When I read that I would meet the infamous "Countess Dracula" Elizabeth Bathory and decide for myself whether she was the victim of a political conspiracy or the murderer of some 600 people (historical record leans toward the latter—there were apparently a lot of witnesses and bodies), I got excited.

"Yes!" I thought, "Give me all the salacious details of this historical mystery, and I shall decide!"

Maybe I got too excited. Sharon Nowlan doesn't provide us with enough info to levy that judgment and I'm not sure she aims to. Her approach to Bathory's story is an esoteric one; a series of impressionistic tableaux where I was hoping for chronology and detail.

Nowlan is a capable performer, wearing a beautiful costume and doing inspired prop work, so my bad, perhaps, for bringing crass expectations. But I think Blood Countess could use a little more blood and a little less Countess.