A Virgin Among the Living Dead (1973)

[bunniefuu]

A VIRGIN AMONG

THE LIVING DEAD

Is anyone here?

- Are you Miss Benton?

- Yes, but how do you know my name?

We were informed

you'd be coming.

Who did?

Someone from the village did.

They said you should

wait here.

Mr. Basilio will

pick you up before 5:00.

Who is that Mr. Basilio?

That I don't know!

I've heard that name before,

but I don't know the man.

Let me take you to your room.

Do you know the owners

of the Monteserate castle?

Monteserate?

Nobody lives in that valley.

Don't tell me you want

to go there...

I do. I need to go

to the castle.

I'm expected there.

You can't say

I haven't warned you.

As you can see,

I'm giving you our best room.

Are you all right, miss?

It's so hot.

I had a terrible nightmare...

and I can't go back

to sleep.

This weather does that to you.

It's hot and humid all year long.

- Do you live in the village?

- No, I work here.

- Aren't you a writer?

- No, I'm a doctor.

Tell me if I'm disturbing you.

You're not.

I'd like to ask

for your advice.

I'm really confused...

by what

the innkeeper said.

She said nobody lives

in Monteserate.

But I know

that's not true.

My whole family lives there.

I've come from London

to visit them.

They used to write

every week.

Don't you think

I'm doing the right thing?

Of course you are.

You must go.

What's the point

of tormenting yourself?

One should always have the strength

to accomplish their goals.

Yours is Monteserate,

and you must reach it

without looking back.

"Basilio will take you

to our house.

Much love, Uncle Howard. "

I'll go get my suitcase.

We've been driving to the depths

of the valley for an hour...

and I feel like

this is all a strange dream.

Even the birds sound

strangely unfamiliar.

It seems I'm seeing...

vultures.

Vultures.

Come on...

it can't be!

There are no vultures

in this valley.

And these flowers...

these plants

are so full of life.

And yet...

their colors seem off.

And their scent...

surprising and...

unrecognizable.

Where are we?

What is this world

of shadows and silence?

As sad as a cemetery

in the autumn dawn.

- I think you were expecting me.

- "She ran through the meadows,

so fast that we lost

sight of her immediately.

They were instantly

transformed by her beauty. "

Isaiah, verse 777.

I now know you are

Uncle Howard.

Yes, it is I, Uncle Howard,

so proud to have you here,

in Monteserate.

This magical music has led you

to the depths of this valley.

You are Uncle Howard's

last expected guest,

and here you are,

after such a long journey.

Your face is freezing cold!

Herminia's expecting you.

Go see her.

- What happened to her?

- She's dying.

The poor woman's dying

while you're playing a waltz?!

I can play a funeral

march if you want.

She might like that.

- I think she prefers waltz.

- You're joking, right?

Not at all.

Death is no joking matter,

and I know what she likes.

I know who she is.

She's welcome in this house

and I am playing for her.

Nothing would be

too good for her.

You can't say hello?

- That's Carmenze.

- Who is she?

That's Carmenze.

She's part of the family.

- Why did you do that?

- For no reason.

What's wrong?

Nothing. I just wish I were

sharing Herminia's path.

I'll go check on her.

Are you Aunt Abigail?

Yeah, I am your aunt.

You skank! You b*tch!

Obviously, you've worked

at the brothel too long!

Once a wh*re,

always a wh*re, huh?

And you can't shut it off

for a moment!

You must have been

deaf and senile.

I won't squeeze the worms

out of your skin anymore.

Sticks and stones

can break my bones,

but your deadly breath

won't k*ll me again!

Is that the best you've got?

You can't even cut

its head off properly!

What a f*cking dumb a*s!

- Why don't you try again?

- He's going to get it good!

Listen to me, Christina.

I am Linda.

I don't mean you any harm.

What could a blind woman

do to you?

I know you are a good person.

I can see through your soul.

Like everything else,

souls have a color.

Yours is white,

and that is why

I came to see you.

I would like to help you,

but I don't think I can.

I am so unhappy.

How long have you

been blind?

I have been blind

for a very long time.

I have been living

in absolute darkness.

I will pray to God.

Yes, I will pray...

with all my soul

that He helps you.

May He help you.

May He help you...

As of tomorrow, you'll have

to do it yourself.

I completely understand.

Good morning, dear Christina.

I hope you slept well.

I had nightmares.

Did you sleep well?

Time is passing slowly

by day or night.

When it's dark,

you can hear the vultures' wings'

macabre tap

against the windows.

How long are you

planning on staying here?

- When will you be leaving?

- I don't know.

I came here to attend

the reading of Daddy's will.

The lawyer will drop by.

It's a quick formality.

You're not eating?

We don't have much

of an appetite.

That's the least I can say!

You are all so nice.

Thanks for making me feel at home.

I was six months old

when my mom died.

I don't remember her at all.

