The Hunger (1983)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Tony Scott

Writers:

James Costigan (writer)
Ivan Davis (writer)

Release Date:

29 April 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Romance

Tagline:

Nothing Human Loves Forever

Plot:

The Egyptian vampire lady Miriam subsists upon the blood of her lovers. In return the guys or girls don't age...

Plot Keywords:

Vampire | Lesbian | Sex | Blood | Doctor

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Catherine Deneuve	...	Miriam
David Bowie	...	John
Susan Sarandon	...	Sarah Roberts
Cliff De Young	...	Tom Haver
Beth Ehlers	...	Alice Cavender
Dan Hedaya	...	Lieutenant Allegrezza
Rufus Collins	...	Charlie Humphries
Suzanne Bertish	...	Phyllis
James Aubrey	...	Ron
Ann Magnuson	...	Young Woman from Disco
John Stephen Hill	...	Young Man from Disco
Shane Rimmer	...	Jelinek
Bauhaus	...	Disco Group
Douglas Lambert	...	TV Host
Bessie Love	...	Lillybelle

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:R21 (cut) | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-16 (1989) | Finland:K-18 (1983) | Portugal:M/16 | Australia:M | France:-12 | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | Brazil:18

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

David Bowie actually learned to play the cello for his music scenes.

Quotes:

[first lines]
John Blaylock: No ice.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Danger Zone: The Making of 'Top Gun' (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Bela Lugosi Is Dead

Critics hate it and I love it...go figure.

For all the critics have to say, I must admit that this is one of my cult favorites. I keenly remember anticipating its release and seeing it at the 8th St. Playhouse theatre (where the weekly Rocky Horror movie/show ran for years in NYC). The mood and cinematography attest to its aspirations and for me are quite successful. In particular, the choice of soundtrack music is quite adept and urbane although only those very familiar with classical music will appreciate the tie-ins: Deneuve's playing of Ravel's "Gibet" from "Gaspard de la Nuit" for piano after John passes and after Sarandon's character makes her first kill...her husband. This piece is Ravel's programmatic interpretation of a French poem which describes a person wearily walking under the intense scorching sun and seeing something in the distance, approaches, only to find a corpse strung up, rotting in the midday sun. Beautiful usage of Schubert's Piano Trio as well as haunting movements of a Schubert piano sonata. Then there is the obvious thematic tie-in with "Lakmé" by Délibes. (Lesbian love) And you've got to love the use of the band BAUHAUS in the opening sequence-with the lead singer singing "Bela Lugosi's Dead" in the suspended cage. Deneuve is absolutely ravishing and used to great effect and lovingly photographed. David Bowie does an exceptional turn as her lover. What I admire most is the movie's ability to paint a feeling and mood of their existence outside time, eternally present yet eternally on the fringe, startlingly beautiful yet shrouded, veiled, amorphous and ultimately predatorial. Finally, the thought that Deneuve's past lovers never die but are trapped eternally in a constantly decaying shell is absolutely frightening. Did I mention that Deneuve is sublimely beautiful?!