Halt!
- Listen. - There's no one.
I hear them.
What is it?
Oh! No!
I'm not a witch! I'm not! Please believe me!
I'm not a witch! Please!
Oh, God, have mercy on this poor, unfortunate creature.
She is a child of the Devil, but we ask Thee, in Thy great goodness,
to save her soul.
We commend unto Thee her earthly body...
and seek to purify its spirit.
Brothers, let us pray.
Look. A coach. Come on!
Hey! Wait!
Oh, look. That must be Karnstein Castle.
It's beautiful, just like a fairy tale.
Whoever owns that must be rich.
- Who lives there? - Count Karnstein.
Count Karnstein.
We've never been here. We're from Venice.
No, no, no. You stop that. Go on home.
Maria, Frieda.
Aunt Kathy.
I'll never tell the difference. You were that high when I last saw you.
Come along.
Perhaps you'd like to go to your room now and change?
- Change? - Your uncle will be back soon.
Of course. You'd like us to look our best.
Oh, no... I mean, yes...
We do things differently, you see.
No, I don't see at all.
What I mean is, had you lived in Karnstein,
you would still be wearing black.
- Why? - But it's not lack of respect.
We wore black for more than two months, until last week.
We do things differently. Your uncle wouldn't like it.
- He's a very religious man. - We didn't bring any black.
Perhaps something more sober.
- Yes, of course. If you'd like it. - Thank you. I'll show you your room.
What kind of plumage is this?
- For birds of paradise? - Maria, Frieda,
this is your Uncle Gustav.
- Do you know the Fourth Commandment? - Which one is that?
"Honour thy father and thy mother,
"that thy days may be long upon the land, which the Lord has given thee."
Uncle, we didn't mean to offend you.
Your parents are not yet cold in their graves.
Your room is at the top of the stairs. The door is open.
Gustav, I'll get you a meal.
There is no need.
I'm going out.
There is a meeting of the Brotherhood.
...the death of two young men within the last ten days,
and each victim bearing the mark of the Devil.
This place has been accursed for the evil of some who abide here.
But the signs are plain. God is calling on us...
who believe in His holy word to stamp out that evil...
...to seek out the Devil worshippers...
and to purify their spirits,
so that they may find mercy at the seat of the Lord,
by burning them!
I know of one.
- Speak, brother. - There is a cottage in the woods.
A young girl lives there alone, refuses to take a husband.
- They say she has many husbands. - A creature of the Devil. Wicked!
- Immoral! - Burn her!
Put to bed at nine o'clock? You'd think we were ten.
Put out the candles. Uncle Gustav might be back.
- Let him come. I don't care. - I'm thinking about Aunt Kathy.
Yes, she's terrified of him.
God! How would you like to be married to a man like that?
- I'm sure he means no harm. - Oh, no. He's a man of God...
Too good to be true. I know his kind.
- What do you mean? - I can just imagine,
if he came back now and saw the lights on,
that would give him an excuse to come in.
- Frieda! - Don't you know men like that?
Didn't you ever notice them in the park, with funny, staring eyes.
- Stop it. - You see if I'm not right.
He'd love to find us doing something wrong, to punish us.
- It would give him a thrill. - I'm not listening.
All right, but it's going to be hell living in this house.
But what can we do? Uncle Gustav is our guardian now.
He may be yours. He's not going to be mine... not for long.
- I'm going away from here. - How?
I'll find a way.
Halt. I'll go first.
What's the meaning of this, Weil?
Out witch-hunting again? You've come to the wrong place.
We seek the servants of the Devil.
Well, you've found one - Me. Now get out!
Don't let them bother you.
Some men like a musical evening.
Weil and his friends find pleasure through burning innocent girls.
Innocent?
You do not know the meaning of the word.
I know the meaning of the word intrusion. Do you?
You are arrogant, Count Karnstein,
because you have the protection of the court, of the Emperor himself,
but there is a higher authority.
Tell that to the Emperor.
God will have His revenge.
Mind He doesn't have it on you. Now get out!
Look at them.
Gustav Weil and his brave band in search of women!
Here. You can have Gerta if you like, if you want some excitement.
