USA, 1976
95m, 8523 feet
16mm film [blown up to 35mm film], colour, black and white, 1.37:1
mono, English
Reviewed at The EOFFTV Review
An American horror film directed by George A. Romero.
Plot Summary
Martin, an odd, withdrawn teenager, claims to be 84 years old and a vampire. He’s sent to stay with his superstitious uncle in Pittsburg where he continues his series of vampire-like murders. His uncle vows to save Martin’s soul, then to destroy him. But a chance meeting with another lost soul offers Martin one last chance to redeem himself…
Credits
Crew
Directed by: George A. Romero
© Braddock Associates, 1976
A Laurel presentation
Produced by: Richard Rubinstein
Associate Producers: Patricia Bernesser, Ray Schmaus
Written by: George A. Romero
Director of Photography: Michael Gornick
Editor: George A. Romero
Music Composed and Arranged by: Donald Rubinstein
Sound: Tony Buba
Special Effects & Make Up: Tom Savini
Locations: Braddock, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Cast
Lincoln Maazel (Cuda)
Christine Forrest (Christina)
Elayne Nadeau (Mrs Santini)
Tom Savini (Arthur)
Sara Venable (housewife victim)
Fran Middleton (train victim)
Al Levitsky [real name: Roger Caine] (Lewis)
John Amplas as Martin
George A. Romero (Father Howard)
James Roy (Deacon)
J. Clifford Forrest Jr (Father Zulemas)
Robert Ogden (businessman)
Donaldo Soviero (flashback priest)
Donna Siegal (woman)
Albert J. Schmaus, Lilian Schmaus, Francis Mazzoni (family members)
Vincent D. Survinski (train porter)
Tony Buba, Pasquale Buba, Clayton McKinnon (drug dealers)
Regis J. Survinski, Tony Pantanella (hobos)
Harvey Eger, Tom Weber (men in bathroom)
Robert Barner, Stephen Fergelic (policeman)
Alternative Titles
Blood – working title
Martin, el amante del terror – Argentina
Wampyr – Germany, Italy
Links
See also
The Exorcist (1973)
Extracts included in
Document of the Dead (1989)
Scream Greats, Vol 1: Tom Savini, Master of Horror Make-Up (1986)
Press
1978
Cinefantastique vol.7 no.2 (Summer 1978) p.32
This is a dark and hopeless film. […] Romero utilizes his low budget admirably, but the film lacks an ingredient that has nothing to do with funding: personality. Romero’s depthless characters garner no sympathy. Martin’s ill-fated affair with Mrs Santini (Elayne Nadeau) should have been the catalyst for audience empathy but isn’t and consequently their deaths have little emotional impact. Martin’s one normal sexual encounter results in his destruction. Romero seems to insist on peopling his films with non-actors which may work with zombies but is self-defeating when characterization is required. – from an illustrated review by Dan Scapperotti
References
Periodicals
- Cinefantastique vol.7 no.2 (Summer 1978) p.32 – illustrated review (by Dan Scapperotti)
- Cinefantastique vol.8 no.1 (Winter 1978) pp.16-17 – review
- The Dark Side no.53 p.25 – review
- L’Écran Fantastique no.2 (1977) pp.28-29 – review
- Empire no.174 (December 2003) p.170 – illustrated DVD review
- Fangoria no.196 (September 2000) p.52 – DVD review
- Films and Filming vol.24 no.4 (January 1978) pp.32-33 – review (by Gordon Gow)
- Films and Filming vol.26 no.4 (January 1980) pp.31-32 – credits, review (by Eric Braun)
- Flesh and Blood no.3 p.15 – illustrated note
- The Listener vol.102 no.2640 (6 December 1979) pp.787-788 – review
- Monthly Film Bulletin vol.45 no.528 (January 1978) pp.9-10 – credits, synopsis, review (by Richard Combs)
- Monthly Film Bulletin vol.46 no.543 (April 1979) p.86 – note (Addenda and Corrigenda)
- Movietone News no.62-63 (29 December 1979) pp.32-33 – review
- Necronomicon no.6 pp.45-46 – review
- Screen International no.217 (24 November 1979) p.18 – review
- Sight and Sound vol.47 no.1 (Winter 1977/1978) pp.55-56 – review
- Sight and Sound vol.4 no.11 (November 1994) p.62 – note
- Sight and Sound vol.14 no.1 (January 2004) p.68 – DVD review
- Time Out no.501 (23 November 1979) p.45 – review
- Variety 10 January 1979 p.27 – credits, review
Books
- 100 American Horror Films by Barry Keith Grant pp.131-132
- 500 Essential Cult Movies: The Ultimate Guide by Jennifer Eiss with J.P. Rutter and Steve White p.47 – illustrated credits, synopsis, review
- The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Horror by Phil Hardy (ed.) p.315-316
- The Cinema of George A. Romero: Knight of the Living Dead by Tony Williams pp.80-89; 272-273 – article; credits
- Cinematic Vampires by John L. Flynn pp.242-244
- Euro Gothic: Classics of Continental Horror Cinema by Jonathan Rigby p.221
- Film Review 1980-81 by F. Maurice Speed (ed.) p.135
- Hoffman’s Guide to SF, Horror and Fantasy Movies 1991-1992 p.232 – credits, review
- Horror and Science Fiction Films II by Donald C. Willis pp.249-250
- Horror Films of the 1970s by John Kenneth Muir pp.418-421 – credits, synopsis, review
- The Illustrated Vampire Movie Guide by Stephen Jones p.83 – credits, review
- The Pocket Essential: George A. Romero by Tom Fallows and Curtis Owen pp.45-51 – article
- Serial Killer Cinema: An Analytical Filmography by Robert Cetti pp.279-281
- Vampire Films of the 1970s: Dracula to Blacula and Every Fang Between by Gary A. Smith pp.171-172; 215 – review; credits
- Zombie by Allan Bryce (ed) pp.41-47 – illustrated article (Tom Savini – Sultan of splatter by Allan Bryce)
