Martin (1977)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

George A. Romero

Writer:

George A. Romero (writer)

Release Date:

7 July 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror

Tagline:

A Vampire for Our Age of Disbelief

Plot:

A young man, who believes himself to be a vampire, goes to live with his elderly and hostile cousin in a small Pennsylvania town where he tries to redeem his blood-craving urges.

Plot Keywords:

Vampire | Razor Blade | Blood | Hypodermic | Marching Band

Cast

John Amplas	...	Martin Madahas
Lincoln Maazel	...	Tada Cuda
Christine Forrest	...	Christina
Elyane Nadeau	...	Mrs. Santini
Tom Savini	...	Arthur
Sara Venable	...	Housewife Victim
Francine Middleton	...	Train Victim (as Fran Middleton)
Roger Caine	...	Lewis (as Al Levitsky)
George A. Romero	...	Father Howard
James Roy	...	Deacon
J. Clifford Forrest Jr.	...	Father Zulemas
Robert Ogden	...	Businessman
Donaldo Soviero	...	Flashback Priest
Donna Siegel	...	Woman
Albert J. Schmaus	...	Family Member

Also Known As:

George A. Romero's Martin (Australia)

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-18 | Germany:16 (re-rating) (2005) | West Germany:18 (original rating) | France:-16 | Iceland:16 | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Braddock, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Laurel Entertainment Inc.

Trivia:

Producer Richard P. Rubinstein cameos in the film as the husband of the cheating housewife victim.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the very beginning of the film on the train, Martin sneaks in and attacks a woman in her cabin. At first, she has a cold cream mask on. During the struggle, it suddenly disappears without a trace.

Quotes:

Martin Madahas: And that's another thing about those movies. Vampires always have ladies. Sometimes lots of ladies. Well, that's wrong too! You don't need all that.
Radio Talk Show Host: Ah,ha,ha,ha, you don't need that?
Martin Madahas: No, you really don't. I mean, if the magic part was real and you could make them do whatever you wanted to...
Radio Talk Show Host: Ha,ha,oh,yeah!
Martin Madahas: Well, that would be different. In real life, in real life you can't get people to do what you want them to do.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Dead Will Walk (2004) (V)

I vant to suck your... bomb!

This isn't just a vampire movie mind you. To say this is a vampire movie is to say a baboon is a human. Though it is slightly true (If you believe Darwin) it is hardly doing the genre any justice. This movie is simply brilliant. I would even go so far as to say it's the best horror movie of it's kind since the original Psycho. This movie is about the power of stereotypes, of how old, cultural, religious, and traditional beliefs can destroy a kid and make him into a monster. Martin isn't a cold blooded murderer, he's not a vampire. He's a kid who has been singled out by his ultra conservative Religious family as a vampire, a monster. He tries time and time again to fight them, but they never listen so he becomes what they tell him he is sometimes. They basically created him. You feel so sad for Martin, because you know he doesn't really wanna be what he has become, but he has had such a terrible, degrading life that he has no control over that aspect. He is a kid who has never known what it means to be taken care of, to be loved. He only knows what it means to be looked at with fear, and disgust, and that's what makes him what he is. There is a huge amount of psychology involved in this film. It walks a very slippery slope but you can count on George Romero to pull it off. Watch it if you haven't seen it. Note: This is not suitable for children!! Just wanted to clear that up.