Carmilla Karnstein

Carmilla Karnstein is the main villainess in the 1970 British Hammer Horror film, "The Vampire Lovers".

Carmilla first appears as Marcilla, a girl who is left by her mother in the care of General Spielsdorf (Peter Cushing) and his family in Styria, now part of Austria.

Marcilla quickly befriends the General's niece, Laura (Pippa Steel). Laura suffers from nightmares that she is being attacked, and dies of a gradual sickness.

After the death of Laura, Marcilla's mother fakes a carraige break-down, and leaves her daughter at the residence of a Mr. Morton. She is now going by the name of Carmilla, and she seduces Morton's daughter Emma (Madeline Smith). Emma soon suffers nightmares of penetration over the heart, and her breast shows tiny wounds. Emma's governess, Mademoiselle Perrodot (Kate O'Mara) becomes Carmilla's accomplice. The butler and a doctor suspect them, but Carmilla is able to kill each of them.

Having killed the butler, Carmilla takes Emma prisoner and departs. When Mademoiselle Perrodot begs Carmilla to take her too, Carmilla kills her.

Emma is rescued by a young man named Carl, and Carmilla flees to her ancestral castle! Carmilla is the leader of the mighty female lords who commands female citizens and female vampires!!