The Bloody Lady

The minimalist Soviet art style works so well with the story. The no dialogue is such a smart touch too.

The minimalist Soviet art style works so well with the story. The no dialogue is such a smart touch too.

Day 6 of Ray Dombi’s Spooky Film Jam:

Erzsébet Báthory is known as the most prolific alleged female serial killer. Her and her servants were accused of killing hundreds of people in modern day Slovakia and it was rumored that Erzsébet bathed in the blood of her victims. Historians, however, say that these claims are false and that the accusations may have been circulated to redistribute power to neighboring powers. The Bloody Lady is an animated take of the more fantastical account of Bathory’s alleged killings. The art direction is incredibly simple, but effective when certain kills happen. There’s this one kill where she astral projects her naked body in another room, lures her victim with an embrace, and stabs them with her titties. Kind of sick. 

3.5 out of 5 Falling out traps.

Day 6 of Ray Dombi’s Spooky Film Jam:

Erzsébet Báthory is known as the most prolific alleged female serial killer. Her and her servants were accused of killing hundreds of people in modern day Slovakia and it was rumored that Erzsébet bathed in the blood of her victims. Historians, however, say that these claims are false and that the accusations may have been circulated to redistribute power to neighboring powers. The Bloody Lady is an animated take of the more fantastical account of Bathory’s alleged killings. The art direction is incredibly simple, but effective when certain kills happen. There’s this one kill where she astral projects her naked body in another room, lures her victim with an embrace, and stabs them with her titties. Kind of sick. 

3.5 out of 5 Falling out traps.

In its simplistic for, The Bloody Lady’s animated retelling of the tale of Countess Elizabeth Báthory is fun, cute, and engaging. The simple, clean look of the film with its watercolour backgrounds and bright, vivid colours make for an initially saccharine film that then turns gleefully dark mere minutes in. The moment Báthory kicks an animal after giving away her heart is the moment that we see the true ramifications of that innocent act. The repeated deaths of the women sent to her feel even more gruesome in this film’s limited colour palette and as a result feel more visceral when we realize the deep red bath is that of blood. It’s incredibly strong, evocative imagery that takes Kubal’s style to a harsh contrast

In its simplistic for, The Bloody Lady’s animated retelling of the tale of Countess Elizabeth Báthory is fun, cute, and engaging. The simple, clean look of the film with its watercolour backgrounds and bright, vivid colours make for an initially saccharine film that then turns gleefully dark mere minutes in. The moment Báthory kicks an animal after giving away her heart is the moment that we see the true ramifications of that innocent act. The repeated deaths of the women sent to her feel even more gruesome in this film’s limited colour palette and as a result feel more visceral when we realize the deep red bath is that of blood. It’s incredibly strong, evocative imagery that takes Kubal’s style to a harsh contrast