The Countess(2009) is a historical/thriller/horror film about Erzsebet Bathory,a 17th century Hungarian countess. Julie Delpy did a great job in portraying Erzsebet Barthory, she showed how cold-hearted and vicious Erzsebet was. The movie also had a great start showing the early childhood of Erzsebet and how she came to be known as the" Blood Countess". I appreciate that they included additional scenes showing how she violently hit her servant with a comb and there was blood splatters all over her face. And after she wiped her face with the servant's blood.There was a ray of light(something she only saw by herself). She realized that her face became younger and wrinkle-free.That was the beginning of her obsession for blood. She began asking for the servant's blood and after she died. Erzsebet ordered her servants to kidnap more young virgins.
The movie also showed her love life. How she was yearning for this young man's(Istvan) love that made her insane with getting young. She initially thought that the young man left her for a younger woman but the truth was that the young man's father arranged his marriage to a wealthy woman. Even after that, she had a relationship with Dominic Vizakna ,who would later conspire with Istvan in arresting Erzsebet for her crimes.
I expected the movie to be more gory and scary like what other horror movies are like maybe similar to jaws (although they are in a different genre, it would still be more fascinating to see more gore in this movie most especially Barthory is known as the Blood Countess) .I was waiting for the "goosebumps moment " but sadly I wasnt really frightened or shocked.It would have been more realistic if they showed more of the gory side of the movie since barthory was known to be very vicious, having killed many girls and even rumors have it that screams of women can be heard from the castle. Although, there were also some scenes showing how the girls were brought to a hidden room , how the girls were strapped in a metal cage with knives. I would say that this movie is more of a biographical film than a horror movie. But still, it is a beautifully constructed film and I would recommend this to anyone. Overall, I would give this film a 6/10 rating.