Fascination

Fascination

Year: 1979

Runtime: 80 mins

Language: French

Director: Jean Rollin

HorrorHorror the undead and monster classicsGothic and eerie haunting horrorCreepy chilling and terrifying horrorTerrifying haunted and supernatural horror

Now tell me the truth—who’s coming here tonight? Death. A fugitive criminal forces his way into an isolated chateau, holding the two terrified chambermaids hostage. When night deepens, a cadre of enigmatic aristocratic women appears, and the intruder soon discovers they conceal a dark, sinister secret.

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Timeline & Setting – Fascination (1979)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Fascination (1979). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

April 1905

The events unfold in April 1905, placing the story in the early 20th century. It juxtaposes Parisian high society with a remote countryside manor, where a medical remedy leads to a hidden ritual. The period backdrop informs the fashion, manners, and mysterious practices surrounding anemia, blood, and secrecy.

Location

Paris, Countryside château

The opening scenes take place in a fashionable Parisian abattoir where a group of Parisian women drink ox blood. The action shifts to an isolated château in the countryside, a secluded manor that becomes the stage for the secret blood-drinking circle. The contrast between urban glamour and rural seclusion underpins the film's decadent mood.

🗼 Paris 🏰 Countryside château 🕰 Early 20th century

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:40

Main Characters – Fascination (1979)

Meet the key characters of Fascination (1979), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Eva (Brigitte Lahaie)

Eva is one of the two bisexual chambermaids at the château, using charm and sensuality to entangle Marc. Her presence fuels Elisabeth's jealousy, and she proves decisive in the confrontation with the thieves, killing the rival leader and then the remaining gang members. She is ultimately shot by Elisabeth and her blood is drained by the servants, marking her as both catalyst and casualty of the secret circle.

💃 Seduction 🩸 Bloodlust ⚔️ Violence

Elisabeth (Franca Maï)

Elisabeth is Eva's partner, a resident of the château who harbors jealousy toward Marc. She helps govern the secret circle with a calculating, protective air, even shooting Eva to remove a rival. Later, she reveals she never loved Marc and kills him, tasting his blood, before maintaining the ruse for the Marchioness. Her manipulation and chilly resolve define the dark power dynamics at the heart of the story.

💞 Jealousy 🗡 Deception 🩸 Bloodlust

Marc (Jean-Marie Lemaire)

Marc is the young gang leader who betrays his four accomplices after a successful robbery and plans to flee to London with the stolen gold. He takes refuge at the secluded château, where his presence becomes the catalyst for the ensuing violence. His fate is sealed by Elisabeth's calculated moves as the web of betrayal closes in.

💰 Greed 🏃‍♂️ Escape 🗡 Betrayal

Marchioness

The Marchioness arrives with her servants for a nocturnal gathering at the château, embodying aristocratic poise while hosting a hidden blood-drinking cult. She maintains appearances even as the secret circle operates beneath the surface, and she remarks on Elisabeth's beauty with Marc's blood on her lips, signaling complicity in the illusion and violence around her.

🎭 Prestige 🕯 Secrecy 🩸 Blood ritual

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:40

Major Themes – Fascination (1979)

Explore the central themes of Fascination (1979), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🩸 Blood & Vampirism

What begins as a medical remedy for anemia evolves into a ritualized appetite for blood. The women form a secret society that preys on others, using blood as both sustenance and power. The grisly transformation underlines the film's exploration of desire, danger, and the corrupting lure of forbidden sustenance.

💞 Love & Jealousy

Elisabeth and Eva share a romantic bond that is complicated by Marc's arrival. Jealousy and competing affections drive key actions, from seduction to betrayals, shaping alliances and sparking violence. The relationships reveal how affection can morph into manipulation within a closed, erotic world.

⚔️ Betrayal & Power

Marc betrays his accomplices after a robbery and uses the château as a hideout, triggering a violent confrontation. Elisabeth and Eva navigate power dynamics within the secret circle, culminating in fatal acts that decide who lives and who dies. The story centers on control, deceit, and the price of ambition within a clandestine society.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:40

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Fascination Summary

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Fascination Summary

Fascination Timeline

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Fascination Timeline

More About Fascination

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Fascination (1979) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Fascination (1979) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Fascination (1979) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow