Customer Reviews
Stylish vampire flick. 
2008-02-07
The Hunger is a stylishly made gothic horror film that also happens to be a cult classic its also Tony Scott's first feature film, I thought that the film was a nice piece of work that is rich in texture and design and it was very artistic its too bad that Tony Scott doesn't make these type of films anymore. I think it was more of a thriller only this time with vampires which I think is very interesting and it also has a different take on the vampire legend, the film is about two centuries old vampires Mariam (Catherine Deneuve) and John (David Bowie) who are a very rich and sophisticated couple, devoid of fangs they bleed their victims by cutting their jugulars with small blades hidden inside amulets of the Egyptian symbol Ankh which is the symbol of everlasting life for the vampires however there seems to be a problem John is aging rapidly since he is not a pure blood vampire like Mariam and is approaching the same end as the previous lovers of Mariam who have died in the past. In desperation John contacts Dr. Sarah Roberts (Susan Surandon) who is conducting research into slowing the effects of aging to find a cure for his condition. The Hunger had a very interesting plot and some nice and memorable scenes like that goth club and the girl on girl sex scene between Catherine Deneuve and Susan Surandon, yes the film was visually impressive but sometimes it seems like Tony Scott tries abit too hard and starts editing too fast. Overall I would say that it was pretty good and the make-up effects on the ageing vampire was great and looked very realistic I was also surprised by David Bowie's acting he was quite good in this film.
The Hunger 2008-01-15
For a film that was made over twenty years ago, it's lost nothing of it's chicness and class. Catherine Deneuve is, as always, superb.
I don't think this film will ever become dated.
The Book 
2007-11-25
Can't compare to or come close to the book and the images that book creates. Too bad!
Late night cable movie at best... 
2007-11-18
If you walk into a movie store these days, take a casual stroll over to the horror section and you will find a plethora of vampire movies. They range from good to bad to kinky to weird to campy to Mystery Science Theater worthy. Yet, as soon as you think the genre has hit rock bottom, it bounces back with something new and different that reves back up the creatures for the masses. Today's film, 1983's "The Hunger" is one of those films that makes you go "huh?"
The film tells the tale of two vampire lovers, Miriam and John (Catherine Blaylock and David Bowie) who stalk local discoteqchs for young, attractive (by 1983 standards) couples to take back to the posh New York town home, tease and coddle, then drain their blood and burn the bodies in the incinerator downstairs. John learns that Miriam doesn't need him anymore and he begins to age very quickly. He seeks out the help of leading aging and blood expert Dr. Sarah Roberts (Susan Sarandon) to cure him. After dismissing John as a local nut case, Dr. Roberts sees that his condition is real and tries to track him down to apologize and try to help him. Dr. Roberts runs into Miriam who becomes attracted to Dr. Roberts, seduces her and then decides to turn her into her next lover. Dr. Roberts doesn't like this, hilarity ensues, and by the end, you'll be utterly confused, like I was.
Probably the biggest issue with this movie outside the hard to follow plot is how the vampires kill their victims. There are no long fangs or anything like that, they have little Egyptian symbols that they wear around their neck, and contain a knife about an inch long. They use this to kill their victims and then drink their blood. Not a very practical or sexy for a film that tries very hard from the beginning to be erotic.
The direction of Tony Scott has to be factor in this as well. Too often do we jump around to different time periods or people without any explanation and it gets confusing. To be honest, I though David Bowie was the main vampire in this for the first hour or so, till he is buried away by Miriam. Scott is fresh off directing commercials at this time and it shows in his filming. You have to remember that we are still 3 years away from Top Gun and 12 years from Crimson Tide, Scott's best film to date. Unfortunately, the lack of experience shows all too often in the direction.
Apparently, some where down the line, this movie sparked a TV series by the same name that aired for 3 seasons in the late 1990's that was hosted by Terrance Stamp. David Bowie returned for three episodes as a Julian Priest and Scott directed two of the episodes as well to give some connection to the 1983 movie. I love one poster's comments about this series when he asks "Where any of the episodes any good?" Friend, judging by the movie, I would say no.
Great drinking game movie though, just have everyone take a shot when you don't see a scene where one of the three main characters smoking. Trust me folks, take this as a late night cable movie at best. I did.
