Blood Legacy (also called Legacy of Blood and Will to Die) is a 1971 horror film.
After patriarch Christopher Dean dies, his family members have to spend a week in the family estate to inherit his fortune ($136,000,000). But then someone starts killing them.
Tropes:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Shock and Awe: Gregory and his wife are electrocuted.
- 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 .