You'll feel better then.
You won't go around burning pretty girls.
Let him shoot, Joachim. The Emperor will hang them all.
A public hanging, Weil. You mustn't have all the pleasure yourself.
Everyone enjoys a good hanging!
Pray for me, Weil!
That's what you're supposed to do for sinners, isn't it? Pray for me!
Halt!
- Look at his face! - It's drained of blood.
The Devil has struck again.
Not the Devil, but his servants.
She lives not two kilometres from here. You see? I warned you.
The Lord will light our path. Let us ride!
Halt! There she is!
Ride her down!
The aristocracy of this country is decadent.
Their whole lives are devoted to sinful pleasures...
and the pursuit of lust.
Is it any wonder that the Devil comes amongst us?
- But God's will shall prevail. - Amen.
- Frieda? - Shh!
Their wickedness will not be tolerated.
The Lord will send word to His servants, do not doubt it.
Be careful. The Count has important friends.
Oh, yes. Oh, yes.
And sinners, every one of them.
They meet at the castle and hold debauched gatherings.
Men and women strip naked, they say, and indulge in pagan rites.
They practise the black arts. They worship the Devil.
They're all slaves to Count Karnstein and he is their evil master.
- They shall not...! - Gustav! The girls. Please.
The sooner Karnstein is exposed for what he is, the better it will be...
for everyone.
His evil practices cast a shadow over our countryside, over our lives.
Young girls from our villages are abducted by Karnstein's lackeys...
and initiated into unspeakable ceremonies.
- Karnstein and his friends... - Maria, come and look.
Frieda, come to bed.
You can see the light of the castle from here.
Do you know what I want more than anything else?
To meet Count Karnstein.
Your Excellency is pleased with the entertainment?
- He's calling up the Devil. - Well, so can I... or you.
But will the Devil come?
Fresh blood. The guts of a chicken...
or a suckling pig.
The Devil won't be cheated that easily, Dietrich.
Your Excellency is pleased with the girl?
A peasant, bought for a few gold coins.
Can you never find anything new, different?
You know, my lord, I try...
They say that Gustav Weil has two pretty nieces staying with him.
Twins. That would be something different.
Your Excellency is pleased to joke. We do not want trouble with Weil.
I don't know why I employ you, Dietrich.
You bore me, personally.
Everything you do I find tedious, including this charade.
Look, he is possessed!
Is this your manifestation of the Devil?
Look. I've exorcised him.
You are charlatans, all of you. Get out!
- Forgive me, my lord. - No. Leave her.
Oh. Of course.
And now go.
Yes, at once. Your Excellency knows...
that I endeavour to do my utmost to please him.
They knew. They didn't play at being wicked.
The Devil taught them delights that you will never know.
Of punishment, inflicting and receiving it.
Of torture... and death.
Yes, of death, and of pleasures beyond the grave.
Something you could not even comprehend!
But I know.
Go, Dietrich!
Good night, my lord.
No...
Oh, Lord of Darkness,
I am weary of this world and its pathetic pleasures.
Teach me to reach beyond the flesh.
Reveal yourself to me that I may bow down before you and be your servant.
Give me the power to do your evil.
No... No, please. No!
As a token of my faith, I offer you... this woman!
Satan!
Mircalla!
Frieda, what are you doing?
Nothing. Just looking. The storm is beautiful.
When the lightning flashes, you can see Karnstein castle.
Frieda.
Mircalla... Mircalla...
- He sent you? - Yes.
- Must I give my life? - Your soul.
Your body remains on earth.
You will be of the undead.
- When? - Now.
Look in the mirror.
- I can't see you. - We are the undead...
and the mirror sees only the living.
We walk the earth...
but we exist only in hell.
Hold up there.
Good morning. Best wait a bit. The boar hunters are coming through.
We're not far from the village now.
There's nothing to be afraid of. It's just the men out hunting.
That awful sound.
They're killing the boar. Don't worry.
Come in.
- Hello. - Hello.
- This is Maria and Frieda. - Hello.
I shall never be able to tell one from the other.
This is Ingrid Hoffer, who runs the school.
- Her brother Anton is choirmaster. - Anton's hunting.