Wonderful. 2007-10-12
The Hunger (Tony Scott, 1983)
It says something, perhaps, about my upbringing that it never occurred to me, when I first saw this movie a quarter-century ago, to question the rather cutting-edge sexuality of it all. So, yeah, I'm fifteen, Catherine Deneuve and Susan Sarandon are getting it on (and quite nicely, I might add), and I'm still sitting there thinking "jeez, poor John." I saw nothing out of the ordinary whatsoever. For that matter, I still don't, except through the lenses of those opposing groups who call it vile or hold it up as some sort of bastion of film for exactly the same reason: it contains two major international film stars of the same sex doing quite nice things to one another. Which is great and all, but honestly, so what? It has about as much significance to the overall plot as does the label in Dan Hedaya's suit. (And no, I've no idea whether it's Brooks Brothers or something you can buy in an alley for fifty bucks.) Miriam Blaylock is opportunistic; the sex of her prospective partners means about as much to her as does whether the place down the street will deliver after eleven, see?
Okay, so anyway: this was Tony Scott's first feature film, and while he's certainly done some interesting movies since, he's never quite lived up to the promise this one showed; this was something entirely new and quite deftly handled. It's probably not outside the bounds of reason to point to this film, and the Whitley Streiber novel upon which it is based, as at least part of the genesis for the current sexy-vampire rage in books and movies. It's certainly hard to imagine a pair of vamps who fit the bill better than John (David Bowie) and Miriam (Deneuve) Blaylock. The problem is that John, who's approaching the ripe old age of two hundred (or so I gather from flashbacks), is starting to lose that whole eternal-youth thing. At the same time, Sarah Roberts (Sarandon) a doctor who's studying the causes of progeria, is all the rage in the local news, so John seeks her out. Miriam, too, is interested...
It's impossible to give any more of a plot summary without major spoilers, so I'll have to leave it at that, but there's a lot that goes on under the hood here, and all of it works well. (In fact, the only scene in the movie that's never worked for me is the opening scene, which plays rather like a Bauhaus video, and has always struck me as just a tad too egregious.) Everything about the movie plays-- the acting, the direction, the soundtrack, the set design (do brownstones like that really exist in New York City?), everything. It's quite a sight to behold.
I keep waiting for another movie this good from Tony Scott, because I know he's got it in him. Until then, I'll settle for watching The Hunger. ****
Vampires in Egypt 2008-06-23
This film is very different from other vampire movies. What makes it different is the music from Schubert used in the soundtrack.
Art house horror with David Bowie 2008-05-10
Directed by Ridley Scott's brother, Tony Scott, this 1980s horror vampire film is not a typical vampire movie and yet at the same time is not even a typical motion picture. There is no mistaking though that The Hunger does look great and the lighting camera combination is very gothic urban.
The story strands involve two vampires played by David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve, who kill people to drink their blood so they can have extended life. However these vampires are not the traditional type. They do not have fangs and they can go out in sunlight. Susan Sarandon plays a scientist who thinks that aging is a disease and can be cured. She is sought after by Catherine Deneuve.
The film is notorious for the lesbian scene between Catherine Deneuve and Susan Sarandon. There are also impressive special effects for Bowie's aging process. He grows old over the course of a number of scenes. Apart from this however the film seems to loose touch with the subject matter, freely roaming towards art for art's sake and sacrifices the story so severely that the ending doesn't make any sense because of it.
If you are a fan of Tony Scott, David Bowie, Catherine Deneuve or 80s horror films then it might be worth checking out. Vampire movie fans may want to reconsider and even vampire film completers may hold back.
Poignant with a touch of freak 2008-03-25
This had some pretty hot moments in it and just about any time Catherine Deneuve showed up was hot as hell. She just exudes eroticism. I liked the story very much. An interesting take on vampires. I really got into Bowie's pain. I tried to imagine what it would be like to experience what he was feeling and why. Very sad. It was a trip to see Willem Dafoe looking about all of 17 and I've never seen Dan Hedaya looking so young either.
One of my all-time favorites... 
2008-03-07
But then I'm kind of a weirdie.
If you like vampires, sublime actors, stories of love, betrayal and eventual triumph and/or the idea of two incredibly lovely women having one of the most sensual love/sex scenes in cinema history, this is YOUR movie.
Plus the soundtrack is so fabulous, it stands alone... Bauhaus' Bella Lugosi's Dead (Live!), Delibes' Lakme, and Schubert's Trio in E Flat all in one movie? Oh yes indeed.
yes! 2008-02-26
If you like Vampires, susan sarandon, or you just want to see David Bowie in the shower, buy this movie and you won't be dissapointed.
