MovieChat Forums > Lemora: A Child's Tale of the Supernatural (1973) Discussion > Truly beautiful...

Truly beautiful...

posted 16 years ago by lauriescreams
10 replies | jump to latest

This is probably my favourite of those very low budget 70's horror movies (Messiah of Evil, The Child, etc.) - I just revisited it, and I was struck by how haunting it still is.

Yes, the low budget may detract from a couple of scenes - the climactic battle in particular, but the whole thing is so artistically and skillfully done that you immediately forgive the cosmetic defects. I was disappointed to see that neither Gilb nor Blackburn had done much else, horror or otherwise. The three leads (including hunky director Blackburn) do amazingly well, and Leslie Gilb underplays her juicy lines with an icy serenity. And what lines they are! "What an exciting figure you have." "If someone has it in them to love me, they love me from the minute that they see me."

The film is beautifully lit, and there is an eerie atmosphere throughout. It's even a little spooky at times, such as when Lila encounter her father-turned-beast, and when she tries to escape Lemora's vampire henchmen. Thematically, I find the movie provocative but also tasteful - it deals with Lila becoming aware of her sexuality for the first time, but it doesn't show anything it doesn't need to.

Synapse were planning an HD release a few years back - does anyone know if a blu-ray release is a possibility?

[–] delicreep 16 years ago

Lemora was one of those movies that stuck with me for years after my first viewing. I caught it on a Saturday horror show here in the Bay Area when I was just a kid. While I didn't remember the title or the film in its entirety, certain images/impressions always stayed in my head: the ghouls from the late night bus ride, the vampire's pursuit of Lila and the fight with their degenerate brethren, and the final scene with the preacher.

For years, I never knew what movie it was that I had seen. It wasn't until I found a copy of Phil Hardy's Encyclopedia of Horror and read Lemora's review did I finally put a name to the images in my head. Prior to the DVD revolution, I purchased a dupe from a grey-market outfit online. The print was letterboxed and in great shape, and the tape included an interview with Blackburn (Confessions of Lemora). Finally seeing the movie again was quite a revelation. Lemora immediately became a favorite of mine.

When found out Synapse released Lemora on DVD, it was in instant buy.

What I find amazing is that the striking nocturnal scenes pretty much turned out so well by accident: Blackburn and his crew didn't really know how to shoot at night...they just did!

[–] argentobuff 16 years ago

Lemora is one of those movies that rises above its low budget and ends up as a true gem of 70's horror with all that creepy, southern Gothic, atmosphere. I also saw this back on Son of Svengoolie late at night, and turned it off because it was too creepy ( the bus attack did it in for me) and spent years looking for what I watched. Great movie. Its a shame director Richard Blackburn didn't make as many movies as he should of.

Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead

[–] ValleyMermaid 15 years ago

The horrible acting is what makes this movie so frightful, (in my personal opinion) no disrespect to fans. I liked A LOT of things about this film, the style, music, the color, scene play/ story line/plot and more.

The fact that it was a low budget movie had little to do with my disapointment. I feel a low budget film can contend with any multimillion dollar movie any day of the week, but the acting in this film was TERRIBLE especially with the exception of Cheryl Smith, (Lila), I found her to be believable and I thought she did a great job, saving it for me.

[–] lauriescreams 15 years ago

I don't think the acting is horrible - Lesley Gilb is amazing. There's this dazed quality to her that makes her unearthly. I love her vocal delivery with its cool, elegant sexiness. To me, her demeanor seems very calculated.

Now, some of the supporting actors may be a bit wooden, such as the one playing the witch, but for me, what matters is that the chemistry between Cheryl Smith and Lesley Gilb is there.

[–] ValleyMermaid 15 years ago

Hmmmm....you have a point lauiescreams, about Lesley Gilb. And on reflection of your cpmment and the film again. I have to agree with you. It was really the director that played the Pastor, that was so painful to listen to and watch, for me.

[–] lauriescreams 15 years ago

I think he captured the stereotype he was probably aiming for decently. There may not be a whole lot of depth to him. He's the outwardly-godfearing-american-at-odds-with-his-sexual-desires reverend, and that's pretty much all there is to him. And it's not as if he has that much screentime. ;)

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] samnitebc 12 years ago

Before Synapse decides to go the Blu-ray route, they have to see if it's financially worth it based on the latest DVD sales. I'm sure their rights have expired by now so they will have to cough up additional money if they do decide on releasing it in HD.

I for one will double dip on this surreal classic. A haunting beauty she is.

[–] ElectricWarlock 11 years ago

The first time I watched the film, I didn't really like it that much. I appreciated the lighting, use of color, the atmosphere, and the vampire makeup, but overall I found the film underwhelming and slightly boring. But the thing is, the film still lingered in my mind afterwards. I was unable to forget it and longed to watch it again despite the fact I found it boring. So I finally did give it a second chance today and saw I was wrong. The slow pace is essential to the film and is more about a spooky atmosphere than action and I don't know how I didn't see that before.

Death lives in the Vault of Horror!

[–] Osova 10 years ago

It's the exact same with me. I was bored when I first watched it, but I loved the characters, colours, atmosphere, etc and could not stop thinking about this movie. Upon second viewing I love it so much more.