Movie Description
Director George Romero turns the vampire genre on its ear in this creepy, original 1978 effort. John Amplas stars as the title character--an alienated, depressed, and fangless 18-year-old denizen of an industrial town who is compelled to kill and drink blood. But is he really a vampire, or is he merely suffering from psychosis? His elderly uncle Cuda (Lincoln Maazel), whom Martin lives with and in whose grocery store he works, seems to believe the former, calling the young man Nosferatu and waving garlic and crosses in his face. But Martin isn't that type of vampire--he prefers to use syringes and razor blades for his bloodletting. The film takes an interesting turn when the lonely youth turns to a radio call-in program to talk about his compulsion. While this twist could easily be played for laughs, in Romero's hands it becomes insightful and unsettling.
A deliberate character study, MARTIN has intense performances, a uniquely disturbing mood, and an effectively grainy, shadowy look. Romero's eccentric vampire film avoids hitting on a gut level, choosing to shock viewers on a psychological one instead.
| Credits | | Producer: | Richard P. Rubinstein | | Cast: | Christine Forrest, John Amplas, Lincoln Maazel, Tom Savini |
Notes
A scene of an arm being sliced open with a razor blade had to be trimmed for the film to avoid being rated X by the MPAA.
The European version of the film features Martin's black and white flashbacks at the beginning of the film so it unfurls chronologically.
The European version of the film features music by the Italian rock band Goblin.
Special effects makeup master Tom Savini (who did the blood effects in this film) appears in an acting role.
Actress Christine Forrest is George Romero's wife., DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Widescreen - 16:9
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary - 1. George Romero - Director/Actor, Richard Rubenstein -
Producer, Tom Savini - Actor, Michael Gornick- Director of Photography, Donald Rubinstein - Composer
Featurette - "Making Martin: A Recounting"
Trailers
TV Spots
Original Theatrical Trailer
Photo Galleries:
Stills/Photos
Editorial Reviews
"...MARTIN is as electrically raw-edged as Romero's earlier NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD..."
Sight and Sound - p.55-6 - Tom Milne (12/01/1977)
"...Extraordinarily evocative [scenes]....[The direction] shows a definite flair for suspense..."
Variety - Poll. (01/10/1979)
"...It still intrigues, still disgusts and -- important, this -- still disturbs. One for the splat connoisseur..."
Total Film - Simon Crook (12/01/2003)
5 stars out of 5 -- "Romero's downbeat movie is simultaneously an engaging psycho-thriller and a bleak, black, social satire."
Uncut - Damien Love (05/01/2006)
"The pervasive coldness evokes early Cronenberg....There are black-and-white flashbacks that conjure Romero's own NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD."
Sight and Sound - Matthew Leyland (06/01/2006)
| See an error? Submit a change request |
All rights reserved.
