User reviews

The delicious Collinson twins, Mary and Madeleine, are reason enough to catch this technically accomplished and subtly erotic horror flick from Hammer; these ladies are sex incarnate and burn up the screen every time they appear.

Twins aside, director John Hough's contribution to English vampire lore is a very tight, exceptionally well directed and staged tale of bloodsucking and rampant desire.

Peter Cushing, as Gustav Weil, is the God-fearing leader of The Brotherhood, a bunch of old witch-finders who stalk pretty girls with bad reputations and confine them to burning crosses. Life gets complicated for old Gustav when his sexy niece (Madeleine Collinson) gets curious about Karnstein castle and its Satan-worshipping occupant (Damien Thomas) and decides to open her legs and heart to the arrogant neck-biter.

TWINS OF EVIL gets everything right. The photography, by Dick Bush, is stunning; the miniature work is never less than believable; the violence is more bloody than usual. The on-screen nudity is more explicit than is typical for a Hammer production and the storyline adequately provides for a generous amount of chills and thrills.

An evocative exploration of the fascinating nature of evil and reasons aplenty to submit to the humid charms of ladies with voracious appetites.

Highly recommended.

Hammer has a lucky to be able to make this movie after the British movies raise age allowing from 16 to 18 years old to show more nudity scenes as gory neither, was the sexual revolution that gave an upgrade and freedom, after a strong wave of liberalism from Europe, then Twins of Evil was made with two premises, firstly the Brotherhood of the Puritans leading by the bigot Gustav Weil (Peter Cushing) whom pursuit young women supposedly by practice of witchcraft and burning all them at fire without mercy, in other hand the Count Karnstein (Damien Thomas) protect by the Emperor stays free to get their victms, Mircalla arose from the grave, just to justified the trilogy's name, in fact she wasn't in the plot, then appears on the little village a gorgeous twins Sister from Italy after lost her father, Frieda and Maria (the Maltese Collinson sisters) a soft sexploitation picture has just few scenes cut by censorship, the candle a dared suggestive scene and the when Frieda bites a woman breast, the DVD bring all scenes in fullness as conceived at this time, also some front nudity showing pubes, one greatest movies from Hammer fully restored !!!

Resume:

First watch: 2015 / How many: 2 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.75

In my opinion a Hammer Vampire Classic. It's early 70's, so Hammer Studios are mixing blood sucking with naked buxom wenches. Prior to this, punters had to be content with heaving bosoms, rather than the full monty.

This is the 3rd part of the Karnstein Trilogy, with Vampire Lovers and Lust For A Vampire being the other movies in the series. They are all a similar take on the same story - Vampire Lovers has a lesbian flavour, and Lust For A Vampire is set in a finishing school for girls. All have the Karnstein family as the predatory vampires in one form or another.

Twins Of Evil has Playmates Mary and Madeleine Collinson in the title roles, the twist being one is good and one evil. The evil one is drawn to the roguish Count on the hill, and falls prey to his blood-sucking tendencies. Meanwhile, Uncle Gustav (Peter Cushing) is hunting down suspected witches in a puritanical fervor, leading to him doubting the purity of his twin nieces. Satanic undertones and a love interest with handsome Anton Hoffer are thrown in to keep the movie rolling along.

Hammer Horror Films are always full of great sets, costumes and stirring music (usually re-used from the previous five movies) and this scores high on all three. The Collinson twins are better Playmates than actresses, but fill their parts and costumes magnificently. Peter Cushing had just lost his wife, and his acting has a harder edge to it than normal - perhaps due to this sad loss.

Anything from the 70's is going to look a bit dated now, but I think that Hammer got the Gothic feel and sex-horror mix about right with this fine outing. It's a Midnight Matinee vampire romp that should not disappoint.

