LEMORA: A CHILD'S TALE OF THE SUPERNATURAL (1973)

[The Burgomaster]

This is a pretty good vampire / fairy tale that could have been quite scary if they had used a better actress to play Lemora and refined the dialogue a bit.

The late Cheryl Smith (later known as Cheryl "Rainbeaux" Smith) plays Lila Lee, a young, religious girl who sings in the church choir.  After her gangster father kills his wife and her lover, Lila receives a letter from a woman named Lemora.  The letter says that Lila's father is at Lemora's house and is dying.

Lila makes her way to Lemora's house in the forest by walking, stowing away in the back seat of a car, and taking a creepy bus ride.  She learns that Lemora is actually a vampire who kidnaps children and turns them into the undead.  One creepy scene features Lemora and her children drinking blood from goblets.

Unfortunately, some of the acting and dialogue make portions of this movie laughable.  However, overall, it is an interesting, atmospheric vampire flick that reminded me of a cross between HANSEL AND GRETEL, LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD, THE WIZARD OF OZ, and DRACULA.  It's never boring and has a perfect running time of 85 minutes.

[alandhopewell]

     I just bought a DVD copy of this recently (I'd seen it on tv years ago), and I really love it; the issues with acting, characterization, etc. only add to the surrealistic air of LEMORA, IMHO.

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[AoTFan]

Interesting things of note here... the congregation of the church is entirely composed of women.  I think they mentioned that in a special about the film and had a reason for it, but can't recall what it is.

Dunno if it's an homage or not, but in the commercial for the game Portal 2, GLADOS tells the two robots that run the mazes in CO-OP mode that they'd better do what she says or, "....I'll make you wish you could die."  which is almost the exact same line the vampire queen gives some of her henchmen.

The title is slightly misleading, but I suppose A Teenager's Tale of the Supernatural wouldn't have the same ring to it. 

[major jay]

Great atmosphere. If I'm remembering right everything occurs at night.

[RCMerchant]

Not many movies give me the creeps. This one did. It's like a Windsor McKay cartoon-with vampires.