When the grave of Catherine is disturbed by a chemical spill, the young woman, who has been dead for two years, awakens from her tomb with a thirst for blood and a desire to return to her home. Catherine's thirst controls her decision-making but her memories of her old friendship with Helen are the one thing that seemingly break-through this unquenchable blood lust. While The Living Dead Girl is one of Jean Rollin's lesser efforts in terms of atmosphere, the film has got the be one of his most violent films. There are some absolutely grotesque sequences throughout as Catherine quenches her blood lust, primarily by going for the victim's throats, with projectile results. That isn't to say that Living Dead Girl doesn't have more to offer than gore, as I personally found this to be one of Rollins more emotionally affecting films. Catherine is such tragic character and the relationship between both her and Helen is what elevates the film on an emotional level. It's clear that they love each other very much, with Helen doing whatever it takes to help her friend quench her thirst. One of my favorite sequences has to be when Helen brings back the first victim for Catherine. During the murder sequence, Rollin repeatedly inter-cuts back and forth between the actual murder and Helen, who is upstairs, showing the conflicting emotions and terror which Helen feels even though she loves Catherine very much. Towards the end of the film Catherine becomes stronger at fighting the urge to kill, though she knows there is only one way in which she can guarantee she won't become a monster. This leads to a fantastic ending, much like all of Jean Rollins' films, in which the results are beautifully tragic, seeing Catherine and Helen share the same fate. 8/10
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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