Twins of Evil 1971 Ultimate Guide Magazine

Product Description

Looking for something extra special? Upgrade to the signed softback edition, hand-numbered out of 250 and supplied with an exclusive art print.

Karnstein by moonlight is a dangerous place, its village godly and its castle damned – and the whole macabre spectacle comes gloriously to life in the Twins of Evil 1971 Ultimate Guide. This full-colour magazine is the definitive companion to Hammer’s blazing conclusion to its Karnstein trilogy, the 1971 shocker also released under the alternate title Twins of Dracula. Pairing gorgeously restored stills with well-researched, highly readable articles, it explores how a story of Puritan fury and vampiric temptation became one of the boldest horror films of Hammer’s early-1970s heyday.

How Hammer turned Puritan terror into vampire spectacle

At the heart of the tale are the orphaned Gellhorn twins, sweet-natured Maria and rebellious Frieda, sent to live with their uncle Gustav Weil, a hard-line witch-hunter who marshals a zealous ‘Brotherhood’ against the sins of the district. Frieda is soon lured to the castle of the depraved Count Karnstein, whose dabbling in the black arts has revived the vampiress Countess Mircalla and brought the curse upon himself. Piety and predation are set on a collision course toward a blazing finale we will leave unspoiled. Directed by John Hough and written by Tudor Gates for Hammer producers Harry Fine and Michael Style, it forms the closing part of a trilogy inspired by Sheridan Le Fanu’s 1872 novella Carmilla.

Articles that go behind the fog and firelight

Throughout, the magazine explores the film’s production from every angle: the story behind Hammer’s Karnstein cycle, Tudor Gates’ handling of Le Fanu’s classic, and the eye-catching casting of Maltese sisters Mary and Madeleine Collinson, the first identical twins ever to headline a Hammer horror. There are features on Harry Robinson’s rousing score, Dick Bush’s moody cinematography, Roy Stannard’s set design and the period make-up of George Blackler and John Webber, plus a wealth of trivia to delight long-time fans.

The cast and crew who conjured Karnstein

Generous biography features introduce the people who made the movie. Peter Cushing leads as the pitiless Gustav Weil, delivering one of his most intense performances of the era; joining him are the Collinson twins as Frieda and Maria, Damien Thomas as Count Karnstein, Dennis Price as Dietrich, David Warbeck as Anton Hoffer, and a strong supporting line-up including Kathleen Byron, Isobel Black and Katya Wyeth. We also celebrate the film-makers behind the scenes, from director John Hough to writer Tudor Gates and their skilled crew.

Premium production from cover to cover

Produced in A4 (210mm x 297mm) on fine silk stock, the magazine presents every page in crisp, full colour. A smart gloss-laminated cover keeps it looking its best, giving this standard edition a quality feel that belies its modest price.

Classic stills, restored by human hands

All of the imagery has been carefully restored by hand. Our full-colour treatment lends new depth and tone to every picture, so that even decades-old black-and-white stills glow with fresh life across the page.

Settle into your favourite chair, let the night close in, and step through the castle gates of Karnstein. Whether you are new to Hammer or a lifelong devotee, this is the perfect way to relive one of the studio’s most seductive shockers.

Complete your Hammer vampire collection

Vampire Circus 1972 Ultimate Guide
The Hammer Vampire Films Magazine

Also available in other editions

Prefer a different format? This guide is available in two more editions:

Twins of Evil 1971 Ultimate Guide Signed + Art Print – the signed softback, hand-numbered out of 250 with an exclusive art print.
Twins of Evil 1971 Ultimate Guide Signed Hardback – a casebound edition limited to just 50, with its own exclusive art print.

Specifications

• 36 pages
• A4 (210mm x 297mm)
• Full colour throughout
• Luxury gloss-laminated cover
• Printed on fine silk stock paper