And I've never know my father.

I was confined to my boarding

school in London.

I was all alone, and

the only news I had

was through the headmistress.

I wished I could see him,

but he lived far away and

was apparently too busy.

And one day, I heard

he had married Herminia.

And then I received your letter

telling me he was dead.

Thank God you sent me

those photographs.

I had never seen

his picture before.

What a strange man.

He really scares me.

He's just a little crazy.

However, he knows

this castle very well.

He's a very useful employee.

Well, I think

I'll go for a walk.

- Don't wander off too far.

- Why not?

That's ridiculous.

She's not a child anymore.

Hey, check it out!

Good heavens!

I hadn't seen...

With such a pretty girl,

I should...

What would you like

to do to her, sir?

I would like to eat her up!

Hey, get out of there!

Hurry up!

Run!

Hey, miss!

You can't walk around

naked here.

- This is private property.

- But you can be seen from the hill.

- I didn't know that.

- Hey, wait!

- Do you live around here?

- Yeah, I'm staying at the castle.

Nobody lives there.

What? My whole family

lives there!

Hey, wait!

- What is it now?

- I'd like to get to know you.

So what are you doing here?

- I was born here.

- Do you work?

Not for now.

So this is what we'll do...

you're going to walk me

to the castle

so that you realize

people live there.

You'll see Uncle Howard,

Aunt Abigail and Carmenze.

Some other people

live with them too...

some strange

but nice people.

- So, are you coming?

- Yes, but I won't come in.

- The castle's beautiful.

- Yes, but I'd rather not go in.

Come on! Don't tell me

you're scared.

- I'd like to visit this chapel.

- I don't think it's open.

It's closed.

Otherwise I'd be inside.

I have come

a long way for that.

I always pray

to Saint C?cile,

and this is the last chapel

dedicated to her!

I didn't know it was closed.

Yep, it's been closed

for a long time,

apparently since

the General's death.

This valley is dead and empty.

People say...

that the lords...

who used to live

in the castle...

have come back

to haunt their domain.

They apparently favor times

when sh**ting stars abound,

like now.

This valley is cursed!

It reeks of death!

Death doesn't faze me

and I'm not scared of dying.

But for you, it's different.

You guys are still young.

You can't stay here.

Death is like a disease,

so you'd better

get out of here!

Can't you see

everything's dead here?

Even the flowers

smell of decay.

Go away!

Come on, follow me. Don't tell me

you believe that old fool.

What's the matter?

See, it's just a regular house.

Get out of here,

little b*stard!

You can't have guests

without our approval!

Help!

Help me!

Please help me!

Come in, Christina.

We don't mind.

Why don't you come

and play with us?

Have you ever tasted fresh blood?

It tastes so good.

Come and try it.

I promise it's delicious.

Her flesh is so delicate, too.

I'm sure you are

tempted to try it.

Come in.

There's no need

to hesitate.

What are you doing?

Come on in.

Christina!

Christina!

Christina!

My daughter!

My child!

Listen to me!

Christina!

Listen to me!

That old b*tch sure

wasn't easy to k*ll!

She was wriggling

like a worm,

especially her hands.

It was like she didn't want to die,

but she did after all

and all this is ours now.

How I hated her!

Herminia had always been

a stranger to us...

and I feel no remorse

taking her jewels.

Tomorrow we'll pull out

her gold teeth!

Maybe they'll come in handy.

What's wrong, my dear?

Poor child.

You seem upset.

Tell me what happened.

I saw...

Calm down, you are

here with us.

I saw something horrible!

Calm down and

tell me everything.

What could have been

so horrible?

I think she needs a doctor.

We should call one.

- What are you doing here?

- Nothing.

How long have you

been here?

- About an hour.

- And you've been sitting here?

Your hips were swaying

in the most fascinating way.

But don't you worry.

I'm only saying that.

At least I can watch,

right?

And I can also

pay you compliments.

Did you hear me scream?

I had an awful dream.

My dad had been hanged,

but he was still alive.

He was calling to me.

That's quite ambiguous.

You should see a doctor.

A psychoanalyst would

be appropriate.

Could you leave now?

I'd like to get dressed.

Don't be shy in front of me.

Please.

I'll leave then,

but hurry up.

Your uncle has gone

for the lawyer.

He's coming today for the reading

of your dear daddy's will.

In accordance with the law

regarding inheritance,

particularly Section 22 and

Articles III, IV and V,

the following arrangements

have been made by the deceased

when he was sound of mind, and

in the presence of a witness:

Let's see here.

I think I should

read each paragraph

of the Articles, but...

that wouldn't serve

any purpose.

So, I suppose

you all agree

that we can do

with a brief summary.

Well, it says here...

that anyone can contest

the validity of the will

within eight days after

the death of its author

provided they can

submit legal proof

that the deceased

was not sound of mind,

or that he might

have been pressured.