TWINS OF EVIL

Aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Sound format: Mono

This exquisite, sexually charged shocker (the third and final entry in Hammer's unofficial Karnstein trilogy, following THE VAMPIRE LOVERS and LUST FOR A VAMPIRE, both produced in 1970) was directed by John Hough, a talented journeyman who began his career in British television (including notable episodes of "The Avengers") and later helmed the much-acclaimed ghost story THE LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE (1973) before relocating to America and getting lost on the Hollywood treadmill. Here, working with a clever script (by Tudor Gates) and elegant period art direction (by Roy Stannard), he maintains a graceful period style which belies the film's threadbare budget and modest ambitions: A decadent lord of the manor (Damien Thomas) summons the ghost of Mircalla Karnstein (Katya Wyeth) from her grave and is subsequently transformed into a vampire, whereupon he targets the beautiful twin nieces of a local witchfinder (Peter Cushing).

The plot is pure melodrama, but Hough plays it straight for the most part, except for a couple of humorous episodes early in the film (such as the notorious 'candle' incident during an unlikely sexual encounter between Thomas and Wyeth!). The performances are fairly theatrical, though Cushing's zealous witchfinder is a study in quiet intensity (the actor looks particularly gaunt here, having lost his beloved wife shortly before commencement of principal photography). Former 'Playboy' centerfolds Madeleine and Mary Collinson - who appear to have been dubbed in an effort to beef up their unskilled performances - are visually stunning in the bosomy Hammer style, while David Warbeck (later a cult favorite in mainland European exploitation movies), Dennis Price (KIND HEARTS AND CORONETS), Isobel Black (THE KISS OF THE VAMPIRE) and Kathleen Byron (BLACK NARCISSUS) are featured in major supporting roles. The film was released theatrically with a UK 'X' certificate in 1971 because of some sloppy gore and a handful of self-conscious nude scenes, though the British censor has since awarded the uncut video print a lowly '15' rating, which indicates how attitudes have changed in the intervening years.

Mary and Madeleine Collinson play the title roles, and Peter Cushing and Damien Thomas are Protector and Tempter, respectively. The plot: in the 18th century a Vampire has terrorized the village for centuries. Members of the local church respond by going around and burning women as witches. The title girls arrive in the village and cause havoc, possibly because of their cleavage. One Twin is more Evil than the other; the viewer can predict the plot from there.

Vampire lore was changed to fit the filmmakers needs. Alert viewers will notice one Huge verbal mistake , and at least one visual goof.

The women under 40 are well endowed, and show as much cleavage as allowed. The color is more subdued than in some Hammer films. The gore is bright as ever, ketchup/catsup and red paint substituting for blood.

Not bad, but not essential horror viewing.

Gustav Weil (Peter Cushing) is the leader of a rampaging vigilante group determined to eradicate vampires and witches. Weil's job is complicated when his twin nieces move in with him, and one of them is attracted to the local bloodsucker. Frieda and Maria (Madeleine and Mary Collinson) discover the allure of sinister aristocrat Count Karnstein (Damien Thomas), and he unleashes the evil inherent in one of them ... but can Weil tell which one?

Netflix says this film features "busty teenage orphans". Not sure what to make of that. I guess it is true they do spend part of the time laying around in low-cut nightgowns, and another time the nightgown of one comes open when a crucifix is thrown at her, and they were Playboy models, but is this the selling point of the film?

From director John Hough ("Legend of Hell House"), based off of "Camilla" and being a Hammer Production, you know this is going to be good. Not sure what to make of the black servant who grunts and gesticulates wildly, being treated like Lassie, though.

Some reviews stress the way this film "tears" the audience: you do not want to root for the vampire, but you also do not want to side with the puritan. I thought the decision was pretty easy, but maybe some people get torn on issues like this.

Filmed on the same set as the better-known "Vampire Circus", this one is not to be missed. Really, any time Peter Cushing fights vampires is not to be missed.

Loosely based on characters created by author Sheridan Le Fanu, TWINS OF EVIL concern twin sisters Maria and Freida (Mary and Madeline Collison) who have been recently orphaned and are sent to live with their guardian and uncle Gustav Weil (Peter Cushing.) Gustav is a most unpleasant man, the leader of a religious "brotherhood" whose ideas of salvation and repentance involves routing out every attractive woman in the district and burning them alive at the steak. Ironically, Gustav's hapless victims are innocent, and he finds himself unable to attack the real evil of the locality: the devil-worshiping Count Karnstein (Damien Thomas), who enjoys the protection of the Emperor.

