Martin / Wampyr (1976)

Martin / Wampyr (1976) (DVD) (*)

$23.99

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 )
Italian ( Dolby Digital 5.1 )

Product Origin/Format:
Italy ( PAL/Region 0 )

Running Time:
185 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (1.85:1)

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Scene Access
Trailer(s)

Movie filmed in 1976 and produced in:
United States ( USA, Canada )

Directed By:
George A. Romero

Written By:
George A. Romero

Actors:
John Amplas ..... Martin
Lincoln Maazel ..... Cuda
Christine Forrest ..... Christina
Elyane Nadeau ..... Mrs. Santini
Tom Savini ..... Arthur
Sara Venable ..... Housewife Victim
Francine Middleton ..... Train Victim
Roger Caine ..... Lewis
George A. Romero ..... Father Howard
James Roy ..... Deacon
J. Clifford Forrest Jr. ..... Father Zulemas
Robert Ogden ..... Businessman
Donaldo Soviero ..... Priest (segment 'Flashback')
Donna Siegel ..... Woman
Albert J. Schmaus ..... Family

Synopsis:

Wampyr version (90min.) and Martin version (95 min.). George Romero does for vampires what he has already done to zombies - an intense and realistic treatment that follows the exploits of Martin, who claims to be 84 years old, and who certainly drinks human blood. The boy arrives in Pittsburg to stay with his uncle, who promises to save Martin's soul and destroy him once he is finished, but Martin's loneliness finds other means of release.

Nearly a decade after George A. Romero changed the face of modern horror films with Night of the Living Dead -- and following the less successful projects Season of the Witch and The Crazies -- the Pittsburgh-based auteur returned to top form with this superb vampire tale. Set in a rapidly crumbling steeltown suburb, the story focuses on shy, moody Martin (John Amplas), a teenager of East European descent who may or may not be a vampire. Though he possesses no fangs or supernatural powers and has no aversions to either crucifixes or garlic, Martin is nevertheless compelled to drug pretty young women, slash them with razor blades, and consume their blood. His motivations seem purely psychological -- as revealed to a call-in radio talk show where Martin has become an anonymous celebrity -- but the notion of a family vampire curse is fostered by Martin's stoic uncle Cuda Lincoln Maazel, who is convinced that he must destroy the boy by hammering a stake through his heart. Romero's superb script keeps the film's supernatural questions ambiguous, focusing instead on the characters' inner turmoil as modern-day attitudes and values clash with vanishing Old World traditions. Filmed on an extremely low budget, Martin benefits from its gritty, kitchen-sink realism, making the outbursts of graphic horror even more surreal and disturbing and creating a sense of doom that builds to a tragically ironic climax.

A young man, who believes himself to be a vampire, goes to live with his elderly and hostile cousin in a small Pennsylvania town where he tries to redeem his blood-craving urges.

This product was added to our catalog on Sunday 03 October, 2021.