Thirst (1979)

On any other occasion, the sight of a man with a puffed up blonde perm would have me gleefully loving a movie, no matter how awful. And thankfully, Rod Hardy's achingly stunning 'Thirst' not only features such a character as one of several villains, but the film also offers a fascinating conspiracy tale about a disturbed cult obsessed with drinking human blood. But putting aside the plot for a moment, I have to comment on how the production is wonderfully trapped in its period, so immersed in late 70s culture that it actually becomes part of the film's charm. For me, the blonde perm baddie, who has deep, black circles around his eyes as if from a lack of sleep, and the big-mustachioed love-interest already make this Aussie horror drama a memorable piece always worth revisiting.

On a more serious note, Hardy's stylishly gothic film is an engrossing and bewitching blend of vampire folklore and surrealist sci-fi that loves wearing its love of horror cinema on its sleeve. The opening credits commence with our heroine Kate Davis (Chantal Contouri) slowly opening her eyes while the tumultuous music of Brian May, accompanied by an awesome funky bass riff, build the anticipation and suspense. Suddenly, she quickly sits up screaming as the camera pulls back, allowing the audience to discover she's awakened from a coffin inside a tomb with candles burning all around. The whole sequence could be something straight from a Hammer Films production — at any moment, Christopher Lee could walk in to greet his new bride. It's beautifully done, capturing our attention as the story flashes back to a few days earlier, revealing Kate's journey to the stone vault.

Compared to the opening, which wonderfully sets the stage for something phantasmagoric and dreamlike, the next few minutes are a bit on the slow side, introducing the dark clandestine organization and giving viewers glimpses of Kate's plush life. Once the story moves to the cult's secret compound where Kate is held captive, the narrative quickly spirals into a bizarre surreal nightmare as the leaders of The Brotherhood (Max Phipps, David Hemmings, Shirley Cameron and Henry Silva) reveal Kate is the direct descendant of Countess Elizabeth Báthory. In the sterile hospital-like facility known as the "dairy farm," the cult believes they have achieved a higher state of conscious through their consumption of human blood, which they harvest from brainwashed people. Because she's part of renowned ancestry of blood-drinkers, they want Kate to join the organization and unite her bloodline with another legendary lineage.

As offbeat and freakishly bizarre as that already sounds, for me, the moment that finally sold the movie and Hardy's talent is Kate's first attempt to escape, which occurs soon after everything is explained. As she tries diligently to refill a stolen truck with gasoline, cars heading to the compound are constantly driving by, and the suspense comes from not knowing which one will recognize her. Of course, someone finally does and returns Kate to the leaders, who induce Kate into a hallucinogenic coma-state where the film suddenly grows trippier than before. In her dreams, she revisits traumatic childhood memories, is disgusted by her fantasies with her boyfriend and endlessly haunted by the sight of blood. Throughout the entire sequence, we're never sure when she's dreaming, leaving a lasting effect for the remainder of the narrative.

With excellent production design by Jon Dowding and brilliant photography by Vincent Monton, 'Thirst' is an impressive vampire film that isn't exactly about vampires, as much as it's about a twisted, perverse cult. What I love best is that Hardy and his team are very patient with Kate's eventual downfall. Repulsed by the sight of blood, the organization and even the possibility she could be related to one of the world's most infamous serial killers, Kate doesn't easily accept her fate, continuously fighting what the leaders claim to be her innate instincts, a deep, devastating hunger for blood. And Contouri does marvelously in the role with a passionately aching disgust, making the thought of being a vampire unfathomable and undesirable. Hardy treats the subject matter with genuine seriousness but with a patience that allows the narrative to unfold at its own pace, making 'Thirst' a wonderfully entertaining vampire flick.

The Blu-ray: Vital Disc Stats

Severin Films brings 'Thirst' to Blu-ray as a two-disc combo pack: one a Region Free, BD25 while the other is a DVD-9. Both discs are housed inside a blue eco-elite case on opposing panels. At startup, the Blu-ray goes straight to a standard menu selection with a silent static screen.