Twins of Evil
Encyclopedia
Twins of Evil is a 1971 horror film by Hammer Film Productions
starring Peter Cushing
, with Damien Thomas
and the real-life twins
and former Playboy Playmates Mary
and Madeleine Collinson
.
It is the third film of The Karnstein Trilogy
, based on the vampire tale Carmilla
by Sheridan Le Fanu
. The film has the least resemblance to the novel and adds a witchfinding theme to the vampire story. It is sometimes seen as a prequel to The Vampire Lovers
, the first film in the Karnstein Trilogy, as the set design and costumes give the film an 18th Century look and feel.
Much of the interest of the film revolves around the contrasting evil and good natures of two beautiful sisters, Frieda and Maria Gellhorn. Unlike the previous two entries in the series, this film contains only a brief vampire lesbian
element.
to Karnstein in Central Europe
to live with their uncle Gustav Weil. Weil is a stern puritan
and leader of the fanatical witch-hunting 'Brotherhood'. Both twins resent their uncle's sternness and one of them
, Frieda, looks for a way to escape. Resenting her uncle, she becomes fascinated by the local Count Karnstein, who has the reputation of being "a wicked man".
Count Karnstein, who enjoys the Emperor's favour and thus remains untouched by the Brotherhood, is indeed wicked and interested in Satanism and Black Magic
. Trying to emulate his evil ancestors, he murder
s a girl as a human sacrifice
, calling forth Countess Mircalla Karnstein from her grave. Mircalla turns the Count into a vampire
.
Frieda, following an invitation from the Count, steals away to the castle
at night, while Maria covers for her absence. In the castle, the Count transforms Frieda into a vampire, offering her a beautiful young chained victim. Returning home, Frieda threatens Maria to keep covering for her nightly excursions, but secretly fearing she might bite her sister.
Meanwhile Maria becomes interested in the handsome young teacher, Anton, who is initially infatuated with the more mysterious Frieda. Anton has studied what he calls "superstition", but becomes convinced of the existence of vampires when his sister falls victim to one. One night, when Frieda attacks a member of the Brotherhood, she is captured by her uncle and put in jail. While the Brotherhood debates the vampire woman's fate, the Count and his servants kidnap Maria and exchange her for Frieda in the cell. Anton goes to see Maria, not knowing that she is actually Frieda. She tries to seduce him, but he sees her lack of reflection in a mirror and repels her with a cross. Anton rushes to rescue Maria from burning. Maria kisses a cross, revealing her innocence.
Weil now listens to Anton's advice on the proper ways to fight vampires, and the two men lead the Brotherhood and villagers to Karnstein Castle to confront the Count. The Count and Frieda attempt to escape, but they are surprised by Weil, who beheads Frieda. Maria is captured by the Count, who uses her as a shield. Weil challenges the Count and is killed, giving Anton the opportunity to pierce the distracted Count's heart with a spear. Anton and Maria are united as Karnstein crumbles to corruption.
Hammer Film Productions
Hammer Film Productions is a film production company based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1934, the company is best known for a series of Gothic "Hammer Horror" films made from the mid-1950s until the 1970s. Hammer also produced science fiction, thrillers, film noir and comedies and in later...
starring Peter Cushing
Peter Cushing
Peter Wilton Cushing, OBE was an English actor, known for his many appearances in Hammer Films, in which he played the handsome but sinister scientist Baron Frankenstein and the vampire hunter Dr. Van Helsing, amongst many other roles, often appearing opposite Christopher Lee, and occasionally...
, with Damien Thomas
Damien Thomas
Damien Thomas is a British actor noted for his roles in British films and television, such as his role as Richard Mason in the 1983 BBC production of Jane Eyre....
and the real-life twins
TWINS
Two Wide-Angle Imaging Neutral-Atom Spectrometers are a pair of NASA instruments aboard two United States National Reconnaissance Office satellites in Molniya orbits. TWINS was designed to provide stereo images of the Earth's ring current. The first instrument, TWINS-1, was launched aboard USA-184...
and former Playboy Playmates Mary
Mary Collinson
Mary Collinson is a model and actress . She was chosen as Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month in October 1970, together with her twin sister Madeleine Collinson...
and Madeleine Collinson
Madeleine Collinson
Madeleine Collinson is a model and actress. She was chosen as Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month in October, 1970 , together with her twin sister Mary Collinson...
.
It is the third film of The Karnstein Trilogy
The Karnstein Trilogy
The Karnstein Trilogy of vampire films were produced by Hammer Films, and were notable at the time for being somewhat daring in explicitly depicting lesbian themes. All three films were scripted by Tudor Gates. They are related by vampires of the noble Karnstein family, and their seat Castle...
, based on the vampire tale Carmilla
Carmilla
Carmilla is a Gothic novella by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. First published in 1872, it tells the story of a young woman's susceptibility to the attentions of a female vampire named Carmilla...
by Sheridan Le Fanu
Sheridan Le Fanu
Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu was an Irish writer of Gothic tales and mystery novels. He was the leading ghost-story writer of the nineteenth century and was central to the development of the genre in the Victorian era....
