Twins of Evil

The evil that men do.

The final part of Hammer Films Karnstein Trilogy is in keeping with what made the studios output so readily embraced by the horror faithful. Based on characters created by Sheridan Le Fanu, Hammer take one of their vampire movies and add puritan witch- finding into the mix as well.

Upon the death of their parents identical twins Maria and Frieda Gellhorn are relocated to Karnstein in Central Europe to live with their Uncle Gustav Weil. Weil is a stern puritan who leads a fanatical bunch of witch-hunters known as the Brotherhood, this is a problem because the twins are going through sexual awakenings. Opposing the Brotherhood is the aristocracy, headed by Count Karnstein, a man of debauchery who is soon to sell h...

Great Gothic horror ambiance, good cast, magnificent score, so-so story

Orphaned twin sisters (Madeleine & Mary Collinson) are forced to move from Venice to Styria, Austria, to live with their puritan uncle (Peter Cushing), whos hell-bent on hunting down witches and burning them at the stake. One of the sisters, Frieda (Madeleine), refuses to tolerate her uncles legalistic abuse and is drawn to the diabolic hedonism happening at nearby Karnstein Castle. Once Count Karnstein (Damien Thomas) performs a satanic ritual that resurrects his vampiric ancestor, Mircalla, and he is converted to the undead, he intends to do the same with Frieda.

Twins of Evil (1971) is the third entry in Hammers so-called Karnstein Trilogy, named after...

What's quite sad about this film is the presence of Dennis Price - one of my favourite British comedy actors. He offers so little to this vampire thriller and it's a real shame that he is now reduced to bit parts in which he hardly leaves his chair! Anyway, the gist of the film sees the twin nieces of the zealous priest "Weil" (Peter Cushing) arrive in the village that he rather puritanically rules with his council. "Maria" and "Frieda" (Mary & Madeleine Collinson) are used to a freer style of living than that offered by their uncle and his wife "Katy" (Kathleen Byron) and the latter is soon fairly easily pickings for the local Lothario "Count Karnstein" (Damien Thomas). Thing is, there are secrets abounding in this tiny community and one o...