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Saw this movie in 1978 when it was first released, and even though I abhor violent rape scenes (or any depiction of rape), the movie’s theme remained with me.

It quickly disappeared from theaters, and since then I found few people who have seen the movie. It’s now been reissued on dvd. I’m hoping that here on VR, I’ll find more people who’ve seen this film and would like to discuss it.

Martin craves the blood of human beings. But is he really a vampire? He says, “it’s a sickness!” Because he doesn’t have fangs, when he attacks he must drug his victims and slice open their veins with a razor blade.

Question: For starters, is the title character, Martin, a vampire or is he mentally ill?

What effect, if any, does a movie like this have on the vampire community?

For those of you who haven’t seen the film, here is a brief description and links:


A painfully shy and obviously disturbed young man, Martin (John Amplas), believes himself to be an eighty-four-year-old vampire from the Old World, albeit one who has some very New World methods for subduing his prey. You see, Martin doesn’t have any fangs, nor does he sport a cape or slumber in a coffin within a deep, dark sepulcher. Instead, Martin has a completely modern method of taking down his victims. He’s cool, clinical, and oddly enough, caring. His feeding utensils are a simple syringe filled with sodium pentothal to knock out his victims, razor blades to slice open their veins, some rope and duct tape, and a lot of cunning. Martin is very good at what he does. http://www.imagesjournal.com/issue09/reviews/martin/text.htm

The stereotypes have been around for years and rarely touched: vampires hate garlic, can't be seen in mirrors, need to feed everyday, can seduce women- basically they are endowed with magical powers. In Romero's masterpiece 'Martin,' the lead character is somewhat unique in a way that the movie transcends different aspects of the genre. The movie crosses over from fantasy into the realm of reality and instead of being a vampire movie it's a serial killer movie. What if vampires were just human- and needed blood to satisfy some urge?
http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/review.php?id=482

I've seen it several times over the years...not all "Vampires" have fangs.I have seen and read plenty movies and books where the "vampire" has to cut to feed or drink blood.As for "Martin" I think it was all in his mind.Much like Nick Cages character in Vampire's Kiss.

this brings us back to the question 'what is a vampire?' as Martin wasn't the traditional vampire, at all.
but, I saw the film... and, by the definition I've seen may use in documentaries and articles and books, he was, most certainly avampire.

Sounds more like Martin has 'Renfield syndrome' than he is a vampire.

I came across the movie Martin while rating the database, it sounded so good I went to Best buy and ordered it. Now it is a part of my collection.

I have never seen this movie but I will now it sounds good although it is my opinion that Martin is not a vampire but a lunatic and a serial killer albeit a cunning one from what I read in your link.

This is a cult movie, one that a lot of people want to see but few really do. I love how it makes you decide what Martin actually is. I think Romero did a great job with this and would recommend it highly.

Well, if blood draw declares an individual to be vampiric, so be it...Regardless how the blood is taken.

Martin did not have Renfields Syndrome, as he did not drink his own blood.

Martin is a vampire, minus the usual vampire drag. It is the nature of a vampire to use force and violence to get what he or she needs to survive, blood.
If the body count mounts up, then the vampire is a serial killer. That is what vampires do. We can do psych evals on any vampire, they are sociopaths. But nobodys perfect.

Straight from the Main Menu

What is a Vampire??


Vampire (Page: 1593)


Vam"pire (?), n. [F. vampire (cf. It. vampiro, G. & D. vampir), fr. Servian vampir.] [Written also vampyre.]


1. A blood-sucking ghost; a soul of a dead person superstitiously believed to come from the grave and wander about by night sucking the blood of persons asleep, thus causing their death. This superstition is now prevalent in parts of Eastern Europe, and was especially current in Hungary about the year 1730.




2. Fig.: One who lives by preying on others; an extortioner; a bloodsucker.

3. (Zoöl.) Either one of two or more species of South American blood-sucking bats belonging to the genera Desmodus and Diphylla. These bats are destitute of molar teeth, but have strong, sharp cutting incisors with which they make punctured wounds from which they suck the blood of horses, cattle, and other animals, as well as man, chiefly during sleep. They have a caecal appendage to the stomach, in which the blood with which they gorge themselves is stored.

4. (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of harmless tropical American bats of the genus Vampyrus, especially V. spectrum. These bats feed upon insects and fruit, but were formerly erroneously supposed to suck the blood of man and animals. Called also false vampire. Vampire bat (Zoöl.), a vampire, Vampyrus spectrum


He is a "Vampire" in his head...not in the usual "Vampire" terms.

I had seen this movie many years ago. I reallyl don't believe it had any effect on the vampire community as it did depict him as a delusionaly serial killer that just happened to believe he needed blood to live, just a tic of his modus operandi was all.

The word vampire is not even used in the movie, I think. His uncle constantly intones "Nosferatu" in an Eastern European accent until you want to strangle him with it.

The uncle also adds atmosphere by referring to the family "curse", hanging garlic, and having a ready supply of silver crosses and holy water. He also seems genuinely afraid of Martin.

Martin's response is to munch the garlic raw and press the crucifix to his skin, all the while proclaiming his blood lust is a "sickness."

Romero created tension and suspense on a very low budget. The desolate urban landscapes of Pa., shot in economically rundown sections add much to the sense of desperation and abandonment.

Never seen it,I'm gonna go order the movie from Best Bye Hey I plan on collecting every Vampire Movie ever made I have quite a collection and this one sounds interesting.If post is still active I will give my opinion :)
KA

Martin seems more psychotic or sociopathic than a vampire.

If he is ill, might I suggest lithium?

im sorry hun i cant help you with this one as i havent seen that movie.but i will see it now and than let you know my thoughts

I have managed to acquire a copy of this movie and watched it. It was actually quite good. Thanks for the thread.

To the average person anyone that drinks blood is a lunatic. Martin may not consider himself a vampire because he knows he is not the walking undead. On the other hand some people may consider him a vampire simply because he drinks blood. It all really depends what your definition of a vampire is. Since he kills his prey I'm sure there is a psychological problem. I am sure that a lot of the people that see a movie like that would tend to lump anyone that drinks blood into the same category as Martin.

Gwendolyn: What did you like about the story?

I havent seen this but I will have to see if my library has it or find it online to watch.

Here is where you can download and or watch movies for free Free Movies

I always worry about viruses at those places, but I was happy to see there's a new Harold and Kumar movie. Not sure if they can top the zaniness of the first one, but if I'm in the right frame of mind --- doesn't really matter.

I've seen this a few times Bloodmother! I think he had some sort of disease or sickness. This movie scared me. it's really good you all should check it out. You can watch it online too.

I believe it was all in george martins mind. even though not all vampires have fangs.

George A Romero was the Director. And the Film is titled after the name of it's main character "Martin." Martin in the film thought he was a vampire but had no symptoms. It seemed though he had a sensationable bloodlust.

Romero, in his usual style of mocking society, did a psychological twist on what vampires are. But the twist was done to make us think--not as to what Martin actually is.

The only reason the thought that Martin could be a vampire is because of his cousin's belief that Martin is descended from a family-line of vampires.

The question is never answered and leaves each viewer to come to their own conclusion. For those who believe in vampires, they might just believe that Martin is a deranged vampire who was a bit twisted in the way he dealt with this victims. For those who do not, Martin is just another sociopathic serial killer, whose cousin's belief in vampires, and treating Martin as one, was the catalyst that set off Martin's vampiric-like demeanor when dealing with his victims.