Martin (1978)
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96% of critics liked it
(26 reviews) -
72% of users liked it
(6,665 ratings)
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… More 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. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi
- Directed By
- George A. Romero
- Genres
- Drama, Horror
- In Theaters
- May 1, 1977 Wide
- Studio
- HBO Video
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
George A. Romero is still limited by apparently low budgets. But he has inserted some sepia-toned flashback scenes of Martin in Rumania that are extraordinarily evocative.
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Derek Adams, Time Out
Romero makes stunning use of his Pittsburgh locations to create a desolate suburban wasteland, and at its best it is rivetingly raw-edged.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
A surprisingly tender, ambiguous, and sexy film in which Romero's penchant for social satire is for once restricted to local and modest proportions.
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, Total Film
It's rough around the edges (variable acting and flaky FX abound) yet it still intrigues, still disgusts and -- important, this -- still disturbs.
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, Film4
More than just a midnight-movie classic, Martin is inventive, haunting and bitingly smart. Forget the recent Land Of The Dead and see Romero at the top of his terror game.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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John Amplas
as Martin
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Lincoln Maazel
as Tata Cuda
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Christine Forrest
as Christina
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Elayne Nadeau
as Mrs. Santini
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Tom Savini
as Arthur
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Sarah Venable
as Housewife victim
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Fran Middleton
as Train victim
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Tony Buba
as Drug Dealer
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Clifford J. Forrest Jr.
as Fr. Zulemas
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Al Levitsky
as Lewis
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Clayton McKinnon
as Drug Dealer
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Robert Ogden
as Businessman
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James Roy
as Deacon
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Richard P. Rubinstein
as Housewife Victim's Husband
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Donna Siegal
as Woman
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Donaldo Soviero
as Flashback Priest
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George A. Romero
as Father Howard
