9. Fascination (1979)
Fascination was directed by French vampire maestro Jean Rollin. He has directed many erotic tinged horror movies over the years and for my money - as a Rollin fan girl - Fascination is the best of all his movies. The film is interesting for featuring Hard Core Porn French Goddess Brigitte Lahaie in a straight (though kinky) acting role In an abattoir, some a la mode Parisian women gather to drink ox's blood for anemia. A thief takes refuge in a mansion looked after by two women - Eva and Elizabeth. They aren't scared by the thief and they are incredibly sexy and seductive. It so happens that they are part of a blood drinking cult of vampiric aristocrats. Lesbian sex scenes a go go (as per usual for a Jean Rollin movie), in all seriousness, this is Rollin at the peak of his directorial and creative powers. Rollin's films are instantly identifiable - like Jess Franco's and Dario Argento's - you can just tell you are watching a Rollin picture. The quality of acting is secondary to the physical beauty of his performers. Aesthetics are everything to Rollin. There are some striking images from the film - most notably a nearly naked Brigitte Lahaie wielding a giant scythe with a determined glint in her eye. The film has a slow leisurely pace and the viewer feels like they are peeking into Rollin's personal obsessions. I want to spread the Rollin cult, that's why I chose Fascination. That, and it just happens to be a mighty good horror film.