We passed him. He won't be long.
They're coming now.
Girls, back to your places. What is there to look at?
You've seen the men coming back from hunting before.
Shall we sit down?
The girls are happy for any excuse to stop work for a few moments.
I expect you two are the same.
Come and meet our new pupils.
Come on.
Anton, this is Frieda and this is Maria.
- No, I'm Frieda. - I'm Maria.
- I can't tell the difference. - Nor can I, but it seems Anton can.
- What do you mean? - Well, just look at him.
- I saw you ride by. - While you were hunting.
- Yes. - It's everyone's occupation here,
hunting of one kind or the other.
- What do you mean? - Boars in the day, witches at night.
- Who told you about that? - No one. I listened.
- To your uncle? - Yes.
Don't blame me. I take no part in it.
- Don't you? - No. I think it's barbaric,
but superstition dies very hard here.
- You wouldn't understand. - I don't want to. I hate it here.
You're uncle is misguided, perhaps, but he's a good man.
Perhaps I don't like good men.
Anton?
Maria was asking about the history of Karnstein.
I told her you were the expert.
It's all here, Maria, in this book.
Look. I'll show you.
And it's still a mystery.
It's true. Myth and magic are interwoven...
for the peasants of Karnstein.
Where's Frieda?
Sir! This is my niece.
It is a pleasure to make her acquaintance.
My words were not an introduction but a warning. Go in.
At once!
Sir, you are impertinent.
I am not a peasant, and I acknowledge only one lord.
Both my nieces will be instructed never to speak to you again.
Haven't you got us into enough trouble? No supper and early to bed?
Is that all you ever think about? Yourself?
- Don't be so greedy. - But there'd be a terrible scene.
No one will notice, stupid. I don't know why you're complaining.
All you have to do is go to sleep.
I'm not asking you to come with me.
- I wouldn't dare. - I know you wouldn't.
You're scared of your own shadow and terrified of Uncle Gustav.
- Yes, I am. - Well, I'm not.
I don't care if he finds me gone. The Count will protect me.
Frieda, I beg you, think about what you're doing.
- Everyone says he's a wicked man. - What about it?
Who wants to be good, singing hymns and praying all day long?
He's doing what's best for us, I'm sure.
It might be best for you. It's not for me.
I'm going, and you might as well stop arguing about it.
And I warn you, if you dare tell on me...
- You know I wouldn't. - I'm just telling you.
- You know what will happen. - You're hurting me!
Not half as much as I will if you don't keep quiet.
They're all in bed now. No one will notice.
And don't lie awake waiting for me.
And don't worry. I shan't be long.
Frieda, I beg you. Don't go.
I've warned you once.
You know what I'll do to you if you make any trouble, don't you?
To Satan.
Dietrich, you're not amusing us tonight.
- What's wrong? - It is nothing, my lord.
It must be something. Don't make a secret of it. Tell us.
Perhaps a little later, my lord. In private.
It is a personal matter.
Ah!
A young lady, I'm sure. What is it? Did she run away from you?
She disappeared a few nights ago.
- I do not know what happened. - Disappeared?
It must have been your magicians.
- Perhaps their spells really worked. - Her parents blame me.
You must have a very bad reputation, Dietrich.
They are threatening to tell the authorities.
They had better not, Dietrich. It might be very bad for you.
You must pay them. All peasants are insatiably greedy,
aren't they, my dear?
Come. No more of your love life, Dietrich. It's too boring.
Joachim, more wine.
Really! Everyone's so dull this evening.
Gerta, you're worse than Dietrich.
If it is your pleasure, my lord, I'll go.
No, it is not my pleasure. You'll stay.
I want to know what you think of Frieda.
Don't you think she's beautiful?
She's all right.
That's not a very handsome compliment.
- You're not jealous, I hope? - I am a simple peasant girl.
We can be bought for a little gold.
- Insolence! - Gerta...
Silence, Dietrich. You need to be taught a lesson.
- Don't you think so? - Yes.
- Then we'll punish her together. - No!
My lord, I apologise. If you'll permit me to leave...
Joachim.
You don't mind, do you,
if we... play with Gerta?
