Franca Maï, born Françoise Baud, is a French actress known for her captivating performance in the 1979 film Fascination. In this Jean Rollin classic, she embodies a seductive and enigmatic character, contributing to the film's exploration of erotic horror. Maï's work in Fascination highlights her ability to navigate the complex interplay of desire and danger, making her a notable figure in the realm of cult cinema. Her contributions extend beyond acting, as she also ventured into directing and writing, enriching the landscape of genre film.
Fascination
This erotic horror film, set in 1905, tells the story of a thief who seeks refuge in a castle owned by two women, Eva (Brigitte Lahaie) and Elizabeth (Franca Mai). The women are seductive and teasing, but turn out to be part of a vampiric cult of blood-drinking aristocrats. Fascination is a very apt title for this spellbinding movie! A typically dreamlike and stylish work from the remarkable Jean Rollin. Yup, it’s another lesbian vampire movie (from a decade that produced quite a few!) but Rollin, like Jess Franco, puts his own original touches to it which make it truly unforgettable. Like most of Franco’s (and Dario Argento’s) output, atmosphere and aesthetics are more important than plot, and the performances of the actors involved are variable. Rollin doesn’t seem to be too concerned with creating believable characters, he uses his (beautiful) actresses as striking images moving across a background. His movies are often closer to paintings than your standard Hammer horror. That’s why ‘Fascination’ is so unlike most vampire movies you’ll ever see. Inspired and original. Don’t miss this one!
