Summaries

Synopsis

Seven very tired passengers -- Ernesto [Indio González], Godo [Luis Ciges], Cesar [David Aller], Marcos [Manuel de Blas], Alma [Dianik Zurakowska],Raquel [Charo Soriano], and Raquel's eight year old daughter Violet [Sarita Gil] -- are traveling bybus to Bojoni (filmed in Spain) where they have secured jobs working foran aristocratic family. Suddenly, the bus driver suffers a heart attack.After moving the dead driver to the back of the bus, Ernesto takes thewheel. When a road sign indicates that Bojoni is 110 Km, while the town ofTolnia is only 10 Km, the group decides to get dinner and lodging for thenight in Tolnia before continuing to Bojoni in the morning. When theyarrive in Tolnia, however, there is not a soul to be seen, except forLuis [Jack Taylor], an American traveler who arrived in Tolnia about an hour ago and hasbeen walking around the village looking for someone...anyone.

The fire in the village tavern is warm and the shelves are stockedwith liquor, so the travelers help themselves and decide to rest in theinn's bedrooms while Ernesto stays in the tavern in case someone shows up.As the hours pass and the clock strikes midnight, Ernesto goes out tocheck on the bus and discovers that the dead driver is missing. As hewalks around the village looking for the driver, Ernesto is attacked bysome ghoulish villagers intent on drinking his blood.

In the morning, the travelers awaken to a breakfast of rolls and hotcoffee. All the villagers have returned, including "Major" Boris [José Guardiola], thevillage mayor. The Major apologizes and explains that the villagers wereat the cemetery yesterday, paying their respects to a recently-deceased,but well-loved, villager. The Major graciously extends the village'shospitality to the travelers, even serving them a delicious roast beforethey leave for Bojoni. Unfortunately, when they go to leave, the bus won'tstart. Danged if Luis's car has the same problem. Looks like they'll haveto stay on for a few days until they can get help from Bojoni. Marcosmakes it clear that they don't have the money to pay for their food andkeep, but the Major assures them that they will be taken care ofcomfortably by the Countess. And so they are. Every day, they are servedluscious meat dishes. What they don't know is that the Countess [Helga Liné] hasordered that various villagers give up parts of their body in order tofeed the visitors.

The Countess, like everyone else in the village, is very eager tohave the travelers remain in town for a few days, enjoying the village'shospitality at her expense. She is so thrilled at having "persons who getaround" that she invites Cesar, the well-read professor, to remain at herhouse that evening in order to recite to her from the works ofShakespeare, Browning, and O'Neill. Part of her hospitality includestaking Cesar to her bed, but she's not after sex; it's Cesar's blood shewants. After drinking her fill, the Countess tosses his body over theveranda to the hungry villagers below.

Meanwhile, back at the tavern, Luis is busying himself peeping onAlma through a hole he discovered in his wardrobe. Marcos and Godo aresummoned by Ernesto to see something in the bus but fall prey to thevampires. The next morning, Luis notices that the bus is missing, beginsto get suspicious, and starts planning out a means of escape. Violet isplaying hide-and-seek with a boy [Fernando Romero] she has befriended when she witnesses thearm of the ax grinder being chopped off, but she says nothing. A nicedinner is served that evening, but Alma is very upset when she finds afinger on her plate. A bit later, Raquel tells Violet to stay in theirroom while she goes to talk with Marcos, but Violet's boy friend persuadesher to come out and play anyway. He leads her into the cemetery. When thevampires come out, he tries to hide Violet but ends up smothering her.Raquel has returned to her room and found Violet missing, so she goeslooking for her daughter. Unfortunately for Raquel, she encounters thevillagers, along with Cesar, Ernesto, Godo, and Marcos, who fall prey uponher.

That night, Luis and Alma make their escape. Of course, they arepursued by the village people, but they finally manage to make it toBojoni. The Bojoni police cannot find Tolnia on the map, but they driveback with Luis and Alma to check out their claim. Lo and behold, there isnothing there, except for the wrecked bus. [Original Synopsis by bj_kuehl.]