The Hunger

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

The exquisitely beautiful Catherine Deneuve plays Miriam, a centuries-old vampire capable of bestowing the gift of immortality on her lovers -- namely her current partner John (David Bowie). To sustain their sanguinary requirements, the pair cruises New York nightclubs in search of victims (as illustrated in a stunning opening sequence to the accompaniment of "Bela Lugosi's Dead" performed by seminal Goth band Bauhaus). When John awakens one morning to discover telltale signs of aging, it is revealed that his own sustained youth is not permanent, and his physical decrepitude begins to increase at an incredible rate. In a panic, John visits the clinic of scientist Sarah Roberts (Susan Sarandon), who has recently published a book on reversing the aging process, but she initially dismisses him as a crank, leaving him to sit in the lobby for several hours... during which his body ages several decades. After learning of his condition, Sarah traces John to his uptown flat. John is nowhere to be found, having been consigned by Miriam to a box in the attic with her legions of undead loves, leaving Miriam to deal with Sarah -- which she does quite effectively, seducing her into a steamy lesbian tryst. Their passion is consummated by a mingling of Miriam's blood with Sarah's, which later manifests itself as a psychic link between the two women and leaves Sarah with a rapidly-increasing appetite for blood. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Audio: Dolby Digital Mono
• Screen: Letterbox for TV
• Features:
  • cc
  • Commentary by Susan Sarandon and director Tony Scott
  • Still gallery
  • Theatrical trailer
  • Languages: English & Francais
  • Subtitles: English, Francais, & Espanol

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Catherine Deneuve - Miriam
       David Bowie - John
       Susan Sarandon - Sarah Roberts
       Cliff De Young - Tom Haver
       Beth Ehlers - Alice Cavender
       Dan Hedaya - Lt. Allegrezza
       Rufus Collins - Charlie Humphries
       Suzanne Bertish - Phyllis
       James Aubrey - Ron
       Lise Hilboldt - Waiting Room Nurse
       Bauhaus - Disco Group
       Ann Magnuson - Young Woman from Disco
       Michael Howe - 1st Intern
       Ed Wiley - Intern
       Bessie Love - Lilybelle
       Willem Dafoe - Phone Booth Youths
       Shane Rimmer - Jelinek
       Sophie Ward - Girl in London House
       Douglas Lambert - TV Host
       Allan Richards - Cadaver
       John Pankow - 1st Phone Booth Youth
       Philip Sayer - London House Couple

• Director:

  Tony Scott

• Producer:

  Richard Shepherd

• Screenwriter:

  James Costigan, Thomas Davis, Jr.

• Book Author:

  Whitley Strieber

• Screenwriter:

  Michael Thomas, Ivan Davis

• Cinematographer:

  Stephen Goldblatt

• Musical Arrangement:

  Howard Blake

• Musical Direction/Supervision:

  Howard Blake

• Composer (Music Score):

  Denny Jaeger, Michel Rubini

• Editor:

  Pamela Power

• Production Designer:

  Brian Morris

• Art Director:

  Clinton Cavers, Victoria Paul

• Set Designer:

  Ann Mollo

• Costume Designer:

  Milena Canonero

• Sound/Sound Designer:

  Clive Winter, John Bolz

• First Assistant Director:

  William Hassell, David Tringham

• Casting:

  Maggie Cartier, Mary Goldberg

• Makeup Special Effects:

  Carl Fullerton, Dick Smith

REVIEW:

• Though undeniably an exercise in style over substance from the opening frames, Tony Scott's languid exercise in gothic vampirism may disappoint those with little patience for arty overindulgence, though those with a taste for slow-burning decay may find The Hunger an involving study in the desperation for love and eternal youth. Vampire enthusiasts and Anne Rice followers drawn to the more romantic aspects of the mythology will likewise succumb to Catherine Denuve's seductive menace and David Bowie's otherworldly charismatic performance, with Susan Surandon offering a compelling turn as a doctor drawn in to the dark underworld while attempting to halt the vampiric Bowie's rapidly accelerated aging process. The distinctly seductive trio certainly makes for an interesting screen presence if nothing else, and despite frequent long stretches in which little is happening in terms of action, they are consistently compelling to watch. The scenes in which Bowie withers away into old age are rendered especially chilling given not only the actor's slowed and cautious mannerisms, but in some effectively convincing make-up by Dick Smith and co. In his feature directorial debut, Tony Scott had yet to develop a fully realized sense of storytelling, though by throwing out most preconceived notions of vampirism and focusing on the intense eroticism often merely hinted at in the majority of mainstream efforts, his inexperience actually benefits the film in terms of providing an eerily disconnected tone. Though the film does include an ample amount of bloodletting, the action here nevertheless flows like frozen molasses, a fact that may well leave many viewers with a hunger of their own. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi