The Horrible Sexy Vampire
Between 1964 and 1967 several young women were murdered in West Germany in a similar fashion. The press named the serial killer the “Vampire of the Autobahn,” and put pressure on the police to find the maniac. One local reported seeing a red sports car with Stuttgart license plates, and with nothing else to go on this became the focus of the investigation. The police named “Waldemar Wohlfahrt” as the prime suspect, since he drove a red Mercedes convertible. Because he wasn’t home the police declared that Wohlfahrt was “on the run.” He was actually in Spain visiting his girlfriend, and the local authorities arrested Wohlfahrt and returned him to West Germany. The case quickly collapsed when the suspect was able to provide an airtight alibi. Wohlfahrt sued newspapers in West Germany and Spain for slander, and he easily won both cases. He used his newfound fame and fortune to start a brief career as a singer, but an even better opportunity would soon knock on his door. Producer Al Peppard and director José Luis Madrid wanted to make Waldemar Wohlfahrt a movie star!
This week’s movie was “El vampiro de la autopista” from Spain’s Cinefilms in 1970, written and directed by Jose Luis Madrid. The English language title was “The Horrible Sexy Vampire.” Yes, really. The movie was filmed in West Germany. A series of brutal murders are taking place, and the victims are drained of their blood. The “Coroner,” (Anastasio Campoy), informs the “Inspector,” (Luis Induni), that a vampire is the cause. His research indicates that every 28 years since 1886 an identical murder spree has occurred in the community. He suspects “Baron von Winninger,” (Wohlfahrt with grey hair and a black cape), of being the killer, although he died in 1886. The two men go to the Baron’s abandoned castle, where they are promptly murdered by the Baron.
A new “Inspector,” (Barta Barri), takes over the investigation. But then a new character enters the picture. Polish “Count Adolf Oblensky,” (Wohlfahrt with blonde hair), arrives from England with documents showing that he is the Baron’s descendant and the rightful owner of the castle. He moves in and is then joined by his girlfriend “Susan,” (Patricia Loran). The Baron appears to Oblensky, and asks to be killed permanently with a wooden stake. He hates being a vampire and wants to end it all, but he cannot resist the compulsion. Eventually Oblensky does succeed in ending the Baron’s reign of terror. Then the Inspector reveals that an escaped madman confessed to the murders before jumping to his death. The police are satisfied, so Oblensky puts the castle up for sale and heads back to England.
Wohlfahrt actually turns in a decent performance in each of his two roles, better than expected for his debut feature. Madrid keeps the action moving along, but never really manages to set the story on fire. His primary focus is on the nudity. Of the five women attacked by the vampire, four politely disrobe and bathe before the event. These are the cleanest vampire victims in cinematic history. Baron von Winninger also demonstrates a unique attack method. He turns invisible, then he strangles his victims rather than biting them in the neck.
This would be a forgettable picture except for the unique circumstances leading to its production. Waldemar Wohlfahrt changed his name to the more palatable “Wal Davis” and actually appeared in 15 more films before his career finally puttered out. As far as I know, he is the only vampire actor to be accused of being a serial killer in real life.
In the original poster for this motion picture Waldemar Wohlfahrt’s name is misspelled.