Needless to say, it is not long before the sisters catch the attention of the Count, who has now been transformed by the black arts into a vampire--and one of the sisters soon falls under his sway. But truth be told, Gustav is such a distasteful creature himself that it becomes difficult to know which of the two men is worst.

Like most Hammer Horrors, TWINS abounds with well endowed women in plunging necklines and enough colorful gore to float a small boat. But in this instance, the splashes of blood are all the more effective for the muted background against which they are seen. The usually baroque settings of most Hammer films is not in evidence here, little is romanticized, and the atmosphere is quite tense.

The Collison twins (whose last film this was) give reasonable performances and are so attractive that you do not mind the fact they have very obviously been dubbed by English-speaking actors. Damien Thomas makes for an impressively suave vampire, and David Warbeck is appealing as the hero of the piece. But the real drive of the film comes from Peter Cushing, who gives a surprisingly powerful performance as the maniacal Gustav; if given the choice between facing him or trying to ward off Thomas' vampire, well, most of us would probably feel we had a better chance against Count Karnstein! It is an unexpected effect, and it is quite powerful.

This is not to say that TWINS OF EVIL is without flaws, and now and then some pretty big ones. The script is no winner, and the details of the story are a bit loose, to say the least. The sisters are supposed to be from Vienna, but they somehow wind up in what seems to be a very unappealing area of Germany where the men all dress like American Puritans! There are also one or two scenes that border on the unintentionally comic. But most viewers will be able to suspend disbelief for the film's duration. Recommended for fans of both Hammer and Gothic horror.

GF

The third and final entry to the 'Karnstein Trilogy', "Twins of Evil" of 1971 is doubtlessly one of the creepiest and best films the great British Hammer Studios have brought forth in the early 70s. After the fantastic "The Vampire Lovers" (1970) and the mediocre "Lust For A Vampire" (1971), this prequel to its predecessors is set in 17th century Austria (my home country), and unites several favorite Horror elements such as Witchhunts, Devil-Worshiping and Vampirism. After many Hammer beauties in other films, "Twins of Evil" brings us the eponymous twins in the leading role, played by the 19-year old former Playboy playmates Madeleine and Mary Collinson. Even though the busty twin sisters, as well as some of other beauties are very nice to look at, this film relies less strongly on eroticism than its predecessors, and focuses mainly on creepiness and suspense. The film follows the 70s Horror-trend of witch-hunts, which became popular after Michael Reeves' British Horror masterpiece "Witchfinder General" (1968) starring the great Vincent Price. This time, it is another brilliant Horror icon, Hammer's very own Peter Cushing, who plays a merciless Witchfinder. Only that this ruthless witch-hunter stands in opposition to a devil-worshiping clan of Vampires - The Karnsteins.

After their parents' death, Venice twins Frieda and Maria Gellhorn (Madeleine and Mary Collinson) are sent to live with their aunt and uncle in an Austrian village. The uncle Gustav Weil (Peter Cushing), a strict religious fanatic, is the leader of a puritan group called 'the brotherhood'. After mysterious deaths, Weil and his henchmen, who believe the murders to be the work of the devil, abduct young women and burn them at the stake for alleged witchcraft. It is quite obvious though, that these women are innocent. The satanic Count Karnstein, who spends his time with bloody rituals, lives in the castle on a mountain near to the village...