You are very beautiful.
For you, all pleasures should be supreme.
And one supreme pleasure...
is to take a human life.
For all our pleasures, we must pay.
Will you pay?
Anything.
Look. What do you see?
We are the undead. Immortal. No man can harm us,
unless he bores a stake through our hearts or beheads us.
No one is protected from us, unless they hold the hated cross.
- You're a vampire. - Yes.
I can savour the most extreme of Satan's delights.
I can feed on the blood of a human victim.
- No... Not me. - It is a test.
One who is dedicated to the Devil will not die by a vampire's bite,
but will become one of the undead, a vampire.
The good and the innocent die.
No... Please...
Now...
Oh, no! No!
Another funeral pyre. Another sacrifice.
- They are frightened. - Is that an excuse for cruelty?
Five people have been found dead. Three have disappeared.
Three girls have been burned at the stake. Add those to the total.
- Anton, I know how you feel. - No, you don't.
You think I'm just angry. It's more than that.
I feel sick with fear and revulsion against myself.
- Anton. - Yes...
because I'm such a coward.
Oh, Ingrid. How much longer can decent people stand by...
and watch this reign of terror...
by Gustav Weil and his religious friends?
But what can we do?
I know some of those poor girls were innocent. I'm sure they were but...
Anyone poor, living alone and not a devoted member of the church...
Anyone young and pretty - their morals are questionable.
But Gustav has young and pretty nieces.
Under his protection.
That's probably just as well. They have a great many admirers.
Frieda in particular.
Did you think I wouldn't notice?
I'm afraid it's rather obvious.
Why Frieda, though? Maria seems much nicer to me.
Since one can hardly tell the difference...
I can. Maria is very nice, probably much nicer than Frieda,
but Frieda has a kind of fire inside her.
I can feel it burning when I'm near to her.
And she has a strange, mysterious quality.
Maria is like an open book.
With Frieda, you could go on learning about her forever.
It depends on what there is to learn.
Still, it's a very romantic notion.
- The only trouble is... - What?
If you want to court Gustav Weil's niece,
you'd better not offend him.
Someone has got to do something.
Frieda?
That's Uncle Gustav. You're just in time.
Who cares?
I may leave here altogether soon.
Although, in a way, I like having our uncle as my protector.
Frieda, you must stop it.
Uncle Gustav is bound to find out soon.
I can't keep covering up for you.
- I don't want to. - You will do what I tell you.
It was only luck he didn't find out today. He knew you weren't here.
- He what? - It was all right.
I pretended to be you. He can't tell the difference between us.
That's all right, then.
Except that he thrashed me with his belt,
because he said I was lying about not knowing where you were.
- Where YOU were. - Tomorrow, I'll get beaten again...
for being me because I wasn't home at dusk.
- My poor Maria... - It isn't fair.
Tomorrow, you ought to pretend to be me.
If he ever touches me, I'll kill him.
Frieda, what's happened to you? Ever since you went away that night,
you seem like a different person.
Yes.
Get ready to go out now, girls.
That's a lovely song, Anton.
We'll leave you to finish it in peace.
Right. Come on.
Anton, a visitor for you.
Gustav.
Won't you sit down?
You sent a letter to the elders of our church,
complaining of my ungodly behaviour.
Yes.
They have written to me, asking that I investigate...
whether you are a servant of the Devil.
- You read a great deal? - Yes.
Books on black magic, vampires.
I study history, and superstition is a part...
Superstition?
Do you not believe in the existence of the Devil?
I believe that wickedness exists in every man.
Then tell me now, do you believe in the existence of God?
Not in the cruel and vengeful being that you believe in,
- which must take a life for a life. - Burning purifies!
Not if you know anything about vampires!
By burning, you char the body.
The soul will recreate itself in another body...
and continue with its carnage.
Only a stake through the heart or decapitation...
can end their torment of evil...
if vampires exist.
You know they exist.
There are many things even men of learning do not understand.
If you ever interfere with the ways of the Brotherhood again,
you will suffer.
Take care, Anton... for your own sake.
And your sister's.
Gustav, I...
