Blood Legacy (also called Legacy of Blood and Will to Die) is a 1971 horror film.
After patriarch Christopher Dean dies, his family members—oldest son Gregory and wife Laura, eldest daughter Veronica, younger son Johnny, and youngest daughter Leslie and her husband/psychiatrist Dr. Carl Isenburg—and servants—chauffer Frank, maid Helga, and Igor—have to spend a week in the family estate to inherit his fortune ($136,000,000). But then someone starts killing them.
Tropes OF BLOOD:
- Abusive Parents: Christopher Dean abuses his children, both mentally and physically.
- The Alcoholic: Basically the first thing Gregory Dean does on screen is take a big swig out of a flask and doesn't really stop drinking until he brushes his teeth and goes to bed.
- Alternate DVD Commentary: Riffed by Cinematic Titanic Oct. 9, 2008.
- Aw, Look! He Really Does Love Her: Even though Leslie is ready at the drop of a hat to cheat on her husband with her brother; when Carl finds her dead, he closes her eyes and has something like an Heroic BSoD.
- Bad Boss: Christopher Dean also beats his servants.
- Bad People Abuse Animals: The first murder victim is a dog.
- Battle Trophy: Frank's bedroom is decorated with captured Nazi paraphernalia.
- Bee Afraid: Veronica Dean's reaction to a single bee.
- Big, Screwed-Up Family: Abusive father, dead mother, at least one alcoholic sibling, brother-sister incest.
- Black Dude Dies First: The first human murder victim is Sheriff Dan Garcia.
- Brother–Sister Incest: Johnny and Leslie did it in the past, and it's not a secret.
- The Butler Did It: Maid Helga is involved in the final four deaths and is the last one alive.
- Carpet of Virility: Man-servant Igor has Type 2 something fierce.
- Creepy Souvenir: Frank owns a lamp he made from the skin of a German soldier.
- The Dog Bites Back: Igor and Helga murder Mr. Dean, as well as Veronica Dean and Frank.
- Extremely Short Timespan: The film starts at 1:30 in the afternoon and ends before dawn.
- Face–Heel Turn: Before he came to the conclusion his wife was cheating on him, Mr. Dean was actually a loving father.
- Faking the Dead: Christopher Dean fakes his death to lure his family together and kill them.
- Fan Disservice: Leslie Dean, in skimpy sleepwear, erotically describing a dream about her brother.
- For the Evulz: Instead of leaving his heirs a token inheritance of one dollar each, Christopher Dean decides to murder them, their dog, and the Sheriff.
- Go Through Me: In a flashback, Igor protects Gregory and takes a beating from Mr. Dean.
- Heroic Build: Igor is surprisingly buff.
- High-Voltage Death: Gregory and his wife are electrocuted.
- Idiot Ball: Mr. Dean's will stipulates if all his heirs (and their spouses) die, then the servants, Igor, Helga, and Frank become eligible to inherit his fortune.
- He didn't cut the phone line until after the Sheriff was called.
- I Have No Son!: Mr. Dean's Freudian Excuse for Offing the Offspring.
- Inheritance Murder: Started as an inversion, Christopher Dean was Offing the Offspring so they couldn't get his money; Igor and Helga play it straight.
- Kick the Dog: Chin, a dog belonging to Gregory and his wife, is the first to die.
- Large Ham: Johnny is almost never quiet and reserved. Igor goes over the top a time or two.
- Missing Mom: Christopher Dean murdered her years ago.
- Off with His Head!: The Sheriff is decapitated.
- Offing the Offspring: Christopher Dean murders his family—none of whom, according to him, he actually sired, so they can't inherit his money.
- On One Condition: The Dean heirs are told that they have to spend one week living together on the family estate before they inherit... after they've also been told that if any of them die before the week is up, their shares go to their siblings, and that if they all die, the estate goes to the servants. While none of the children kill each other, the last two servants kill Christopher and the last two heirs, which gets them the money, and then Helga poisons Igor, leaving her with the whole estate.
- Pretty Little Head Shots: Not quite, Leslie gets shot in the head, and there's a trail of blood on her face, but there is no blood on the wall behind her.
- Piranha Problem: Johnny Dean ends up dead in a piranha tank.
- Porn Stache: Chauffer Frank Mantee has one.
- Real Men Wear Pink: Frank wears a pastel neckerchief.
- Retired Badass: Frank fought in World War II.
- Scary Stinging Swarm: Carl Isenburg is stung to death by bees.
- Ten Little Murder Victims: Ten people, and one dog, are killed by the end of the movie.
- Too Kinky to Torture: Igor actually enjoys the beatings he got from Mr. Dean.
- Yank the Dog's Chain: Christopher Dean leaves Frank, Igor, and Helga $1,000,000, each, to be paid out at $500 a month, as long as they stay at their jobsnote .