Lemora - A Child's Tale Of The Supernatural

"Lemora: A Child's Tale of the Supernatural" is one of the best vampire films I've seen in a long time. The fact that it escaped my notice this long aggravates me to no end. Perhaps the fact that it was banned upon release in 1975 by The Catholic League of Decency (a more fascist name I could not imagine) in spite of it's mere PG rating and was barely seen in the United States until the mid-90's has led to the obscurity of what is easily one of the best female vampire stories ever told onscreen. It's dark, dreary, surreal, somewhat perverse, and creepy as all hell. Fellow vampire fanatics, this is not to be missed under any circumstance.Our tale begins with a beautiful 13 year old girl singing in her church. Her father is a notorious gangster who murdered her mother, her reverend has taken her in but is having trouble resisting temptation, the townsfolk are talking. One night she receives a mysterious letter promising to take her to her ill father, who has been missing for months. So out into the world young innocent Lila goes and all she sees is perversion and violence. She gets on the bus as instructed by the letter and is taken to a house in a forest filled with deformed bestial ghouls. Within the house is an old woman servant, a large number of creepy laughing children, and her hostess, a pale woman named Lemora. No shortage of mysteries for our adolescent protagonist to unravel here.The first time we glimpse Lemora, she appears as a dark hooded feminine figure with only her contemptuously smiling mouth visible. This is how you introduce a lady vampire, people. The overall look of this film is so dark it gives Tim Burton nightmares. The whole world seems tinted with blue and the naive blonde girl venturing through it gives a definite Alice in Wonderland feel to the story. Except Alice never had snarling feral humanoid beasts figting for the privilege of feasting upon her or an enamored lesbian vampire bathe her. The whole feel of this film just screams creepy.I feel that this film has a bit of kinship with fellow cult classic  The Company of Wolves . While that film used lycanthropy as a metaphor for puberty this one uses vampirsim in much the same way. The themes of both films heavily suggest a transformation from the innocence of youth and exploring one's self to an adult predator. Both are dark fairytales about young women venturing out into the world, finding it harsh and ugly, and eventually making it their own. But unlike Wolves, Lemora doesn't lose itself in inscrutable symbolistic imagery and plays very much as a straightforward literal story which makes it much more watchable for casual viewers.The film looks amazing considering how dark it is and brings to mind some of Argento's best work. The film is must-see material for horror fans and is absolutely one of the best vampire films to come out of the 70's, which is saying a whole lot. The ethereal atmosphere, pedophilic overtones, and black implications of humanity make this a bold classic that I am very happy to see it return from the dead. Like the title character, stories like this one are unkillable and eternal. I wish I could say this was a perfect film, but sadly the third act has some substantial pacing issues that keep it from my infinitesimal gallery of 5 star vamp flicks. But it's not far off.4/12 stars, rounded up for originality.

I am keen on "older" vampire movies, before they started being shot on videotape. Hence, I was surprised that I never heard of "Lemora..." First off, even after reading the mostly rave reviews about it, all I could think about was "hmmm, isn't a lemora some kind of eel?"; as it was, I couldn't resist all the glowing reviews of this film. Upon seeing it, I can't help but think that the majority of these reviews were, indeed, based upon nostalgia. Viewers with any perspective whatsoever will immediately see this as something that would have had a memorable effect on any youngster who may have seen it. In fact, as I've learned, it has a memorable effect on ANYone who sees it. I'll give it this much: it is u-n-i-q-u-e! The oddest effect it had on me was sleep inducement. And that is not necessarly a "bad" thing, in this case. I find it almost impossible to remain awake throughout this whole film, but not especially because it is boring (it is not, though it isn't exactly "exciting"). It creates this wave of hypnotic haze over me, matched only by Dreyer's "Vampyr"... also find it hard or impossible to stay awake during that one. These are the only 2 films which effect me this way, so take that for whatever it means (it must mean something). Among many others, I consider "Vampyr" to be a landmark of genius, due to it's unquestionably eerie imagery, certainly not for it's driving narrative. Perhaps the same can be said of "Lemora", as I certainly DO enjoy most of the imagery. For me, this film, like "Vampyr", is a series of (to me) beautiful, haunting paintings, with the story being only secondary. Because the story itself is quite abstract (yet easily "understood") and can be taken in several ways. It is, in the end, HOKEY. But it is endearing to all but the most ignorant "gol, that ain't SCARY, there ain't no BLOOD!" horror fan, even though you may have to watch it at least twice to become enchanted by it. I would say that it IS a must-see, though it is not a favourite of mine by any means. If not for the oozing originality and Bava-esque cinematography, or the quite attractive (can't believe nobody has yet mentioned the "bathtub nipple" sequence) Cheryl Smith (who sho'nuff don't look like no 13 year old!), I'd be giving this a 3 or even 2. But it is unforgettable and original enough to warrant at least a 4. The woman that plays Lemora herself is equal parts enigmatic and awkward, perhaps creating an actual character rather than a caricature? One of the indelible images of the film is her red-splotched cheekbones (like that rash/disease called rosacea or something like that)...intentional, or did she really have that affliction? I'll also go along with what others said, that it certainly doesn't REALLY look like a '70s film, exactly, being meant as the 30s (in other words, no goofy fashions, hair, or music).Another forwarning to those who are influenced by the many glowing reviews: the "anti-religion" and "lesbianism" factors are a lot more subtle than blatant, but they are there. A flawed, low-budget film that benefits from gorgeous photography, some memorably creepy(as well as a few ludicrous)characters/scenes, and a stamp of originality that elevates it to that "must-see" status. And if you really, really, really like gloppy-faced forest-dwelling malformed beast men who act like those rowdy kids who ruined your junior-high Christmas pageant, it is ESSENTIAL viewing(yes, like many other reviewers I also am perplexed as to what they are meant to be)!

