The Devil's Wedding Night (1973)

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Italian cinema brings to mind Federico Fellini* and his ilk. Connoisseurs of this probably don't know that Italy spent the 1970s releasing a series of sleazy horror flicks. "Il plenilunio delle vergini" ("The Devil's Wedding Night" in English) is probably most readily available as part of Elvira's Movie Macabre. The Mistress of the Dark spends the whole time commenting on the movie's lack of an obvious plot...and then her Auntie Virus comes and tries to steal the show! The movie itself - about a castle in the Carpathians to which a collection of five virgins gets drawn and never seen again - is fairly enjoyable. There's no shortage of sex and gore. In a way, these horror flicks hearken back to Italy's famous paintings showing scenes of torture and suffering.I don't know if it's possible to obtain this movie on its own. It's the sort of movie that only Elvira, "Mystery Science Theater 3000" or Joe Bob Briggs could present. It's some authentic good times. There's a reason why I got Elvira's autograph at Wizard World last year.Anyway, enjoy Miss E's presentation. Unpleasant dreams!*As it turns out, Cassandra Peterson (Elvira's portrayer) had a brief appearance in Fellini's "Roma".

Of course this movie is not a great one but you need to see it in its perspective. Within its genre this movie still simply remains a good and original watch, that will most definitely please most of the Italian horror movie lovers out there.To me, this was a movie that was all about its atmosphere. It's a pretty odd movie to look at and follow but it's all very captivating. The entire movie had a dream like feeling and look to it, which was something I particularly liked about this movie.The story...well, it's all very secondary to the movie really. It's all about the way it gets presented and looks. The story in itself is nothing special really, or anything that makes you care about the movie, or for any of the characters that are in it. It's also quite slow moving at times and it definitely takes its time with some of its moments. Not that I minded this very much though. It actually added to the moody and hypnotic atmosphere and style of the overall movie. Horror-wise, this movie is also being very typical for an Italian '70's production, meaning that it's also a quite sleazy at times, in terms of its nudity and female characters. I still always amazes me that vampire movies so often have an erotic, lesbian undertone to it. It's not a movie with any scares in it but it's one that constantly builds- and relies on its atmosphere instead, which is something perfectly dark, Gothic and weird, in a good and original way.Something that is also really worth mentioning is its musical score by Vasili Kojucharov. No idea who this guy was but his music almost sounded too good and classical for a movie of this sort. It's true that you need to be into the genre to fully appreciate it but to me it was a great, atmospheric, little Italian genre film.7/10 http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

"The Devil's Wedding Night" is a perfect example of everything that bugs me about Eurohorror. It boasts every cruddy cliché you can think of--magic rings and amulets, chanting Satanists, goofy-looking fake vampire teeth, and nudity out the wazoo--but has none of the style or atmosphere of, say, a Mario Bava film. Nothing inherently wrong with nudity, of course...but director Luigi Batzella pads this clunker with too much of it, hoping that T&A will prevent the viewer from dwelling on the lack of scares. No such luck. Mark Damon (who looks as if he'd done some hard living after starring in "House of Usher" and "Black Sabbath" a decade earlier) plays twin brothers Franz and Karl, both of whom are menaced by a beautiful but sinister countess (Rosalba Neri, who appears here as 'Sara Bay') in her gloomy castle. The countess has a scowling lesbian servant and a bald, apparently mute henchman whose cuspids are each about a foot long; eventually, some naked virgins and guys in executioners' hoods show up for an ill-defined, Black Mass- type ceremony which takes place once every fifty years. Or something. None of it makes a hell of a lot of sense. If you're not picky about your horror, or if you just want to have a good laugh, I guess "The Devil's Wedding Night" is an acceptable way to pass eighty minutes of your life. Everyone else is advised to steer clear.

If Rosalba Neri's (credited as Sara Bay) seductive charms are plenty enough to tease on your vital mammaries, then you must see this one. That's why Italian horror movies such as THE DEVIL'S WEDDING NIGHT focus more on sex to compliment the genre. Eroticism aside, it isn't all too horrifying. The classic vampire-ritual movies had their place in the theaters long ago, but it's turned into pure camp now. There's hardly anything in here to please the most die-hard horror sickies other than its erotic nature, despite some occasional dark chills. The most popular scene is Neri rising naked while drenched with blood. The rest is strictly exploitation fare. See this only if you have the strong desire to become addicted to seductive beauty. Otherwise, it's just plain outdated with nothing but old-fashioned vampire fun and plenty of sex to see.