Lust for a Vampire is a Hammer Horror film released in 1971. It is the second film in Hammer's Karnstein Trilogy, which also includes The Vampire Lovers (1970) and Twins of Evil (1971). The film is loosely based on Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu's novella Carmilla, which also inspired The Vampire Lovers.
The film takes place in 1830 and follows the Karnstein family, who use the blood of an innocent to raise the beautiful and seductive vampire, Marcilla (played by Yutte Stensgaard). Marcilla enrolls in a nearby finishing school, where she quickly begins seducing the young female students, including the headmaster's daughter, Laura (played by Pippa Steel).
Laura is initially skeptical of Marcilla's advances, but soon falls under her spell. Meanwhile, the headmaster, Mr. Giles Barton (played by Ralph Bates), is obsessed with Marcilla and hopes to become her disciple. He is aided in his quest by Richard Lestrange (played by Michael Johnson), a naive author who is equally besotted with Marcilla.
As Marcilla's reign of terror continues, Laura begins to suspect that something is amiss. She seeks the help of her father, General von Spielsdorf (played by Peter Cushing), who has experience dealing with vampires. Together, they attempt to stop Marcilla and the rest of the Karnstein family.
Lust for a Vampire was directed by Jimmy Sangster and written by Tudor Gates. It received mixed reviews upon release but has since become a cult classic among horror fans. The film's blend of Gothic horror, eroticism, and camp has made it a favorite of Hammer fans and lovers of schlock cinema alike.
