Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- gothic
- oppressive
- disturbing
- late night horror viewing
- historical cinema night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film handsomely produced, with strong period design and atmosphere, but psychologically underdeveloped and insufficiently terrifying or illuminating.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film presents Erzsébet Báthory's alleged crimes through a revisionist account rather than treating the traditional legend as settled fact.
Báthory's belief that virgins' blood can preserve her beauty makes gerascophobia the central psychological motive.
The palace interiors and costumes are richly produced while the story increasingly associates noble privilege with bloody degeneration.
Báthory's relationship with the younger István Thurzó precedes her murderous undertaking and frames desire as destabilizing force.
Films like The Countess, and why
The Favourite
female-centered historical horror, aristocratic power, and gothic atmosphere
Elizabeth
revisionist historical drama, morally unstable protagonist, and lavish period production
Ginger Snaps
female-directed gothic horror, psychological deterioration, and disturbing violence
The Piano Teacher
biographical period drama centered on obsession, sexuality, and destructive power
Movie Details
- Director
- Julie Delpy
- Release Date
- 2009-03-13
- Runtime
- 100 min
- Rating
- 5.9 / 10 (191)
Cast
- Julie Delpy
- Daniel Brühl
- William Hurt
- Anamaria Marinca
- Maria Simon
- Sebastian Blomberg
- Adriana Altaras
- Charly Hübner
- Andy Gätjen
- Frederick Lau
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, AMC+ Amazon Channel, Sundance Now
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Countess about?
- A lavish, unsettling portrait of a Hungarian countess whose terror of aging turns aristocratic privilege into murderous superstition.
- What is The Countess like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Countess as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Countess violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Countess as graphic.
- What did critics think of The Countess?
- Critics broadly found the film handsomely produced, with strong period design and atmosphere, but psychologically underdeveloped and insufficiently terrifying or illuminating.
- Which films are like The Countess?
- Films with a similar feel include The Favourite, Elizabeth, Ginger Snaps, and The Piano Teacher.
- How long is The Countess?
- The Countess runs 100 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Countess?
- In United States, The Countess streams on Philo, AMC+ Amazon Channel, Sundance Now.
