For October’s Halloween season, I like to indulge my gothic side with some historical horror, and one of my favorite topics is Countess Elizabeth Báthory, much trumpeted as history’s first female serial killer. The best and probably most accurate movie about her is The Countess (2009), but there’s a shitton of schlocky ones, like The Blood Queen (2015), aka The Lady of Csejte. It doesn’t deserve an in-depth review, but it’s fun for some snarky screencaps, so let’s run down five random things about this freak fest!
1. A Mish-Mash of European Accents
The young girl and boy who are the main characters speak in posh British tones. Most everyone else has a smorgasbord of thick Eastern-European accents — Russian, Czech, Hungarian, Austrian, German, you name it.
Then there are the two “Hungarian nobles” that are kinda-sorta investigating the missing 600 some-odd girls, and their accents slip back and forth between English and fake-Hungarian.
The judge speaks Hungarian with an English accent. It’s such a mess.
2. Countess Bathory Is a Blonde
It’s a choice alright. For reference, here’s the one known image of Elizabeth Báthory c. 1585.
Elizabeth Bathory portrait, via Wikimedia Commons.
It’s a copy of a period portrait and has weak provenance, but I’m still not buying this flick’s Barbie Doll blonde.
This is a promo pic & thankfully the dress doesn’t appear in the movie. But that hair does & in that style. All the time.
3. Renaissance Costumes by Way of Fantasyland
The title card said this is 1610, and the Countess’ ladies-in-waiting wear vaguely renaissance-y gowns (though their accessory game is rather cray).
I’ll give this as a general nod towards the late 16th century.
But check out her braid…
Looks like someone’s going a bit cyberpunk.
Hmmm????
At least these ladies at the ball are dressed pretty well for filling out a renaissance scene.
But the Countess wears fantasy banana-crackers dresses over Victorian corsets with wacky hair and silly standy-uppy wired ruffs.
Not only is that a 19th-century corset, she’s not wearing any kind of smock or chemise. Chafe-city, here she comes!
This outfit was what made me hunt down the flick — as a goth outfit, it’s awesome what with the black & white combo & spiked shoulders! But it’s ludicrous as a historical costume.
Also, it zips up the back.
She says this is her “nightgown.” Ugh.
I am weirdly fascinated by this dress on Countess Bathory (far left). So much going on! Sheer, sparkly teal sleeves with pleated grey satin arm bands. Grey stomacher topped with pleated teal satin. Dark blue skirt with grey forepart. Bouffant hair & a head necklace!
There’s even red gems accenting each pleat on her sleeves & at the shoulders!
Finally, there’s a weird claw-like grey satin tabbed collar thingy! The dressmaker is wise to keep her mouth shut & just do whatever the Countess says.
4. So Much Tinkly Music
Seriously, this soundtrack has a music box fetish. Until it’s DRUMS.
Maybe tinkly music works for spa-time? But this bath is supposed to run with blood so IDK.
Not a charming cooking scene in this kitchen.
5. HEAD NECKLACES
I saved the best for last. Four minutes in, first head necklace sighting! And they don’t stop.
Close-up.
Head necklaces go with everything.
Formal head necklaces for the ball. Even the servant girl gets a little head bling.
The Countess gets a 1920s headband as a head necklace.
From Amazon.com, surely.
The older sister shows up with a medieval-oid head necklace.
Annnnd a steampunk belt. Whatever.
The plot begs the question: Why does Countess Bathory go through all this trouble to get this one girl’s blood? If she went through this for all 600+ girls, it would have taken for-fucking-ever, and she’d have been discovered. Of course, we know that none of this shit happened, so plausibility is out the window already.
What’s your favorite Elizabeth Báthory on screen?
Ingrid Pitt in “Countess Dracula.”Typical Hammer fare, but we met and loved hanging out with her and her race car driver husband at conventions. She was gorgeous and funny and he was handsome and charming.
I dig some of the looks, like, that cyperpunk braid is hella inspiration for me, as my hair is not as thick as it used to be. I actually dig sis’s purple dress with the steampunk belt, though the fit is kinda garbage. That kinda look would have gone over well in the late 90s early 00s scene…and by that I mean 1990s/2000s, not 1590s/1600s.
My favorites are the two ladies for the ball. The rest of Bathory’s looks are REAL uncomfortable looking. Itchy and sweaty much?
OMG I love Ingrid Pitt! She always had a twinkle in her eye. And so smart- I have a book she wrote called ” The Ingrid Pitt Bedside Companion for Vampire Lovers”. (Tongue planted firmly in cheek)
I must say I really like that Amazon ’20’s headband!
That dressmaker in late Victorian widow’s garb AND hairdo! Good god…
I was almost laughing at everything under #3. Sure some are fun or cool for their own thing, but for historical purposes?
I’m not that into horror stuff so I skip movies like this. But the frock issues reinforce that decision for sure.
Mind you, I would happily wear most of this stuff.
I love that black & white dress – for a goth club or a fantasy event! And the ivory robe w/lace that she wears around the bathtub, yeah, I’d swan around the house in that too ;)
Off topic,but can you share your views about the robe al allemande worn in lowland countries during the 18th century?
I was interested because many of the back lacinh gowns worn by claire in outlander season 2 seemed to be these,but little information was available.Not asking-you-to-do-my-homework,but seeking expert opinion.
Pretty sure i owned that belt in the last pic circa 2000
This is super interesting – I actually got my hands on this script and it was SO GOOD. Really well written, much more historical accuracy and a story that flowed well. Something tragic clearly happened between the writing and filming of this movie.