Organnall Too much about the plot just didn't add up, the writing was bad, some of the scenes were cringey and awkward,

FrogGlace In other words,this film is a surreal ride.

Delight Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

Billy Ollie Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

preppy-3 SPOILERS AHEAD!!!! I caught this a few years ago at a revival theatre in Massachusetts. They had to special order a copy of it from Germany. I knew that it was a political vampire film--I believe it likened fascism to vampirism. Not a bad idea but the movie is a total mess. For starters some of the subtitles were misspelled ("piece" was used instead of "peace") and the plot was basically nonexistent. It just had a bunch of people in bad vampire makeup mumbling some political propaganda. My audience took it seriously--at first. Then when it became obvious that the film was going nowhere and repeating itself the audience began to laugh. When the villagers in the movie destroyed the vampires my audience was in hysterics. Gotta love the scene where a woman is slapping a dead person...and the guy obviously blinks! It all leads to a truly stupid ending with the vampires being forced into water and dissolving (????) So, the basic idea was not bad but this movie didn't know how to handle it in an interesting (or coherent) manner. Hard to find for obvious reasons. I give it a 1.

tintin-23 I saw Jonathan in the early '70s, at the old Harvard Square Theater, in Cambridge, MA, and I have been looking for it to reappear on the screens ever since (or maybe on DVD). Contrary to the "classical" vampire film, Jonathan's plot is rather an original one, in so far that it carries a political message. A bunch of aristocratic, fascist vampires, led by the evil Count, have taken over the country. They have turned their peasant population into slaves and literally suck the blood out of them. In their midst, a hero appears, ready to destroy this scourge. I think it would be most "a propos," given the neo-aristocratic present administration of Bush "le petit," for this film to be reissued.I do not remember all the details of the film, the cinematography, acting, etc, but I do remember being enthralled by it and kept riveted in my chair. Given these vague memories, it is difficult for me to give this film a precise rating, but I can safely give it a seven or eight stars. So let's go with eight.

nicedood i was looking endless for this movie and finally got my hands on a DVD copy. its a very political movie, if you see it in the context of the time that it was made. it has a great camera, that starts of a certain point for example, then goes without a cut for some minutes through a scene and ends again with the scene from the beginning, continuing the story it had started in the first location. other parts of the movie remind more of a play performed on a stage. the surroundings and behaviour look very staged but though very familiar. and not to forget the great "dracula", the one second you think you might look through his mask, but the next second you notice he fooled you. great acting. i really can recommend that movie, even if the political aspect might be a little antique. its this old style though that makes the whole movie so refreshing. it should be a must in everyones vampire collection, thats for sure. i think i'll watch my DVD again soon, its definitely worth a second look.

dbborroughs This a weird retelling of the Dracula story reconfigured as to be some sort of anti-fascist film. Its a beautiful film to look at but more than a bit strange in execution.The plot, if I picked it up correctly, has to do with a town that has been held in the grip of a band of vampires who all dress in what reminds one of fascist uniforms. Their leader bears more than a passing resemblance to Hitler, but with out the mustache. Deciding that they have had enough of the terror they form a plan to drive all of the vampires into the ocean. In order to get better information on the vampires they send in one of their own to the vampires castle.What transpires after that is both interesting and very pretentious, unfortunately the pretentiousness wins out. You have speeches and discussions that are less than veiled discussions of politics and completely ruin any normal sense of horror. You have a group of young girls who appear in many scenes of the vampires performing odd ballet or synchronized moves and in so doing distract you from the main action of the scene. It wouldn't be so bad except that much of the film can't make up its mind as to what its about, is it a horror film or a political film? I don't think it fully knows. The result of the confusion is a film that often comes off as being very funny, the problem is I can't be sure how much of it is suppose to be funny.The best part of this film is the look of it. This is one of those movies that amazes you with every shot. No matter what is going on, silly or serious, it all looks great. It sucks you in simply because you want to see the images that pass before your eyes. This film has tracking shots and haunting images that will stay with me forever (Two high points that come to mind are the first time we go to the vampires castle and travel among all of them; and the final sequence on the beach which has some haunting imagery.) Can I recommend this film? Truthfully, not to anyone who isn't a vampire completest or a film nut who loves to see beautifully shot films since the cinematography is what makes this work despite its pretentious flaws,