Complicated or Stilted?
Jenn and I have reached the end of our month exploring texts on Countess Elizabeth (or Erzsebet) Báthory. The 17th century noble woman was accused of torturing and murdering young girls, but over time her crimes have taken on a life of their own. Listen to our primer on the historical figure.
Did she really bathe in a bathtub of blood? Did she really kill 650 people? Did she consort with a witch?
The answer is probably no. And after inflammatory texts like Hammer’s Countess Dracula (listen) or Eli Roth’s sensational modern day take in Hostel: Part II (listen), it’s interesting to see writer/director/star Julie Delpy‘s more grounded take.
In 2009’s The Countess, Delpy plays Erzsebet Báthory, a stern, determined widow who doesn’t take flack from men. After being propositioned by a suitor she deems unworthy of her stature (William Hurt‘s Count György Thurzó), she falls hard for his hot, young son István (Daniel Brühl). But Thurzó senior plots to keep the lovers apart and, in the process, destroy Erzsebet’s reputation, steal her land, and punish her (perceived) impudence.
In this way, Delpy’s take on the famed serial killer is much more of a romantic drama. Outside of a few key sequences, the film shies away from depictions of blood and violence, focusing on Erzsebet’s madness.
It’s an interesting take on the legend of Báthory, even if it occasionally renders Erzsebet a vaguely pathetic woman who falls to pieces over a lost love.
Ultimately The Countess isn’t wholly successful, but it does offer a unique take on the myth and stands out for its lack of exploitation. Go in expecting a beautifully produced drama with occasional splashes of gore and it’ll go down much easier!
Want even more Murder Made Fiction? Be sure to check out the pod’s Patreon feed for 100+ episodes and ~60 hours of bonus content including full coverage of American Horror Story: Hotel, plus mini episodes on Stay Alive (2006), Bathory (2008), and Lady of Csejte (2015).
The post ‘The Countess’ Removes the Sensationalism from Countess Bathory’s Story [Murder Made Fiction] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.
