As the above poster makes clear this is a film rife for misunderstanding. A film containing nudity, gunplay, "the infected" (living zombie types) and gore may sound like a tacky exploitation film but this is rather different. Perhaps even more so than Rollin's beaches and vampires softcore flicks, this is horror as art. The story is far more accessible than Rollin's other horror films due to the lack of clumsy surrealistic efforts, but nonetheless the film seems more of an art-film for this.
The film is stunningly beautiful. The bleak desolation of the landscapes and ancient stone villages are lovingly shot with muted colours and Borowczyk-like static camera work. The story is almost incidental - this film is in love with the landscape and the unease it can generate. The lead actor is perfectly cast - the breath-takingly beautiful Marie-Georges Pascal who gives a fine performance expressing confusion, fear, desperation and collapse into insanity with power and certainty. Sad to think that she would commit suicide only 7 years after this superb performance. Pascal seems at one with Rollin's intent and is the anchor at the centre of the piece as chaos unfolds around her.
There is some clumsy editing - music and picture - and some shots that go on a bit too long for no purpose and the whole affair recalls The Living Dead At Manchester Morgue a bit too much, but overall, this is the most satisfying of Rollin's films that I have yet seen - I am annoyed it has taken me so long to catch up with it.
Great stuff.
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