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.
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
I wasn't exactly sure whether Martin (John Amplas) was a vampire or a necrophiliac. He is not your usual vampire, if he is one. He has no fangs and goes out in the daylight. He uses razors and... Read the whole review at MatchFlick
Posted on August 31, 2007
Reviewed by: Jarrod
'Martin' is a movie I was not made aware of until quite recently, when I realized it was made by George A Romero, best known for zombies, but he managed to make, in 1977, a weird, funny, and... Read the whole review at MatchFlick
Posted on August 31, 2007
