challenge_everything
Active Member
I always thought the usual name for that movie was Blood for Dracula? Good movie either way.
I've been thinking about this and you're right. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of medieval horror. But it's out there, you just have to do some digging. A lot of the movies I'm thinking of are only partially set in medieval times or not even straight horror flicks but they capture a lot of the same stylings or atmosphere.
So first one that pops in my head is the The Church (1989) aka La Chiesa.
Only the beginning of the film, like maybe the first 10 minutes is set in medieval times, but it sets the tone and leaves an impression.
In medieval Germany, a band of Teutonic Knights massacre a village of supposed devil-worshippers and bury their bodies underground, building a gothic cathedral over the mass grave as a means to contain the demonic evil within.
Hundreds of years later a young librarian unleashes the evil within, by removing a rock in the catacombs . Series of events occur meanwhile, everybody just does not seem to be the same. Father Gus is the only one not possessed, he must save the city from becoming a pandemonium, he must find the ancient secret of the church so it can crumble to pieces......
This was directed by Michael Sovai and it's an Italian made film. So that just means it's batshit crazy. Most of its almost nonsensical, but it's more of a psychological horror film made up of heavy atmosphere and location, and nightmare imagery.
Feels medieval throughout because of the gothic church setting. So that's why I'd recommend it. Have a bunch more but already typed more than I wanted to, plus I'm on a touch screen
I always thought the usual name for that movie was Blood for Dracula? Good movie either way.
there’s a medieval horror list on letterboxd, doesn’t look super comprehensive though: https://letterboxd.com/tobe_whooper/list/medieval-horror-films/
Finally watched William Lustig's "Vigilante". I really like it. Fred Williamson was on top form and it was great to see the late actors Richard Bright and Joe Spinell in memorable roles. The violence was nasty and realistic While not quite as memorable as "Maniac", "Vigilante" still leaves a sour taste in the mouth with it's bleak view of life and the American justice system.
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Vigilante is great. For another gritty film and performance from Robert Forster check out Walking the Edge. Joe Spinell is in it also.
EDIT: also Jay Chattaway did the score/soundtrack for both Vigilante and Walking the Edge