Twins of Evil (1971)

When Hammer decided to do horror films it pretty much went for a formula of boobs and blood from the outset.  By the 1970s the amount one could show of both had increased.  Even so, by the dawn of that decade, the films made by the famous British studio had started to become a bit old fashioned.  Even adding some lipstick lesbianism and the occasional full-frontal shot felt a bit odd and stodgy in a climate where independent filmmaking was constantly pushing the envelope and even pornographic films were becoming mainstream.

That doesn't mean the movies they were making were bad.  Many were just out of step with the time and, over 50 years later, it doesn't matter as much.  While the classic Hammer movies will always be the ones from the 1950s and 1960s, the studio's desperation to find acceptance in a decade that offered much more artistic freedom led to some great b-movies, including Twins of Evil, the conclusion of the Karnstein trilogy.

After the death of their parents, identical twins Maria (Mary Collinson) and Frieda (Madeleine Collinson) are sent from Venice to the rural German town of Karnstein to live with their uncle Gustav Weil (Peter Cushing) and aunt Katy (Kathleen Byron).  Gustav is the leader of a religious sect intent on ridding the region of evil by burning anyone alive he considers in league with the devil, which typically is any attractive woman living on her own.  His reign of terror is opposed by someone equally amoral, Count Karnstein (Damien Thomas), who openly worships Satan and holds black masses at his castle.

The more worldly twins chafe under their uncle's oppressive nature, with Frieda, already craving carnal delights, seeking what Karnstein offers.  The region is currently under siege by a vampire which turns out to be Karenstein's ancestor Mircalla (Katya Wyeth), who in turn bestows the gift on the Count.  Frieda, already inclined toward evil, is changed as well when she becomes Karnstein's consort.  Gustav soon discovers what has happened and, torn between family obligations and ridding the world of evil, must make some hard decisions.  Meanwhile, a choir teacher named Anton (David Warbeck) has fallen for Maria and hopes to aid in ending the Count's rule as well. 

The Karnsteins, and in particular Mircalla, are based on Sheridan Le Fanu's novella Carmilla.  As with most of the movies using the story as a starting there is little that is recognizable.  The story is famous for having hints of lesbianism, something one of the other films in the trilogy, The Vampire Lovers, teases a bit.  Though they did appear in Playboy together Hammer was in no way willing to cross certain lines with the Collinson twins, though they were cast both because the producers failed to find a lookalike for Kate O'Mara, who was originally supposed to play Frieda, and also to get male viewers in the theater.  They did save the production money as it meant not having to use trick photography.

The story itself is pretty wild, combining vampires and witchburnings, with the Collinsons doing an okay job in the acting department, although they are dubbed.  The major reasons why they got the parts are on display and heaving throughout, with only Madeleine providing any on-screen nudity.  Peter Cushing does his usual job of taking any role and making it look like it's the most important of his career, while Damien Thomas delightfully chews the scenery as the evil count.  

Like most Hammer films this doesn't overstay its welcome and, given its budget and that despite all the violence and titillation it still feels like a movie five years behind the times, Twins of Evil is still much better than it should be.  The middle part doesn't drag as bad as many similar films and the clash of different tones in the film work to make it even more enjoyable.  It still has that quality of sleaze mixed with class that the studio's classic pictures always had.

Twins of Evil (1971)

Time: 87 minutes

Starring: Peter Cushing, Mary Collinson, Madeleine Collinson, Damien Thomas, David Warbeck

Director: John Hough