R.I.P. Jean Rollin 1938 - 2010
Various sites (including Fangoria) are reporting that French horror filmmaker Jean Rollin has passed away at the age of 72. Rollin was the writer/director of over 50 erotic/horror films including titles like Two Orphan Vampires, Living Dead Girl, Fascination, Grapes of Death, Lips of Blood and The Nude Vampire. More below, including a collection of trailers.
Unfortunately for Rollin, his work was never really elevated beyond the world of euro-sleaze which was the predominant style of horror entertainment being imported from overseas at the time. Movies that gratuitously displayed images of nudity, sex and violence meant to titillate, disturb and sell... nothing else.
Rollin's work however is worth so much more than that. True that by today's standards some of his films may come across as low rent and cheesy I've always appreciated his films for being dreamlike, subdued, erotic and most of all, entertaining. Much like the work of Dario Argento who was able to make violence in film a thing of beauty, Jean Rollin's films were often poetic and transcended exploitation.
Many of Rollin's most popular films are available on DVD so if you haven't explored his vast filmography yet it's recommended that you get to work. The best, most accessible starting point would probably be Living Dead Girl, followed by titles like Two Orphan Vampires and Fascination (a personal favorite). Lush seaside castle locations, vampires, gooey violence and lots of beautiful women...bravo Rollin, you will be missed.
Check out the official Jean Rollin fan web site here and more from the Fangoria report here.
Check out a few trailers for some of Jean Rollin's work below (a few of these are NSFW).
