News is just floating in that one of the most respected genre filmmakers of the French/European horror scene has died.
Jean Rollin, along with several other European filmmakers in the late 60's, began a trend of erotic and gothic horror films than inspired legions of underground followers and imitators. He broke new ground in France by directing films, mostly vampire films at first, that treated the age old foe of humanity with a new, more explicit sensuality than had ever been seen.
One of the best treatises on the work of Rollin and his contemporaries can be found in Pete Tombs' and Cathal Tohill's stellar exploration of European horror and art films, Immoral Tales. I highly recommend seeking this book out, even though it is out of print.
Rollin is one of those filmmakers who has many films that have been unavailable for years, but, by all means find those that you can, and enjoy them.
Jean Rollin, along with several other European filmmakers in the late 60's, began a trend of erotic and gothic horror films than inspired legions of underground followers and imitators. He broke new ground in France by directing films, mostly vampire films at first, that treated the age old foe of humanity with a new, more explicit sensuality than had ever been seen.
One of the best treatises on the work of Rollin and his contemporaries can be found in Pete Tombs' and Cathal Tohill's stellar exploration of European horror and art films, Immoral Tales. I highly recommend seeking this book out, even though it is out of print.
Rollin is one of those filmmakers who has many films that have been unavailable for years, but, by all means find those that you can, and enjoy them.
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