Reviews & Ratings for
The Hunger More at IMDbPro »

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74 out of 91 people found the following review useful:
Sexy vampire noir has boredom written for those of a different taste, 29 April 2004
Author: narnerbee (narnerbee@hotmail.com) from US of A

THE HUNGER, unquestionably one of the most impressive stylized filmmaking of its kind. Using such techniques as classical music, and visual storytelling, not to mention the usage of sound as well, this sexy tale of blood, lust, and demonic dealings takes vampires to the next level. Susan Sarandon is struggling medical woman, trying to discover the secrets of natural aging. Bowie and Deneuve are well out as eternal bloodsuckers meeting a tragic end, as Bowie finds himself rotting away, slowly. Once Bowie is out of the picture, Deneuve has her sights on Sarandon(unique love scene between the two). While never failing to deliver well plotted story, this one grows boring at times, to those uneasily interested. Many incidents, which prove affective to some,are often slow and dull to others, perhaps aquired taste best describes the tone for most viewers. Playing more like a tragic drama, the creators catch most attention with an opening to hard to resist. Even the most uninterested cannot turn from the "Bela Lugosi Is Dead" act, as well as Shuberts "Trio In E Flat" oversounding the sad moments bringing the film to an automatic saddness, which never really goes away. Still, always impressive in many other ways, this film might enlighten others who need soap opera-esque escape matters. THE HUNGER may not grace some people, but others will find this one to be very thrilling in different ways. Always give the film a chance before judging too harshly, and THE HUNGER has its own way of getting attention, it got mine.

52 out of 57 people found the following review useful:
Gother Than Thou, 26 March 2004
Author: Gafke from United States

"The Hunger" opens with the by now familiar Goth anthem "Bela Lugosi's Dead" by Bauhaus. Not a bad way to open a vampire film, though nowadays it would seem almost a parody. "Undead undead undead" indeed. Enter Cathy and Bowie into a slick, sleek, neon nightclub, filled to the rafters with post-punks & pre-Goths playing dead. Too bad they weren't as ready for the real thing as they thought they were. You see, Cathy and Bowie are vampires.

This is a visually stunning film, making up for in effects what it sometimes lacks in coherence. It seems that lovely, immortal Cathy, called Miriam, is a vampire queen who has been around since the Sphinx was built, apparently. Bowie is her consort, a once mortal man whose two hundred-odd year lifespan is suddenly winding down at a frighteningly rapid rate. Desperate to find a cure, he seeks out scientist Susan Sarandon, who at first disbelieves Bowie's claims, but is soon convinced when the young and handsomely androgynous man suddenly ages over the course of a few hours time into a decrepit ruin. Miriam, who has had countless lovers over the centuries, gives Bowie the heave-ho and turns her attention to lovely young Sarandon. But Sarandon, though initially easy to seduce (in an erotic lesbian scene) proves to have a will stronger than Miriam's, and Miriam's habit of keeping her collection of ex-lovers cadavers close at hand, proves to be a mistake.

This is a strange film, almost as cold and dispassionate as one might well imagine a vampire to be. It seems to hold the viewer at arms length, not allowing them to experience the emotions of the characters...but the characters, for the most part, are severely lacking in emotion anyway, so the stark emptiness of the film becomes a brilliant mirror. Some vampire enthusiasts might find this boring and confusing, but it's a good effort and not a total loss.

The three main characters are worth watching simply for their amazing beauty and grace. Tony Scott (brother of Ridley) has made a nice, if somewhat bizarre and chilling, work of art here and, like most works of art, it's up for interpretation.

34 out of 36 people found the following review useful:
Critics hate it and I love it...go figure., 16 December 2000

Author: JP2A2M from London, England

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?!

35 out of 40 people found the following review useful:
Stylish Vampire Movie- Love Is Eternal While It Lasts, 25 March 2007

Author: Claudio Carvalho from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

In New York City, the lovers Miriam Blaylock (Catherine Deneuve) and John (David Bowie) are vampires that survive through time under the Egyptian symbol of Ankh. When John starts an accelerated aging process, he seeks the specialist Dr. Sarah Roberts (Susan Sarandon). However, he does not survive, and Miriam selects Sarah to be her next lover.

