The Hunger (2005)
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44% of critics liked it
(27 reviews) -
65% of users liked it
(12,234 ratings)
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… More 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
- Directed By
- Tony Scott
- Genres
- Horror
- In Theaters
- Apr 29, 1983 Wide
- Studio
- MGM
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
In his feature debut, director Tony Scott, brother of Ridley, exhibits the same penchant for eleborate art direction, minimal, humorless dialog and shooting in smoky rooms.
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, Time Out
Visual sensualities will have a feast, but you'll have to read Whitley Strieber's novel if you don't want to emerge with a badly scratched head.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The Hunger is an agonizingly bad vampire movie, circling around an exquisitely effective sex scene. Sorry, but that's the way it is, and your reporter has to be honest.
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Vincent Canby, New York Times
The movie reeks with chic, but never, for one minute, takes itself too seriously, nor does it ever slop over into camp.
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Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
The obsessive conjunction of lesbian sex and flowing blood suggests a deep-seated misogyny, but neither this nor any other theme is registered with enough clarity to offend.
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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Catherine Deneuve
as Miriam
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David Bowie
as John
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Susan Sarandon
as Sarah Roberts
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Cliff De Young
as Tom Haver
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Beth Ehlers
as Alice Cavender
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Dan Hedaya
as Lt. Allegrezza
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Rufus Collins
as Charlie Humphries
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Suzanne Bertish
as Phyllis
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James Aubrey
as Ron
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Bauhaus
as Disco Group
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Willem Dafoe
as Phone Booth Youths
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Lise Hilboldt
as Waiting Room Nurse
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Douglas Lambert
as TV Host
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Bessie Love
as Lilybelle
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Ann Magnuson
as Young Woman from Disco
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John Pankow
as 1st Phone Booth Youth
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Shane Rimmer
as Jelinek
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Philip Sayer
as London House Couple
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Sophie Ward
as Girl in London House
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Ed Wiley
as Intern
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Allan Richards
as Cadaver
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Michael Howe
as 1st Intern

