Kingdom of Hungary, 17th century. As she gets older, powerful Countess Erzsébet Báthory (1560-1614), blinded by the passion that she feels for a younger man, succumbs to the mad delusion that blood will keep her young and beautiful forever.
Directed by Julie Delpy
hungary
biography
serial killer
older woman younger man relationship
revisionist history
noblewoman
woman director
17th century
gerascophobia
holy roman empire
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
3.1 / 5
Where to Watch
Cast
Julie Delpy
Erzsébet Báthory
Daniel Brühl
István Thurzó
William Hurt
György Thurzó
Anamaria Marinca
Darvulia
Maria Simon
Helena
Sebastian Blomberg
Dominic Vizakna
Adriana Altaras
Aunt Klara
Charly Hübner
Ferenc Nádasdy
Andy Gätjen
Miklós
Frederick Lau
Janós
Katrin Pollitt
Dorothea
Anna Maria Mühe
Bertha
Crew
Julie Delpy
Director
Julie Delpy
Screenplay
Julie Delpy
Original Music Composer
Martin Ruhe
Director of Photography
Hengameh Panahi
Co-Producer
Pierre-Yves Gayraud
Costume Designer
Stefan Arndt
Associate Producer
Manuela Stehr
Associate Producer
Rainer Werner
Stunt Coordinator
Jana Müller
Painter
Popular Reviews
15 reviews
Alanna dwyer
8.0★ · 01/01/26
“Why am I so scared to die? Because I do not believe in you or the eternity of the soul. When I die I shall rot and nothing will be left of me.”
The Countess is based on the story of Erzsébet Báthory and treats it more like a historical character study than a horror film. It focuses on her position, her fear of aging, and the way power protects her for so long. Julie Delpy plays her in a restrained way, which keeps the film distant and unemotional. The violence isn’t sensationalized and the film doesn’t try to turn her into a legend. It’s slow, bleak, and mostly interested in how her status allowed what happened to continue. It also reflects the reality of being a woman in the 17th century, where status was fragile and tied to youth, marriage, and fertility. Power was inherited but never fully secure, and aging meant becoming disposable. The film shows how that pressure shaped her need for control, not as empowerment, but as something warped by a society that gave women very little room to exist outside of usefulness.
“Why am I so scared to die? Because I do not believe in you or the eternity of the soul. When I die I shall rot and nothing will be left of me.”
The Countess is based on the story of Erzsébet Báthory and treats it more like a historical character study than a horror film. It focuses on her position, her fear of aging, and the way power protects her for so long. Julie Delpy plays her in a restrained way, which keeps the film distant and unemotional. The violence isn’t sensationalized and the film doesn’t try to turn her into a legend. It’s slow, bleak, and mostly interested in how her status allowed what happened to continue. It also reflects the reality of being a woman in the 17th century, where status was fragile and tied to youth, marriage, and fertility. Power was inherited but never fully secure, and aging meant becoming disposable. The film shows how that pressure shaped her need for control, not as empowerment, but as something warped by a society that gave women very little room to exist outside of usefulness.
Mercè
5.0★ · 12/28/24
rip erzsebet you wouldve loved the substance (2024)
rip erzsebet you wouldve loved the substance (2024)
bumblebeegirl
9.0★ · 10/20/24
I wanna watch the same story but directed by Tim Burton
I wanna watch the same story but directed by Tim Burton
sam
6.0★ · 06/25/23
I've seen better porn
I've seen better porn
val kilmer
4.8★ · 07/31/22
obsessed w/ a young daniel brühl ? she’s just like me fr
obsessed w/ a young daniel brühl ? she’s just like me fr