"Twins of Evil" magnificently combines several great Horror themes. A classic Vampire story comes along with and Witchhunts, Devil-Worshipping, all presented in a Hammer-typical, beautifully creepy Gothic atmosphere. In my opinion, many of the greatest Hammer films are from the early 70s, as they maintained the beautiful Gothic style and elegant creepiness of their earlier gems, and, at the same time, mixed different Horror-themes and introduced the more explicit themes of the 70s (such more explicit gore and mild erotica). This film has all the classic Gothic Hammer elements - foggy grounds, dark forests, graveyards and eerie castles etc, combined with gruesome elements and genuinely frightening moments. Peter Cushing (in my humble opinion, one of the greatest actors who ever lived) shines as the merciless Witchfinder, a role that fits him brilliantly. The sexy leading ladies Madeleine and Mary Collinson make the film a joy to look at. Director John Hough, who would later make films such as "The Legend of Hell House" (1972) as well the "Treasure Island" adaptation with Orson Welles (1972), deserves great praise for making this one Hammer's most elegant, suspenseful and chilling films. Beautifully filmed in the Hammer-typical uncanny visual style and accompanied by a nice score, "Twins of Evil" is doubtlessly one of the most atmospheric Hammer films from the early 70s, and it also ranks up there among their all-time greats. Highly recommended and a must-see for all Hammer fans!

In the 19th century, beautiful identical orphaned twins come to live in a small Austrian village of Karnstein with their aunty and a Puritan witch hunter uncle. One of them is innocently sweet, but the other is rebellious, and decides to pay a visit to a Count that worships the devil and who her uncle doesn't like at all. During the visit she falls mercy of the count and becomes of one of the dead just like him. So, when her uncle finds out it doesn't take long for those Puritans wanting her to be burned at the stake.

I'm not a real massive fan of Hammer studio, but for me it feels like when you've seen one you've basically seen them all. That might be a pretty frank claim to make, but that's not to say I didn't enjoy this piece and some of their other works, because some have actually surprised me, just like 'The Mummy', 'The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires' and this particular one. These couple of films I got right into it, but some others rather bore me too death. It's just that England's legendary Hammer studio is for required tastes. Sometimes for me they work, but other times I couldn't care less. But that being said I found 'Twins of Evil' was basically the usual Hammer that had some flavour amongst the routine camp. These would be no other than Peter Cushing's priceless performance as the imposing Gustav Weil the malicious witch hunter, which it lifts the film out of the ordinary. He and is fanatic witch/vampire chasing Puritans were the life of the party. Wanting to burn basically every pretty girl they came across! But what did destroy the mood in those scenes was that I couldn't stop thinking of 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail', which has a scene about dim-witted people accusing a girl of witchcraft, which kept on popping up in my head.

While, the lustfulness was pretty high in this flick with its sexual tones and gratuitous nudity and flesh flowing. Which has kinda made its way into the latter day Hammer. Also that's the same for the violence, as there's some grisly bloodletting that's a huge delight, with impalement and decapitation. But in doing so it leaves the atmosphere for patent terror. What made film easy on the eyes were the two lead girls, the Collinson twins Mary and Madeleine were magazine pinups. They were damn right sexy, but also elegant in their revealing gowns and were plain beautiful. Damien Thomas gave an accomplished performance as the evilly suave Count Karnstein. Everyone gave a better than average performance. But there's no real mystery why these twin girls were cast in these roles, although Cushing is rightly the star here.

The film looks great and just like always Hammer captures the period strongly, from the set details of Karnstein's castle to the clothing and props. Sometimes scenes did come off as under lit, but that's due to the woodland setting that branched out throbbing sense uneasiness. Rattling behind the picture is the trademark boisterous score. While, the direction didn't come off as complete. Not enough action was sustained and there was too much chat, I thought. It's just some sequences were done to death in the film, that you already kinda get the point. But in those moments of action, it does become incredibly tense, with some clever twists and heart pounding pacing. That goes for the highly suspenseful finale. The plot device is nothing more than good vs. evil, from the twin girls too the battle of faith and religion. From what I grasp it's boring to be good, and people love bad girls. Is that far from the truth? Perhaps I'm reading too much into it. Oh well.

Highly entertaining Hammer fluff.