No one filed a complaint

with my office

during that time-frame.

There is one more formality

to take care of

on the day of the reading...

that is, today.

Close relatives alive today

and sound of mind

can still object

to the proceedings...

going through all the paragraphs

will take forever.

If someone wishes to do so,

they can contest

the validity of the will.

In response to the silence

of those here present,

I declare

this testament legal

according to the local

authorities.

El Se?or Ernesto

Pablo Ju?n Reiner

bequeaths

his Monteserate estate,

including the main building,

the annexes and

the entire land,

his golden Chinese

masks collection,

his securities kept in safe number

274 at the El Paso Central Bank,

all valuables and furniture,

and all the rugs in

the property mentioned above,

"... to my one and only heir,

my daughter Christina Reiner,

who will be responsible

for the care

of Herminia Gonzalez

Y Trujillo Garcia,

my second wife.

The designated proxy for my will

is Paco Mandez, my lawyer. "

And now, allow me

to address a personal word

to my dear friend

Ernesto Pablo Reiner.

May he find in the next world

more peace than he did here.

Amen.

On behalf of our community,

I congratulate you

and wish you the best.

Thank you, Uncle Howard,

for those kind words.

You are all so kind.

I liked this piano.

It sounds really good.

Now it belongs to you,

like everything else here...

house, furniture...

You see, everything

has changed.

- You are wrong...

- I know what I'm saying.

Everything's different.

Basilio, stay put!

We'll take the boat next week.

Aren't you happy here?

That's not the point.

I won't live off

of somebody else.

But where would you go?

We don't know yet.

Corfu, maybe.

There's a casino there.

I was such a good croupier.

One night, the Tzar of Russia

made a k*lling

and gave me an icon that was later

stolen from me in Athens.

Please don't leave.

You want us here now

because you have a good heart,

but you would regret it soon enough.

I know that for sure.

We weren't meant to live with

a beautiful girl so full of life.

You should feel

at home here.

This house is still yours.

Don't change anything.

Your presence will be

the best cure for my loneliness.

I couldn't live here without you

and your tenderness.

Please stay.

We'll be a happy family.

Thanks, my dear.

You have a heart of gold.

What have you done?!

Poor soul!

How could you shatter

the Great Phallus?

We are now cursed,

all of us!

I don't understand.

What could possibly

happen to me?

I can't answer that.

Just like us, you'll be punished

if you don't leave.

Listen to me.

You have to go.

Leave now!

Christina!

My child!

Come rescue me!

They've locked me up!

Listen!

I am your father!

Come quick!

I want to see you.

My child!

Please...

don't be afraid!

Come and free me!

Christina!

I'm waiting for you.

I'm begging you!

Listen to your father!

Christina...

my dear child.

My daughter.

Father, is that you?

What an awful sight!

Do you recognize me?

My aunt and uncle sent me

some photographs.

I've kept them all.

The Queen of Darkness has allowed me

to see you just for a short while.

Then I shall return

to the depths of the valley,

with the others.

A terrible curse keeps us

behind a mirror

only to be broken

from time to time

by cold-blooded creatures.

Father...

what have they done to you?

- That rope...

- I was hanged.

I am so unhappy.

What are you doing here?

I am their victim.

They k*lled me.

They took me to

their world of darkness!

For Satan, death

is proof of his power.

I used to be free and alive!

Then the Queen of Darkness

came for me,

and I couldn't resist

her treacherous voice.

Leave now, my sweet child!

They are cursed!

You are the last one with the cursed

blood running through your veins.

Leave now and never look back!

If you don't, you'll fall

under their spell

and your mind

won't think clearly.

You will create

your own nightmares.

It's her.

She's coming for me.

It's the Queen of Darkness.

I belong to her.

I am a shadow among shadows.

I belong to her...

forever.

Christina!

Father.

Christina.

Father.

Father...

why are you calling me?

I heard your voice

in the forest.

You shouldn't

have followed me.

You heard my voice,

but it betrayed my heart.

Why, Father?

Your presence can

only do me good.

She is controlling us.

She is using my voice

in spite of me.

I am not calling you,

she is.

All she wants to do

is fulfill the curse.

Alas...

it is now too late.

No!

Let me go!

She's delirious!

- How is she doing?

- Not very well.

- What happened to her?

- I don't know.

We found her lying unconscious

near the abandoned house.

She's been delirious

ever since.

She talks about her family...

her father in particular.

He hanged himself

a few months ago.

Your mind

won't think clearly.

You'll create

your own nightmares.

The Queen of Darkness

has come.

A terrible curse!

Your mind

won't think clearly.

Destiny has been fulfilled.

Our family has

finally been reunited.

Death hasn't won over life...

but it is life

that always leads to death.

We shall return

to the River Styx forever,

wandering the swamp,

without ever reaching its end.

May fate fulfill itself.

THE END