The Bloody Lady

1981 / dir. Viktor Kubal / 77 min. / New 2K restoration

Lady Elisabeth Báthory lives a charmed life in a resplendent Romanesque castle, surrounded by Disney-esque wildlife and a colorful cast of obliging servants. Taking ill one day while traveling through the forest, she’s nursed back to health by a handsome woodsman, and in gratitude gifts him with her own heart. But upon returning home, Lady Báthory’s sunny disposition quickly turns murderous and vampiric once she discovers the secret to heart-less eternal youth lies in draining the blood of all the young women and men in her castle.

Widely considered one of Slovak animation’s crown jewels, The Bloody Lady is an improbable and bewitching fusion of gothic horror and classic children’s animation, retelling of the infamous Čachtická castle and Báthory folk tale which is often cited as the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Recently treated to haunting live score by celebrated indie musician claire rousay, this underseen gem is a new cult classic in the making.

The Bloody Lady is the centerpiece of Viktor Kubal: Father of Slovak Animation, a retrospective of the landmark Eastern Bloc animator’s pioneering work in much-loved children’s shorts as well as subversive – though no less groundbreaking – feature films.

Host or Publisher SPACE