In Paris there have been several murders of young women. All of the women were drained of blood and all of them had the same blood type. The press refers to the killer as “The Vampire”. So far, the police have no clues as to who is responsible. Reporter Pierre Lantin (Dario Michaelis) becomes fascinated with the case and decides to investigate on his own.
Joseph (Paul Muller) is a minion for Professor Julian Du Grand (Antoine Balpetre). When he threatens to expose the Professor’s evil ways he is killed. The Professor is warned by the Du Grand matriarch, Margherita (Gianna Maria Canale), that should anyone find out about his experiments it will ruin him. Du Grand then fakes his own death. In his castle lair the Professor works on experiments to create life and reanimate the dead. One of his subjects is the now dead Joseph. Du Grand is searching for the secret to eternal life. To that end, another victim, Lorette Robert (Wandisa Guida) is kidnapped.
When Lantin doesn’t come up with anything new on the vampire stories, his boss assigns him to a new story. He tells Lantin to cover a ball that is being held at the Du Grand castle. Giselle Du Grand (Gianna Maria Canale) is known to the world as the niece of the Duchess Margherita. In reality she is the actual Margherita. Julian’s experiments have given her back her youth, but the effects are temporary. Julian still needs a continuous supply of young women to keep Giselle looking beautiful.
Giselle is in love with Lantin but the reporter is not interested in the entitled aristocrat. Lantin’s friend, Ronald Fontaine (Angelo Galassi), however, is madly in love with Giselle. When he tries to force himself on her, Giselle becomes angry. The strong emotion makes her revert back to being old. Giselle then kills Ronald. Lantin is suspicious when Ronald disappears, and he believes there is something evil going on at Du Grand castle. Convincing the police, however, may prove to be difficult.
“I Vampiri” AKA “The Devil's Commandment” (in America) AKA “Lust of the Vampire” (in Britain) was released in 1957 and was directed by Riccardo Freda. It is an Italian horror film and considered by most to be the first Italian horror movie done in the sound era. Mario Bava was the cinematographer. The American dubbed version of the film had some editing done and some additional scenes added.
Although the title makes the movie sound as if it is a vampire movie, it is more of a mad scientist film, and a good one. The premise isn’t new, even back then, but it is handled nicely. The performances are solid and Bava’s cinematography is outstanding. It adds a nice dimension to the film. The movie has a lot of gothic atmosphere as well as some interesting noir touches.
The character of the Countess Du Grand is loosely based on the real-life Elizabeth Bathory. Bathory was a Hungarian noblewoman who lived in the 15th and 16th centuries. She was an infamous serial killer who murdered hundreds of young women and bathed in their blood believing that she could maintain her youth and beauty. Since she was a noblewoman, she could not be given the death penalty. She was imprisoned in her castle and subsequently went insane.
Director Riccardo Freda has a cameo as an autopsy doctor.