From it's stunning opening to its shattering climax, Twins of Evil is an unremittingly brutal movie. Burnings, stabbings and decapitations are unflinchingly displayed, and, because this *is* a seventies Hammer film, there's some softcore nudity as well. But for all that, this is also a supremely elegant film that shies from clear-cut good and evil distinctions, preferring to paint its characters in subtler shades. Peter Cushing gives a magnificent performance, taking the single-minded fanaticism of his Van Helsing character and notching it up several degrees to create the truly terrifying Gustav Weil. Weil, a ruthless, sexually-repressed Puritan, gets his kicks from burning young women whom he accuses of witchcraft. Only Cushing could imbue the potentially laughable line 'the devil has sent me twins of evil!' with a shiver of sexual pleasure as he anticipates the inevitable pyre.

Visually, Twins of Evil is stunning. There are several set-piece moments, including a beautifully directed vampire resurrection, and the climactic tableau on the steps of Karnstein Castle. The film is saturated in blues and greens, which only makes the dayglo-red blood seem all the more shocking. The score, and the opening theme in particular, is memorable.

Twins of Evil is a remarkable film, taking the grandeur of The Brides of Dracula and the brutal intensity of Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed, and combining them with the new house style introduced in The Vampire Lovers. What really distinguishes it from its contemporaries is Cushing's brilliant performance: more villainous than the dandyish Count Karnstein, more heroic than the ponderous Anton, the synthesis of antagonist/protagonist in Weil elevates Twins of Evil to genuine greatness. The best of Hammer's latterday horror films.

"Twins of evil" or "The Gemini twins" or "The virginal twins" is a nice horror film from Hammer Productions . Beautiful female twins fall victim to the local vampire and their God-fearing uncle : Peter Cushing is out to save/destroy them . The centerfold Collinson twins are : the bad , sabre-toothed, voracious fiend Madeleine Collinson and the good damsel in distress Mary Collinson who are pursued by a thirsty bloodsucker aristocrat : Damien Thomas . One uses her beauty for love ! One uses lure for Blood ! Which is the Virgin? Which is the Vampire ? . A new terror-filled X film. Satanic power turns men and women into blood slaves !

Hammer sex and blood-sucking epic starring the marvellous Collinsons Sisters who were featured in the October 1970 issue of Playboy as the first twin Playmates . Some great Gothic moments support really the action and the gorgeous sisters steal the show. It belongs to Karnstein trilogy written by novelist Sheridan Le Fanu in his novel Carmilla , formed by "Vampire Lovers" 1970 by Roy Ward Baker with Ingrid Pitt , Peter Cushing , Pipa Steele , its sequel "Lust for a Vampire" 1971 by Jimmy Sangster with Barbara Jefford , Ralph Bates , Suzanna Leigh and this prequel "Twins of Evil". Providing effectively marking out the tension between unchecked licentiousness and virginal repression lying at the core of the genre . Stars the great Peter Cushing who gives a phenomenal acting , as always . Along with other fine secondaries as David Warbeck , Dennis Price , Judy Matheson and Kathleen Byron .

It displays a colorful and intense cinematography by Dick Bush . As well as a moving and thrilling musical score by Harry Roberson. The motion picture was professionally directed by John Hough , a British craftsman with a long career making all kind of genres , such as : Adventure : "Black Arrow" , Wartime : "Brass Target" , Action : "Dirty Mary Crazy Love" , Fantasy : Witch Mountain" , "Return from Witch Mountain" , "Watcher in the woods" , Western : "Triumphs of a Man Called Horse" , and Terror : "Incubus" , "Legend of Hell House" , "Twins of Evil". Rating : above average horror film that will appeal to Hammer enthusiasts . Well worth seeing .

