UnderworldRocks
Great idea, poor execution.To begin with, the actress playing Kate Davis is so bad. Poor acting. Poor looks. Perhaps I should not be so harsh. But sorry not sorry. The woman looks ugly. And her acting is wooden and monotonous.How about the story? Well...The vampires went through all that trouble, just to convert the descendant of Bathory to their ways? For what purpose? Why do they need HER so badly? The backstory about the vampire society and their traditions remains to be told.Ugly actress. Poor storytelling that drags on and on. Dated graphics from 1979. Maybe a remake will realize the potential of the ideas such as "descendant" and "blood farm". But it's not a big deal if this piece of Aussie vampire crap is forgotten, collecting dust on a library shelf.
jadavix
The horror genre always seems particularly apt to produce full length movies out of material that is really only suitable for half hour, or if we're being generous, one hour long episodes. What we end up with are movies as tedious as "Thirst", something that begins to recall the dreamlike vampire garbage of Jean Rollin not due to style but somnambulance. The constant repetition of shots of blood being drawn from people and people being led around to have blood drawn from them almost puts you to sleep - not exactly a virtue in a horror film.There are a few more lively moments, such as b-movie king Henry Silva dying from a fall from a helicopter onto power lines, but that is far, far too little, far, far too late. The shots of people actually drinking blood are nowhere near as shocking as the movie seems to think. We know it's about vampires - that's established during the opening moments. What's shocking is that it takes so long for the movie to depict that, as if we hadn't caught on by then."Inn of the Damned" was also a blown up episode, but at least it was a great episode. Nothing happens in "Thirst" for over an hour of its runtime. It's ending is also trite and predictable, and basically nothing the movie hasn't already shown us or told us. Yeah, so the girl trying to get away is now a vampire too. Is that supposed to be surprising? It is obvious right from the beginning that they are trying to turn her into one. And David Hemmings - who cares? He rushes through this movie like an uncomfortable, ageing Rik Mayall (RIP), but without his sense of purpose. He looks inconvenienced about being a part of this debacle.I felt his pain.Even today there does seem something original and frightening about the concept of vampires owning and running a hospital like facility for their prey. It's just a shame that this movie does absolutely nothing interesting with the idea.
trashgang
Rod Hardy, the director isn't well known for his flicks. He's still in the business doing series like Supernatural, Battlestar Galactica and back in those days the much acclaimed Return To Eden. Not only that, he also made a lot of TV movies but back in 1979 he made his one and only feature for the cinema's, Thirst.Just when the Hammers and Amicus releases were over and not popular any more and just before the heydays and start of the slashers he made this beautiful Gothic story. As so many did it is based on the story of Elisabeth Bathory but then again not really. It's about a woman having a normal life being chosen by a Brotherhood to become a vampire. But the score and the atmosphere are sublime. And this flick really needs the Gothic atmosphere because it never becomes really bloody or even gory. The red stuff do flows but not that often. There isn't even gratuitous nudity a thing that was a must be back then although Chantal do appear naked. But what the movie makes watchable is the performance by Chantal Contouri. The expressions on her face, excellent.There are some other well known actors in it especially from the horror genre or faces like Henry Silva. This is one of those gems that still haven't seen a proper release. Oh yes, it's out on DVD but the sound is really bad. Nevertheless, worth watching if you like the old British Hammers and Amicus flicks.
HuggyBear1
In this late 70's Australian horror, Kate Davis is abducted by a strange Brotherhood, a secret society of vampires, and is taken to their farm where humans are kept as cattle to feed upon.There Kate learns that she is a direct descendant of Elizabeth Bathory, but refuses to accept her birthright as a vampire that the Brotherhood are determined she will inherit.Good, atmospheric horror has good acting, direction and score, and the modern day vampire farm theme is certainly interesting. Not much character development or plot, but great production, special effects (for the time) and direction means this film is well worth watching.8 out of 10.
AD
