The Addiction (1995)

Director:

Abel Ferrara

Writer (WGA):

Nicholas St. John (written by)

Release Date:

6 October 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Drama

Tagline:

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

Plot:

A New York anthropology 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.

Plot Keywords:

Vampire | Blood | Drugs | Philosophy | College

Awards:

5 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

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)
Michael A. Fella	...	Cop
Louis Katz	...	Doctor (as Louis A. Katz)
Leroy Johnson	...	Homeless Victim #1
Fred Williams	...	Homeless Victim #2
Avron Coleman	...	Cellist
Lisa Casillo	...	Mary

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

USA | Argentina

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Italy:VM14 | Norway:18 (TV rating) | Singapore:M18 | Australia:R | Germany:16 | Portugal:M/18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

New York, USA

Company:

Fast Films

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)

Quotes:

Casanova: We are not sinners because we sin. We sin because we're sinners.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in A Short Film About the Long Career of Abel Ferrara (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Eternity

Black & White - 7 (worth the time)

I haven't seen THE ADDICTION in ten years, but I do recommend it from what I remember. And the list of attractive concepts are, envelope please: Lili Taylor, Christopher Walken, Anabella Sciorra, black and white meta-fictional film, and of course vampires galore! Abel Ferrara has directed other well known movies such as Bad Lieutenant, California, and the Funeral. Of these movies, I mildly recommend the first two but definitely not the third. The Funeral is plain boring and dreary, while the other two entertain by showing the gritty side of human nature.

Caution, if you're the type of vampire fan who must have each actor decked out in fangs and yellow contacts, then steer clear of this movie, since it's really questionable whether the characters in THE ADDICTION are actually vampires or are just plain junkies in nice clothes.

Lastly, there is a very complex philosophical feel to THE ADDICTION, as Lili Taylor muses about life and death in deep conversations in different venues around New York City: a college book store, movie theater, etc. I recommend any philosopher out there to grab THE ADDICTION off the shelves as soon as possible.

Speaking of the mid-90's, that short-lived era was a golden age for indie actors like Lili Taylor and Parker Posey. Taylor got a taste of vampire-hood early on in this movie, and fortunately Posey got her fangs in Blade 3, which I was very happy to see happen. I mean, come one, all those party girls are really vampires at heart.

JY

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