MOVIE SUMMARY
Lady Elisabeth Báthory lives a charmed life in a resplendent
Romanesque castle, surrounded by Disney-esque wildlife and a
colorful cast of obliging servants. Taking ill one day while
traveling through the forest, she’s nursed back to health by a
handsome woodsman, and in gratitude gifts him with her own heart.
But upon returning home, Lady Báthory’s sunny disposition quickly
turns murderous and vampiric once she discovers the secret to
heart-less eternal youth lies in draining the blood of all the young
women and men in her castle.
Widely considered one of Slovak animation’s crown jewels, The
Bloody Lady is an improbable and bewitching fusion of gothic horror
and classic children’s animation, retelling of the infamous
Čachtická castle and Báthory folk tale which is often cited as the
inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Recently treated to haunting
live score by celebrated indie musician claire rousay, this
underseen gem is a new cult classic in the making.
The Bloody Lady is the centerpiece of Viktor Kubal: Father of
Slovak Animation, a retrospective of the landmark Eastern Bloc
animator’s pioneering work in much-loved children’s shorts as well
as subversive – though no less groundbreaking – feature films.
DISC FEATURES
-Including over 20 restored short films:
The Mysterious Old Man (1944), Earth (1966), Dita at the Post Office (1967), Promotion (1968), Dita in the Air (1970), Two Good Friends (1972), Tom Thumb (1972), Tom Thumb at a Magicians (1973), Chess (1974), Tom Thumb and the Germs (1974), The Present (1976), Cinema (1977), The Ladder (1978), Only Child (1979), The Microscope (1981), What Happened to Johnny on the Road (1981), The Selection (1982), The Weatherman (1983), The Marzipan Comedy (1987), High Noon (1988), The Idol (1989)
- New restoration from the original 35mm camera negative
- New restoration of Jurko the Highwayman (1976)
- U.S. Theatrical Trailer (2024)
- 12-page booklet
- Region free (A/B/C)
- New essay "A Dot and a Line (Everything is Possible)" by Rastislav Steranka
REVIEW QUOTES "If there is a single jewel worthy of
discovery in Slovak animation then THE BLOODY LADY, a film by Viktor
Kubal... is certainly it." – NFI
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