The Addiction (1995)

A New York philosophy grad student turns into a vampire after getting bitten by one, and then tries to come to terms with her new lifestyle and frequent craving for human blood.

Director:

Abel Ferrara

Writer:

Nicholas St. John

Stars:

Lili Taylor, Christopher Walken, Annabella Sciorra

5 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lili Taylor	...	Kathleen Conklin
Christopher Walken	...	Peina
Annabella Sciorra	...	Casanova
Edie Falco	...	Jean
Paul Calderon	...	Professor
Fredro Starr	...	Black
Kathryn Erbe	...	Anthropology Student
Michael Imperioli	...	Missionary
Jamal Simmons	...	Black's Friend (as Jamel 'RedRum' Simmons)
Robert W. Castle	...	Narrator / Priest (as Father Robert Castle)
Michael A. Fella	...	Cop (as Michael Fella)
Louis Katz	...	Doctor (as Dr. Louis A. Katz)
Leroy Johnson	...	Homeless Victim
Fred Williams	...	Homeless Victim
Avron Coleman	...	Cellist

Storyline

Kathleen Conklin, a doctoral student in philosophy, finds herself with a new perspective on the nature of evil and humanity after being bitten by a vampire in New York City....

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Plot Keywords:

vampire | drugs | blood | philosophy | college | 

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Taglines:

The dark is their sunlight. What makes them different is what keeps them alive.

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Genres:

Horror | Drama

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 October 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dependenta

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$302,393 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fast Films, Guild, October Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby (as Dolby Surround) Dolby SR

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film critic Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian placed the film at #1 in his top ten films of all time (as submitted for the 2002 Sight & Sound Poll)

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Quotes

Kathleen: How can we eat or drink? People like us?
Peina: I'm not like you. You're nothing. That's something you ought not to forget. You're not a person. You're nothing!

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Connections

Referenced in Halloween: 25 Years of Terror (2006)

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Soundtracks

"Ngu Ngon"
Traditional
Performed by Dean Thudman

User Reviews

I loved the Addiction

I loved this film. I was an NYU grad student and the process of getting my doctorate and writing the dissertation and dealing with the committee were perfectly captured by all the aspects of the vampire's experience and transformation. The hunger she felt was so accurate. I recall those days of struggle and grad student doubts about ever finishing and feeling as if no one would appreciate what I had written. The writers captured all that perfectly in the scenes of her trying to write and focus, all while something else was pulling on her and transforming her.

The film itself was well acted and the emotional atmosphere was captured perfectly. The street scenes incorporated the neighborhood beautifully, especially in the way people in the village actually live there. It was a dark wonderful film and I have recommended it to many people, especially those currently in grad school, writing their dissertations. I hope it is released on DVD soon. I keep looking.