Seduction, sun, and sanguine nights await at Diane LeFanu’s desert lair.
THE VELVET VAMPIRE
She's waiting to love you... to death!
Sleepy-eyed nice guy Lee Ritter and his vapid, but pretty wife, Susan accept the invitation of mysterious vixen Diane LeFanu to visit her in her secluded desert estate. Tensions arise when the couple, unaware at first that Diane is in reality a centuries-old vampire, realize that they are both objects of the pale temptress' seductions.
Proof that vampires don’t always avoid the sun—sometimes they just accessorize.
Stephanie Rothman’s cult horror blends gothic bite with sunbaked sexploitation, letting Celeste Yarnall’s Diane LeFanu stalk the desert with as much style as hunger. Expect a heady mix of erotic tension, surreal dreams, and more than a hint of marital discord—all set under a blazing sky. Consider it folk horror with a velvet glove and sharpened nails.
— SassyFlix Programmer
The Velvet Vampire is a 1971 American horror film directed by Stephanie Rothman about a married couple lured to a desert estate by a seductive female vampire with deadly intentions.
- Director
- Stephanie Rothman
- Writers
- Maurice Jules, Charles S. Swartz, Stephanie Rothman
- Release
- 1971
- Runtime
- 1h 20m
- Country
- United States of America
- Language
- English
- Genres
- Horror
Synopsis
Why Cult
The film relocates the vampire mythos from castle crypts to a sun-drenched, isolated desert estate, creating a unique folk horror atmosphere.
Celeste Yarnall’s Diane LeFanu is a glamorous, bisexual vampire who ensnares both husband and wife with her lethal allure.
With recurring sex scenes, nudity, and erotic dreams, the film delivers on its sexploitation and erotic thriller tags.
Directed by Stephanie Rothman, this 1971 horror stands out in the male-dominated exploitation scene of its era.
Trailer
Scene Gallery
Questions from the Vault
What is The Velvet Vampire about? +
The Velvet Vampire is about a married couple who visit a mysterious woman’s desert mansion, only to discover she's a seductive vampire with deadly appetites.
When was The Velvet Vampire released? +
The Velvet Vampire was released in 1971.
Who directed The Velvet Vampire? +
The Velvet Vampire was directed by Stephanie Rothman.
How long is The Velvet Vampire? +
The Velvet Vampire has a runtime of 80 minutes.
What genre is The Velvet Vampire? +
The Velvet Vampire is a horror film with elements of sexploitation, folk horror, and erotic thriller.
Where can I watch The Velvet Vampire? +
The Velvet Vampire is available to stream on SassyFlix.