Hammer movies seem to divide horror fans. You either dig them or you don't, and I most certainly do! In my opinion even the weaker movies from that studio are still worth a look, and 'Twins Of Evil' is one of the better ones, and therefore essential viewing. It may not be as great as 'The Vampire Lovers', which it has a tenuous link to (it isn't really a "sequel" as such but also deals with the wicked Karnstein family, so if you haven't seen the former, don't sweat it), but it's still damn entertaining. Horror legend and Hammer regular Peter Cushing puts in a strong performance as the overly zealous witchfinder Gustav Weil. He always can be depended upon to take the material seriously, sometimes more seriously than it deserves. The Collinson twins who play his nieces are pretty and can act adequately, but show nowhere near as much flesh as you might expect. They may be the stars according to the title of the movie but are easily overshadowed by Cushing and cult figures Dennis Price (Franco's 'Vampyros Lesbos', the Vincent Price black comedy 'Theatre Of Blood') and David Warbeck (Fulci's 'The Black Cat' and 'The Beyond', and Russ Meyer's little seen 'Blacksnake!'). The rest of the supporting cast are all fine, especially Damien Thomas as the decadent Count Karnstein. As I said 'Twins Of Evil' didn't impress me as much as 'The Vampire Lovers' which I still think is THE Hammer vampire classic, but along with 'Vampire Circus' it is an underrated movie that deserves to be seen by every horror buff. Director John Hough incidentally went on to make the frightening 'Legend Of Hell House' and the cult Peter Fonda road movie 'Dirty Mary Crazy Larry'. 'Twins Of Evil' is yet another solid effort from the much loved Hammer studios.

The last entry in the "Karnstein Trilogy" by Hammer Studios in the early 1970s, Twins of Evil, tells the story of a pair of nieces moving from Venice to live with their uncle in backward Eastern Europe right in the middle of superstition and a sect known as the Brotherhood, a group of Calvinistic vigilantes ridding the land of beautiful, full-figured women labeled witches(the waste! the incredible waste!..ah me!). Their uncle Gustav Weil(Peter Cushing) just happens to be the leader of this dubious sect and the nieces just happen to be Playboy centerfolds Madeleine and Mary Collinson - the Collinson twins. Now, what really can go wrong you might ask with Hammer, Cushing, and two beautiful playboy twins showing ample cleavage in every scene...just doubly so? Well, those aspects certainly have their pluses - thankfully we are also given a script with some backbone to it. This was not the case with its precursor Lust for a Vampire. We get a story about the aristocratic overlord of the area Count Karnstein(Damien Thomas) practicing sacrifice and black magic and worshiping Satan. The house has servants and even an old family adviser(the wonderful Dennis Price - not really given much to do unfortunately). What happened to the empty castle we saw in Lust for a Vampire? The twins are polarized by their personality - one good and malleable the other evil and adventuresome. You can probably guess where the story goes from there and be fairly close I liked a lot of things about Twins of Evil. The acting is good overall. Peter Cushing gives a good, uncharacteristic performance as a truly evil man fighting evil. No one in the films really comes off as being good - the film questions that perception throughout. I like films that make me think a bit, even if it is sandwiched between witch-burning and ogling large, heaving bosoms. The sets, production values, and lush Hammer quality is fairly evident. But even with so much to offer, I did not like the spirit of the film for the very same reason I liked how it made me think. The film has a cold-hearted center that is not all that common in Hammer films. In fact it reminded me a bit of The Witch-Finder General with Vincent Price. A very good film and Price gives a very good performance - but he is thoroughly unlikable in the film. No Price trademarks - all those qualities that made me a huge fan of his. I felt the same way with Cushing in this film. He is good make no mistake, but he plays a thoroughly unlikable character - something Cushing has never done for me at least. Even when he plays a bad guy I still find something I like about him(Dr. Frankenstein in those Hammer films are just several examples). Here he is so cold-hearted that every bit of charm he normally oozes is totally expunged. I guess it is just my take on the film. Nonetheless, Twins of Evil is recommended viewing. Look at it really as a separate film rather than part of the trilogy. It is a Karnstein film in names and places only.

One of Peter Cushing's more mean spirited roles, this is one of the better Hammer Horror films. The Collinson twins make up for Damien Thomas' rather bland villain, their unique look gives the film a shot in the arm and makes it stand out from other lesser vampire films.

The prime British exponent of Bram Stoker turned their attention to Sheridan Le Fanu to showcase the charms of the first ever pair of twin centrefolds (although as befits a Hammer production they spend most of the film demurely costumed wearing big hair and bigger bonnets).