# Thou little youthful maiden...
# Come unto my great heart...
# For my heart and the sea and the heaven...
# Are melting away with love #
I'm sure you must be sending me away for some other reason.
Why this sudden concern for Aunt Heidi?
I'm worried about her. She must be ill or she would have written.
Anyway, a few days away will do you good.
I'm all right. It's you who seems nervous and upset.
Why don't you go? And what about the school?
- I can take the girls. - For crochet work?
For extra choir practice.
All right. I'll go.
But I think you want to be left alone with someone, and I know who.
What else did he say?
I don't know. I didn't hear it all. Aunt Kathy shut the door.
Something about everyone going on trial from now on,
for complicity with the Devil,
so that the village can see how just and lawful they are, I suppose.
- But he didn't threaten Anton? - I'm not sure.
He had some kind of a grudge against him.
What do you care? Are you in love with him?
Of course not.
The rest of the girls seem to be.
I'm not.
Frieda?
You won't go out tonight, will you?
Please. I get so frightened.
Don't you realise?
If I stayed... I might...
Oh! Leave me alone!
Help!
I regret my sister cannot be present.
An aunt of ours in the next village has taken sick.
I hope she'll be back this afternoon. Meanwhile, I'm taking her classes.
However, as I'm not competent to instruct you in needlecraft,
we shall have choir practice.
- Sir, can we have your song? - Well...
- Please. - All right.
Is it a hymn, sir? My father only allows us to sing hymns.
It's kind of a hymn. Ready?
So, schoolmaster, you do not believe in the Devil!
What's the meaning of this? I demand an explanation!
Gustav, what kind of charade is this?
A victim of the vampires you scorn, found this morning.
This is a schoolhouse, not a burial place.
You're disgusting, barbaric, all of you! Get out!
These girls are all our kin. We leave to you the training of their voices,
but we teach them the path to God and the byways of the Devil.
- No, I forbid it! - Let them all see...
and learn your lesson, choirmaster.
... through prophets and wise men and scribes,
and some of them ye shall kill...
Child, you should not be out so late.
Maria? Or is it Frieda?
Your uncle will be very angry.
...unto you...
Uncle, save me! It was terrible! We were attacked by vampires.
I only just escaped!
There is blood on your lips.
It came from a vampire. He tried to kiss me.
Uncle, please! You've got to believe me.
The Devil has sent me...
twins of evil!
Take her to the jail.
No! I won't let you go near that child.
Frieda, yes. I can believe anything of her. There is much you don't know.
- It might have been better if I did. - Why?
So that you can beat the Devil out of her?
Have you ever thought that you might have helped beat the Devil into her?
The young must be chastised.
I will not let you touch Maria.
- The Brotherhood wants to see her. - Let them see her now, asleep.
Asleep?
Clasping the holy cross to her breast.
And you'd call her a daughter of the Devil.
- Asleep... - I gave her a potion to calm her.
The way you appeared, ranting, I was fearful for her state of mind.
Woman, in what state of mind do you think I was?
Truly, I cannot imagine.
I have tried... always to be a good man.
Yes. You've tried.
And Frieda? What will become of her?
Can nothing be done for her? The spirit exorcised?
The Brotherhood...
They will decide.
No...
No... Frieda...
Don't go...
Please...
Not to that man...
He's wicked.
Count Karnstein...
- Frieda... - Count Karnstein?
Don't go to the castle. Not tonight...
Please...
The hour grows late.
Why delay any longer? Let us burn her now.
We agreed only two days ago that we would hold a trial.
- What for? Weren't we all there? - Aye!
Just because she's Gustav's niece.
Pray that your family may not be stricken.
And where is Gustav?
No... No...
- Guilty. - Guilty.
Guilty.
Then she must burn.
I'm coming.
I'm coming!
I knew you'd come.
You will be Maria now. Unsuspected, good and kind and virginal.
Think of the havoc you can cause.
Quickly. We must change them.
We must hurry.
Your uncle and his puritans are on their way here.
Brothers, we have seen death enough this night.
Let it be at dawn.
No. Why give the Devil time to come to aid his servant? Burn her now.
So be it.
Gustav!
I've only just heard. It's not true about Frieda?
- Yes. - But it's madness.