. The film has the least resemblance to the novel and adds a witchfinding theme to the vampire story. It is sometimes seen as a prequel to The Vampire Lovers
The Vampire Lovers
The Vampire Lovers is a 1970 British Hammer Horror film directed by Roy Ward Baker and starring Peter Cushing, Ingrid Pitt, Madeline Smith, Kate O'Mara, and Jon Finch. It is based on the J. Sheridan Le Fanu novella Carmilla and is part of the so-called Karnstein Trilogy of films. The other films in...
, the first film in the Karnstein Trilogy, as the set design and costumes give the film an 18th Century look and feel.
Much of the interest of the film revolves around the contrasting evil and good natures of two beautiful sisters, Frieda and Maria Gellhorn. Unlike the previous two entries in the series, this film contains only a brief vampire lesbian
Lesbian vampire
Lesbian vampirism is a trope in 20th century exploitation film that has its roots in Joseph Sheridan le Fanu's novella Carmilla about the predatory love of a female vampire for a young woman :...
element.
Plot
Maria and Frieda, recently orphaned identical twin teenage girls, move from VeniceVenice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
to Karnstein in Central Europe
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
to live with their uncle Gustav Weil. Weil is a stern puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
and leader of the fanatical witch-hunting 'Brotherhood'. Both twins resent their uncle's sternness and one of them
Evil twin
The evil twin is an antagonist found in many different fictional genres. They are physical copies of protagonists, but with radically inverted moralities. In filmed entertainment, they can have obvious physical differences with the protagonist—such as facial hair, eyepatches, scars or distinctive...
, Frieda, looks for a way to escape. Resenting her uncle, she becomes fascinated by the local Count Karnstein, who has the reputation of being "a wicked man".
Count Karnstein, who enjoys the Emperor's favour and thus remains untouched by the Brotherhood, is indeed wicked and interested in Satanism and Black Magic
Black magic
Black magic is the type of magic that draws on assumed malevolent powers or is used with the intention to kill, steal, injure, cause misfortune or destruction, or for personal gain without regard to harmful consequences. As a term, "black magic" is normally used by those that do not approve of its...
. Trying to emulate his evil ancestors, he murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
s a girl as a human sacrifice
Human sacrifice
Human sacrifice is the act of killing one or more human beings as part of a religious ritual . Its typology closely parallels the various practices of ritual slaughter of animals and of religious sacrifice in general. Human sacrifice has been practised in various cultures throughout history...
, calling forth Countess Mircalla Karnstein from her grave. Mircalla turns the Count into a vampire
Vampire
Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
.
Frieda, following an invitation from the Count, steals away to the castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
at night, while Maria covers for her absence. In the castle, the Count transforms Frieda into a vampire, offering her a beautiful young chained victim. Returning home, Frieda threatens Maria to keep covering for her nightly excursions, but secretly fearing she might bite her sister.
Meanwhile Maria becomes interested in the handsome young teacher, Anton, who is initially infatuated with the more mysterious Frieda. Anton has studied what he calls "superstition", but becomes convinced of the existence of vampires when his sister falls victim to one. One night, when Frieda attacks a member of the Brotherhood, she is captured by her uncle and put in jail. While the Brotherhood debates the vampire woman's fate, the Count and his servants kidnap Maria and exchange her for Frieda in the cell. Anton goes to see Maria, not knowing that she is actually Frieda. She tries to seduce him, but he sees her lack of reflection in a mirror and repels her with a cross. Anton rushes to rescue Maria from burning. Maria kisses a cross, revealing her innocence.
Weil now listens to Anton's advice on the proper ways to fight vampires, and the two men lead the Brotherhood and villagers to Karnstein Castle to confront the Count. The Count and Frieda attempt to escape, but they are surprised by Weil, who beheads Frieda. Maria is captured by the Count, who uses her as a shield. Weil challenges the Count and is killed, giving Anton the opportunity to pierce the distracted Count's heart with a spear. Anton and Maria are united as Karnstein crumbles to corruption.
Cast
- Peter CushingPeter CushingPeter Wilton Cushing, OBE was an English actor, known for his many appearances in Hammer Films, in which he played the handsome but sinister scientist Baron Frankenstein and the vampire hunter Dr. Van Helsing, amongst many other roles, often appearing opposite Christopher Lee, and occasionally...
as Gustav Weil - Kathleen ByronKathleen ByronKathleen Byron was a British actress of stage, screen and television.-Early life:Byron was born Kathleen Elizabeth Fell in West Ham – now in the London Borough of Newham...
as Katy Weil - Mary CollinsonMary CollinsonMary Collinson is a model and actress . She was chosen as Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month in October 1970, together with her twin sister Madeleine Collinson...
