Jonathan (1970) German Vampires That Live by Day | Region Free (DVD)

**DISC ONLY**

Source:   DVD w/ English Subtitles

Title: Jonathan (1970)

Alternate Title: Jonathan – Vampire sterben nicht

Genre: Horror, Drama

Plot Synopsis:
Set in an alternate 19th century, “Jonathan” portrays a world where vampires, immune to sunlight, have become the ruling aristocracy, oppressing the human populace. A group of rebels selects the young Jonathan to lead a mission aimed at exterminating the vampire overlords and liberating humanity.

Cast and Crew:

• Director: Hans W. Geißendörfer
• Writer: Hans W. Geißendörfer
• Cast:
  • Jürgen Jung as Jonathan
  • Hans-Dieter Jendreyko
  • Paul Albert Krumm
  • Hertha von Walther
  • Oskar von Schab

YouTube Trailer:
Jonathan | Trailer

IMDb Link:
Jonathan (1970)

Reviews from Letterboxd:

1. Filipe Furtado – ★★★★☆
   “Marxist Rollin whose director would much later on become an Apichatpong producer. The setup is as blunt as something like They Live. The aristocracy are vampires, oppressed workers and local youth try to organize an uprising. The languid pace and the way the film is more interested in the process of revolution than in the actual horror plot suggests a lot of post-68 disillusionment. The film is very good at suggesting a world of constant oppression and the need to find a way out. The use of space is remarkable, and the film has a great eye for the German countryside. The final battle is a great piece of filmmaking.”
2. Anonymous – ★★★☆☆
   “Jonathan is a languid film about class struggles and vampires ruining your day. A classic combo, if I may say so. The film is a swerving twist of gothic proclivities and sledgehammer political isms. Jonathan is a wonderful showcase for early Robby Müller work, as his usual visual flairs for long takes and the stoic overhead shots are here in abundance. The film is a bit too slow for its own good, but the atmosphere is thick and the political allegory, while heavy-handed, is intriguing. Not a masterpiece, but a curious artifact of its time.”

Meta Description:
“Jonathan” (1970) is a German horror drama directed by Hans W. Geißendörfer. The film explores a 19th-century world where vampires dominate society, and a young man named Jonathan leads a rebellion to overthrow their tyrannical rule.