What proof have you? Any of you?
- The proof of our own eyes. - Oh, no!
All of us.
But Maria... Don't you see? If you kill Frieda, you'll kill Maria, too.
You can do nothing for Frieda. Maria is at the house.
Gustav! Gustav!
Where is the girl?
Frau Weil?
If proof were needed!
Look how the Devil's own sleep, careless of their sins.
Maria?
Anton.
My poor sister Frieda.
Maria.
Frieda?
- Where is your aunt? - I don't know.
- Is she not in the house? - No.
Then we're alone.
No. Not yet.
Anton...
Anton... You don't know how much I always wanted you.
Come on! Giddy up!
Gustav! Wait!
She couldn't help it. It was Count Karnstein. He seduced her!
- Gustav, listen... - Not now, woman! Not now.
- Take her away. - For God's sake, have mercy!
No, please. No... No...
I will do it.
No.
You've got the wrong girl. You're burning Maria!
No, you fools! You've got the wrong girl! The Devil has outwitted you.
It is Maria you're burning. You must believe me!
While you're burning this girl, Frieda is claiming more victims!
The Devil has taken your mind.
Hold up the holy cross and see if either of us flinch.
Oh, God... Oh, God...
Maria... Maria!
- Maria... - Wait!
- Where is her sister? - With Count Karnstein.
Oh, Lord. Lord, forgive me.
Will you dare burn him?
Yes!
But the Emperor's soldiers would burn our village.
Oh, yes. You're very quick to ride out into the forest,
to seek out a young girl or a mad old man,
anybody you can use as a convenient sacrifice to your conscience.
When it comes to a lord who you know worships evil, you hesitate.
We are not afraid. We serve the Lord. He is our protection.
Then let Him be your protection...
and seek out the evil you fear where it really is, in the castle,
where the Karnsteins have practised evil for centuries...
with their master - The Devil!
Yes! So why doesn't the Emperor act?
Because every man, king or peasant, is afraid of the Devil.
But there comes a time when courage must outweigh fear,
when a belief in the Lord must be not a pious belief,
but a reality in the face of death and damnation.
Yes!
If Count Karnstein is a vampire,
then no ruler on earth will save him!
- Burn them! - No! Burning is useless.
Fire will not vanquish vampires.
You must stake them through the heart or cut off their heads.
Sharpen your wooden stakes, use lances, axes.
Anton...
Is it true, a stake through the heart or decapitation...
returns a victim's innocence, sends their soul to God?
If one spark of God's spirit remains in them, yes.
God is with our cause! To the castle.
You're shivering. Is it the night air or fear of your Uncle Gustav?
I often wondered if this would happen, and it has.
- Well, let them come. - But...
But what?
Are you frightened... of that lovely white flesh...
burning in their fires of purification?
Let us go... quickly.
Why? Fire will not burn us.
It will melt our bodies, but without pain.
We will just laugh at them and find new bodies and new victims.
Yes, Joachim. We know. We are waiting for them.
They have crosses?
And stakes?
And axes?
Anton!
No, we will take the old tunnel.
Come!
No, Joachim. Someone must hold them off.
You must go that way.
Franz, see the women stay here.
We must guard every tunnel. Karnstein must be found.
No, we must find Karnstein first. Follow me.
Hold him!
- Hold him down! - Into the heart!
You must go first, and I'll keep watch.
Take her to the chapel.
What is it, child? What's the matter?
I suddenly felt a terrible pain... Something's happened to Frieda.
- I must find her! - Wait!
You two, over there. The rest of you spread out.
Frau Weil!
Frieda is dead.
- Take Maria back to the village. - Maria is gone.
- Where? - To find her sister.
You must find her quickly!
Frieda...
Maria!
Let me go! Help! No!
Come on, lads. See if Karnstein's down there.
You follow me.
Come on! Keep moving!
Tell the men to hold back! He's got Maria!
No, you can't. She's too close.
- There must be some way. - We can only trust in God.
- Now... join your sister. - No!
Gustav.
I have waited a long time for this moment.
And I, too.
Just one blow, Weil, and it must be here,
or you will join the Devil's souls.
Gustav!