"The Hunger" is one of the best vampire movies ever made. I recall when I saw this movie for the first time, in an art cinema in Rio de Janeiro, and later at least three times on VHS. Now on DVD, this stylish film improves with the fantastic melancholic and artistic atmosphere, with a magnificent music score and wonderful cinematography. This movie is totally underrated in IMDb since it is one of the most beautiful vampire movies ever made, actually a masterpiece of the genre. Catherine Deneuve, David Bowie and Susan Sarandon have overwhelming performances in this unforgettable movie. The remarkable scene of the lesbian love of Miriam and Sarah is among the most erotic in the cinema history, never being vulgar. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Fome de Viver" ("Hunger for Living")

24 out of 26 people found the following review useful:
Totally Eighties, 25 September 2006

Author: Oggz from london UK

Before embarking onto this one, you must decide whether or not you enjoy films which look like a very extended (and quite expensive) MTV video clip of the early to mid 80's. If you don't, don't bother with this, it'll probably annoy you greatly. If you do, you're in for an indulgent visual ride and great entertainment, because every frame in Tony Scott's cult classic is carefully planned, beautifully orchestrated and wonderfully filmed - from the iconic opening sequence through to the heavily filtered last shot, it's polished until it gleams. Production design is given full reign and is faultless - the sets, lighting and costumes work fabulously with the soundtrack and the editing, creating a very recognisable style which is a genuine product of the trend aesthetics of the decade in question. And there's an added bonus of knowing use of music - this being the film that "relaunched" the Delibes' Lakme aria, paving the way for it becoming a monster classipop hit it is today. The film also employs Ravel at his most frozenly emotional,and, to stunning effect, Deneuve at arguably her most frozenly beautiful. One of those films remembered for perfectly encapsulating the visual style of its times.

29 out of 36 people found the following review useful:
Interesting to watch, 9 July 2000
Author: Darth Sidious (darth_sidious@talk21.com) from England

A film with lots of style, beautifully shot, almost like a dream. This must be Tony Scott's best film to date, why do you ask? The director shows vision, not only in its visual medium but the editing, the music, the production design, the classical costumes and the chance to work with some talent.

David Bowie is very good, almost perfect for his part and Catherine steals the whole film. Susan Sarandon is also very good, the infamous Lesbian scenes are highly erotic and also very artistic.

This film isn't your usual Vamp movie, the film adds depth to these so-called Vampires.

The film probably required a bit more plot but nevertheless, this is all about style, this film looks fantastic.

Do not watch this in pan and scan, make sure you see it in widescreen because the director and cinematographer make full use of the panavision width.

28 out of 35 people found the following review useful:
Stylish vampire flick., 24 February 2003

Author: HumanoidOfFlesh from Chyby, Poland

"The Hunger"(1983)by Tony Scott is a stylish vampire flick filled with some wonderful visuals.The film is excellently acted-a stunningly beautiful Catherine Deneuve is truly memorable as Miriam-an ageless vampire and former Egyptian queen.There is plenty of blood and vampire lesbian sex,so everyone who is into horror films or Goth music should see this cult flick.The opening scene with Bauhaus playing "Bela Lugosi is Dead" is priceless!

20 out of 25 people found the following review useful:
Dream-like bloodsucking, 26 January 2004
Author: fertilecelluloid from Mountains of Madness

Dream-like horror

Whitley Streiber's highly suspenseful and thematically rich novel is transformed into something entirely different by Tony Scott.

The film is a dream-like arthouse horror pic with diamond-studded production values.

Catherine Deneuve is very, very good as eternal blood drinker Miriam Blaylock. Although it has never been acknowledged (as far as I know), the look and behavior of her screen character is a "re-imagining" of Delphine Seyrig's peerless vampire Countess Bathory from Harry Kummel's 1971 classic DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS.

David Bowie is superb as Deneve's not-so-immortal beloved and convinces us to emphasize with his condition (he is aging rapidly)

This was Tony Scott's first feature and it is a beautiful piece of work that is rich in texture and design and demonstrates adroit control of cinematic craft.

The sound design and rich catalog of music cues are pitch perfect.

Certainly bearing little resemblance to Streiber's novel (just as Michael Wadleigh's WOLFEN also moved away from same author's source), THE HUNGER is, nevertheless, gorgeous art.

26 out of 37 people found the following review useful:
Extraordinary, 29 May 2002

Author: jose paulo

Perhaps the first movie to explore the join and pain of being a vampire and, most importantly, what it means to be immortal. Excellent soundtrack, photography and cast. Not the usual vampire film, it's beautiful and philosophical. I'd say it is even better than "Interview with the vampire" (also a great film).

26 out of 37 people found the following review useful:
Really beautiful tale about love,loneliness and death..., 11 August 2000

Author: BUTCHER-5 from Poland

Watching "The Hunger" is an unforgettable experience.This is a real vampire film,not a laughable stupidity like "The Lost Boys".Highly atmospheric,incredibly stylish,erotic,bloody and chilling-these adjectives can simply describe this great movie.The acting is splendid(I love especially wonderful Catherine Deneuve as a bisexual female vampire)and the atmosphere is full of strange melancholy.Some scenes remind me a bad dream.If you love horror movies with artistic touch,you can't miss this one.In my opinion a masterpiece.

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