Vampires typically follow pretty consistent mythology, they drink blood, aversion to the sun, and possess powerful sexual magnetism. In 1977, George A. Romero stripped away the Universal magic from the vampire mythos and left a dirty, thought-provoking film entitled Martin. We follow Martin, a troubled youth in an impoverished Pennsylvania suburb who uses drugs to subdue his victims and drinks their blood from slit wrists. Vampire right? Or maybe he’s just suffering from a disturbing mental illness…in fact, there is no evidence of his undead status. If he is human, his reality is far more terrifying than any lurking creature. Romero’s direction is steeped in a harsh reality and his shot compositions make up for any mediocre acting performances. This is one of his greatest films.