Of the two Madeleine is easiest to distinguished as the wanton Freida whose eyes light up when she hears of Count Karnstein's penchant for "unspeakable ceremonies". As the latest in a long line of the studio's religious zealots Peter Cushing is a nasty piece of work even by his standards, while for the discerning there's the feline charms of the unique Kathleen Byron as the girls' aunt.

Twins of Evil (1971) is a movie I recently rewatched on Shudder. The storyline follows twins that are sent to live with their uncle who is deeply religious and works for the church hunting down witches and demons. When the nieces arrive they decide that righteousness isn't the life for them...and they'll pursue a path of evil. Will their uncle strike them down or save them? This movie is directed by John Hough (The Legend of Hell House) and stars Peter Cushing (Star Wars), Alex Scott (Fahrenheit 451) and Mary and Madeleine Collinson (Playboy Playmates, 1970). The settings, sets, props and costumes in this are awesome. They really did a great job of creating the environment. Peter Cushing is appropriately intense and ruthless in this and delivers an excellent performance. Scott is also solid as his nemesis. The satanic ritual scenes are very good and I absolutely loved the ending - the blood, fog and kill scenes were all great. Overall this isn't Cushing's best film but is a must see for fans of his movies. I'd score this a solid 7/10 and recommend seeing it at least once.

This was about the only Hammer vampire film that I hadn't seen.After searching high & low I was able to procure a copy. Settled into a chair, turned the lights down,slapped the video in and was treated to a very disappointing movie.

At the time this movie was released Hammer was slowly dying as a major film organization.Reliance on nudity(hey, I like it!)was stressed more so than plots at that stage.This has nudity and a very thin plot.

What we have is the good twin /bad twin mistaken identity plot with vampirism,suggested lesbianism and nudity tossed in.There are no real surprises in this film except for the casting of real life twins.(They can't act but they can shed their clothes).The plot is very predictable and boredom sets in quickly.You don't care about any of the characters which dooms a movie quickly.

Peter Cushing's wife had died previously to the start of this film. He looks haggard and clearly beaten down. His performance as a witchfinder is excellent.

The film does have a lush look and the musical score is excellent.But all in all you'd be better off seeing Vampire Circus.Giving this a 3.

The Austrian town of Karnstein isn't a very safe place for well-endowed, pretty young women: puritanical witch-hunter Gustav Weil (Peter Cushing) and his Brotherhood of religious fanatics like to burn them at the stake, while thrill-seeking nobleman Count Karnstein (Damien Thomas) prefers to use them as sacrifices in his Satanic games.

Gustav's sexy twin teenage nieces, saintly Maria and wayward Frieda (Mary and Madeleine Collinson), might be free from persecution by The Brotherhood, but they are not safe from the count, who has recently been turned into a vampire, having accidentally revived his ancient undead ancestor Mircalla.

The first two films in Hammer's Karnstein Trilogy, The Vampire Lovers (1970) and Lust For A Vampire (also 1970), featured plenty of nudity from its bevy of buxom starlets, making them great fun for those who enjoy the studio's more provocative efforts. For the final movie in the series, Twins of Evil, Hammer clearly decided to go one better in the sexy stakes—by casting real-life twin Playboy Playmates Mary and Madeleine Collinson.

Somewhat surprisingly, there is little genuine nudity from the gorgeous twins (plenty of tempting cleavage, but only one topless scene from Madeleine), but regardless of this fact, Twins of Evil is arguably the best of the Karnstein series. The stunning Collinson sisters make for excellent eye-candy, but the film also benefits from elegant direction by John Hough, a wonderfully chilling performance from Peter Cushing, opulent sets and superb cinematography, and some shocking bright red gore in the film's closing moments, including a juicy impalement, a machete in the head, and a cool decapitation.

Entertaining Hammer film from 1971 with a great performance from Peter Cushing. As usual the location filming is superb and this one has a better than average plot that involves the burning of "witches" by puritan like believers. Cushing is brilliant as the lead, playing it as head villain, but is he. Damien Thomas as Count Karnstein is good too as the lead vampire in the film as are the Twins of the film. Plenty of seventies cleavage too as as the norm of Hammer films at the time. Plenty to enjoy in this one.