BATHORY

The grisly story of Countess Báthory has been recounted by historians, authors, poets, playwrights, musicians, painters and filmmakers. Her reputation as the most gruesome murderess in the history of humankind is even documented in the Guinness Book of Records. She tortured her victims – invariably young virgins – before killing them, and is said to bathed in their blood before stripping with her teeth the flesh from their bones. But how much of the legend is really true? Four centuries of inquiry have offered no conclusive evidence.

The story told in this film is that of a defenceless widow. Because her property and wealth surpassed that of the king himself, she fell victim to a plot hatched in the highest of circles.