as Maria Gellhorn - Madeleine CollinsonMadeleine CollinsonMadeleine Collinson is a model and actress. She was chosen as Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month in October, 1970 , together with her twin sister Mary Collinson...
as Frieda Gellhorn - David WarbeckDavid WarbeckDavid Warbeck was a New Zealand actor best known for his film roles in Europe.-Career and move into Italian cinema:...
as Anton Hoffer - Damien ThomasDamien ThomasDamien Thomas is a British actor noted for his roles in British films and television, such as his role as Richard Mason in the 1983 BBC production of Jane Eyre....
as Count Karnstein - Katya WyethKatya WyethKatya Wyeth is a German-born model and actress notable for her roles in several classic horror films of the 1960s and '70s. Her name sometimes appears as 'Katya Wyath' or 'Kathja Wyeth'....
as Countess Mircalla - Roy StewartRoy StewartRoy Stewart , originally from Jamaica, began his career as a stuntman and went on to work in film and television, at a time when there were few working black actors....
as Joachim - Isobel BlackIsobel BlackIsobel Amy Black is a British actress who is noted for her roles on film and television. She is the daughter of the late screenwriter Ian Stuart Black...
as Ingrid Hoffer - Harvey HallHarvey HallHarvey L. Hall is the current mayor of Bakersfield, California, serving his third term, having last been re-elected in June 2008. Hall was first elected in 2000, and first re-elected in 2004...
as Franz - Alex ScottAlex Scott (actor)Alex Scott is an Australian–British television actor best known for his appearances in British television productions of the 1960s, including The Avengers, Danger Man, The Saint and the final episode of Randall and Hopkirk .He made over 60 appearances on British TV between 1955 and the 1990s but...
as Hermann - Dennis PriceDennis PriceDennis Price was an English actor, remembered for his suave screen roles, particularly Louis Mazzini in Kind Hearts and Coronets, and for his portrayal of the omniscient valet Jeeves in 1960s television adaptations of P. G...
as Dietrich - Sheelah Wilcox as Lady in Coach
- Inigo JacksonInigo JacksonInigo Jackson was a British actor who appeared in films and television. He was christened Anthony Michael Jackson ....
as Woodman - Judy MathesonJudy Matheson-Biography:Judy Matheson began her career in 1967 with The Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company, touring USA, & Europe, in 3 of Shakespeare's plays. She was in the TV series City 68, "Spindoe",and several other Granada TV series. Her first movie, with Gregory Peck, was The Most Dangerous Man in the World...
as Woodman's Daughter - Kirsten LindholmKirsten LindholmKirsten Lindholm, born Kirsten Lindholm Andreassen on 1 September 1943 in Odense, Denmark, was a model and a film actress in Hammer horror movies, in which she first appeared as Kirsten Betts...
as Young Girl at Stake - Luan PetersLuan PetersLuan Peters , also known as Karol Keyes, is an English actress.Born as Carol Hirsch, she made her stage debut in a pantomime aged four, then went on to win a drama scholarship at aged 16 after a performance of Twelfth Night...
as Gerta - Peter Thompson as Gaoler
Production
- Both Collinson twins' voices were dubbed.
- Ingrid PittIngrid PittIngrid Pitt was an actress best known for her work in horror films of the 1960s and 1970s.-Background:Pitt was born Ingoushka Petrov in Warsaw, Poland to a German father of Russian descent and a Polish Jewish mother. During World War II she and her family were imprisoned in a concentration camp...
was offered the part of Countess Mircalla but refused. - The same sets were used for Vampire CircusVampire CircusVampire Circus is a 1972 British horror film directed by Robert Young for Hammer Film Productions. It stars Adrienne Corri, Thorley Walters and Anthony Higgins . The story concerns a travelling carnival whose vampiric artistes prey on the children of a 19th-century Austrian village...
. - Harvey Hall and Kirsten Lindholm appear in all three films of the Karnstein trilogy, although in different roles in each one. Peter Cushing also played one of the leads in the first, The Vampire LoversThe Vampire LoversThe Vampire Lovers is a 1970 British Hammer Horror film directed by Roy Ward Baker and starring Peter Cushing, Ingrid Pitt, Madeline Smith, Kate O'Mara, and Jon Finch. It is based on the J. Sheridan Le Fanu novella Carmilla and is part of the so-called Karnstein Trilogy of films. The other films in...
, and Luan Peters, who plays a small role in this film, also appeared in the second film, Lust for a VampireLust for a VampireLust For a Vampire is a 1971 British Hammer Horror film directed by Jimmy Sangster, starring Yutte Stensgaard, Michael Johnston and Barbara Jefford. It is the second film in the so-called Karnstein Trilogy loosely based on the J. Sheridan Le Fanu novella Carmilla...
. - The original film included a short scene which is now edited out, in which the evil twin approaches their uncle. The scene is out of place as their uncle is busy burning the other sister; somehow he teleports back home and the evil twin gives him a show. Cut out for American audiences and possibly to maintain story line continuity, the original scene was aired on public television in the 1980s.