After reading some rave reviews for this film, I have to admit to feeling a bit let down by the experience. On the credit side, the seemingly low budget production was more atmospheric thriller than horror, the make-up and special effects looking a bit, well, made up and false. Fans of gore will not find much here (the film is rated PG) as the main effect is tension and finding out if the would-be child victim, Lila Lee (Cheryl Smith) will fall for the rapacious vampiress, Lemora (Lesley Gilb). The main problem for me was the lighting - or lack of it. I realise that vampires only come out at night but compare this film to a Dracula film from Hammer Horror and the difference is obvious.The DVD reviewed here is from Synapse Films and is NTSC Region 0. Run time is 85 minutes and aspect ratio is 1.78:1. Extras are audio commentaries by Richard Blackburn, Robert Fern and Lesley Gilb; a stills gallery which includes rare continuity photos; and bonus trailers. For those with a computer with a DVD drive, there is an Adobe PDF format of the original shooting script. There are also liner notes.

Though ostensibly a `vampire' flick, `Lemora' is so much more than that most degraded of labels could possibly suggest. Teen Lila Lee (Cheryl `Rainbeaux' Smith, playing it discomfortingly younger than her genuinely young age at the time) is subject of repressed but not entirely unreciprocated desires from her priestly guardian. However, in searching for her murderous runaway father, she finds herself in a realm of terror and possibility at the hands of blood-sucking Lemora, dubious vampiress whose faintly sordid advances may actually prove decidedly liberating.First things first. This wonderful piece of zero-budget 70s horror is primarily an atmosphere piece, an absolute triumph of creativity over funding. It will absolutely ingrain itself in your memory in a way few films can manage, its skilful manipulation of mood and mise-en-scene conjuring up a realm of adolescent nightmare rarely equalled. The journey by bus to Lemora's domain, besieged by feral, degenerate undead horrors, will simply etch itself in your mind and take residence there, the brilliant juxtaposition of the archaic, supernatural and the mundane being extremely well-balanced. Cheryl Smith is excellent, a part-innocent, part all-too-aware captivating woman-child at the mercy of entirely predatory Freudian forces who nonetheless fights the good fight against what some would call the inevitable. Symbolic, dream-like and mesmerising, Lemora is not to be forgotten in a hurry.The DVD itself is of superb quality. Excellent liner notes and as good a transfer as you could hope for, `Lemora' looks great. In fact, this film is not a million miles way from `Near Dark' in its near-perpetually tenebrous setting, yet this disc gives clarity and and definition to those shapes that loom out of the near-eternal night in which this movie dwells. Given this film's meagre budget, it is remarkable how evocative it seems today, standing as a real testament to the film-maker's vision and creativity.In short then, if you appreciate mood, poetry and atmosphere in your horror, this would be an excellent addition to your collection.

Strange how I have never come across the film before. I thought I was fully conversant with most horror films in this particular genre. It was a very brave attempt on an obviously limited budget but it still had more gumption than most Hollywood-type piffle! Well done the director, cast and distributor. Oh, and the highlight for me was seeing a Citroen Traction Avant in the opening scenes - how quaint and a nice reminder of my former life! But that's another story...

This movie is definitely low budget, so don't expect too much. But it establishes a creepy atmosphere, and is worth a watch.

Por que es una excelente pelicula lemora de terror es un clasico un culto de pelicula terrorifica como pocas consigen