as a curiosity. It is easy to see why this was one of the most expensive Central European productions ever made. The opulent costumes alone would have made even Edith Head herself a little envious. Alas it has all been flushed down the pan in the old time honored 'I'm a contender for the golden turkey award' tradition. This is one quasi fairy tale that turned out to be a right royal horror! Two stars for the 'so bad it's almost good' factor.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I LOVE Anna Friel, I LOVE the legend of Bathory, so I was so looking forward to watching this.
However, after initially watching the documentaries on the DVD, I realised that this may be a bit different to the sexy vampire, gore fest that I was anticipating...& indeed it was.
The film was a very protracted & drawn out & (according to the director from the making of documentary) still a hypothetical take on the legend of Bathory...& ended up a much more boring one than if it had followed the traditional take on the life of the lady in question.
Instead of a good horror movie (for which the subject matter would have been excellent) the film became a very subjective slant on how Bathory had been framed by power hungry politicians & served to suggest that the whole bathing in blood/ murderess/ vampire mythology was, not even just exaggerated, but entirely made up! Even if most of it was untrue, by the director's own admission, this was also unsubstantiated. The end result made for a very long, very boring movie, with little to save it (except for the stunning Anna Friel, couple of good battle scenes & some of the architecture in the localities of the shoot...all of which would have been better used lending themselves in a more traditional take on the Bathory legend).
For the DVD cover to proclaim 'Countess Of Blood' & 'Vampire' and then to contain teh film that it does is, at least, very misleading. VERY disappointed.
However, after initially watching the documentaries on the DVD, I realised that this may be a bit different to the sexy vampire, gore fest that I was anticipating...& indeed it was.
The film was a very protracted & drawn out & (according to the director from the making of documentary) still a hypothetical take on the legend of Bathory...& ended up a much more boring one than if it had followed the traditional take on the life of the lady in question.
Instead of a good horror movie (for which the subject matter would have been excellent) the film became a very subjective slant on how Bathory had been framed by power hungry politicians & served to suggest that the whole bathing in blood/ murderess/ vampire mythology was, not even just exaggerated, but entirely made up! Even if most of it was untrue, by the director's own admission, this was also unsubstantiated. The end result made for a very long, very boring movie, with little to save it (except for the stunning Anna Friel, couple of good battle scenes & some of the architecture in the localities of the shoot...all of which would have been better used lending themselves in a more traditional take on the Bathory legend).
For the DVD cover to proclaim 'Countess Of Blood' & 'Vampire' and then to contain teh film that it does is, at least, very misleading. VERY disappointed.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Interesting but flawed
Being a fan of both Anna Friel and historic film, I thought I'd give this film a go. In terms of performance, direction, set and costume design, this film is superb. Read more
Published 15 days ago by Jess_Collett
Nearer the truth
Having lived in Slovakia for several years I learned much about Austro-Hungarian history. I visited the ruins of Cachtice castle and heard the legend from the local people. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Meatbomb
A missed opportunity
While I can appreciate an attempt to look at things from another perspective, this movie feels like a missed opportunity. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Kim
Don't bother
Very long - was it a mini-series? There are some good visual sections, but far too few in a very long film. I wouldn't recommend it to a friend.
Published 7 months ago by Cat and Fiddle
Torture, Whips, Wigs, Caravaggio and Clockwork Skates!
This is a film that has been made with Czech and Slovak money, it is based in Hungary and Transylvania and is served up in English - welcome to the new Europe. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Tommy D
Interesting
Although this is quite a slow film, and certainly not a HammerHorror vampire-fest, it is still pretty good, a good wwatch for a rainy afternoon. Read more
Published 9 months ago by B. Giles
Terrible
Considering the back story to this film I was expecting at least something watchable. As it was I got bored after 15 mins and turned it off after 45mins. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mr. M. AYRES
One of the worst films I have ever seen!
I don't know how anyone can rate this cheap and dodgy film! It starts with the worst and cheapest fight scenes I have ever seen and is followed with awful wigs, costumes, sets and... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Chloe W
Probably only a good one for Anna Friel fans
I bought this on account of the fact it said it was about the legendary Countess Dracula (or Elizabeth Bathory) however it ran well over two hours and I saw very little vampires. Read more
Published 11 months ago by el mariachi
BATHORY - VILLAIN OR VICTIM?
Watching this film almost reminded me of those re-enactment type documentaries we used to get shown at school (only with obviously more adult and graphic content). Read more
Published 12 months ago by markwilliamz
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