Martin (1976)

Synopsis

A young man can't help but feed his urge...for blood! Will he be able to overcome his urges, or suffer the consequences? 

Thoughts

“Wait. George A. Romero? I thought he only did movies about zombies and the end of civilization and inspired The Walking dead and blah blah blah.” 

That is the general conversation I have with someone who is foreign to Romero's other films. The blahs are the indication that I've already tuned this person out. Now, I'm slightly irritated that these people think Romero doing something other than having characters run from zombies is a foreign concept, but that doesn't stop me from showing them his other works. That's what I'm here for.

Martin. If there was a film that would define “breathing new life into a concept”, this would be it. Vampires have always been burned by light, silver and garlic. They've also had capes, fangs and unbelievably pale. Not the case at all with Martin. That's just a bunch of “magic”. The only thing that Martin has in common with the vampires everyone is familiar with: blood. Still, he doesn't feed like the typical vampire either. 

This feels more like a cerebral dark comedy if I would say it were anything. I put it on the list because I enjoy the direction Romero went with it. You actually have no idea whether or not he's a vampire at all. This could all be in his head. 

What if all the so-called “magic” were actual powers vampires got? That would make Martin a serial killer though. But, what if he was right about the magic? That's what makes this movie so great. Almost 40 years later and people are still wondering whether or not he is a vampire. Add the flashbacks he has throughout the film and it will only further beg the question. Romero himself could tell me his exact intentions of Martin and I probably wouldn't believe him because the film does such a good job at making the viewer wonder. 

Romero did a fantastic job with Martin. I can watch it over and over again, ask the same question and never bore of it. Kind of rare for such a low budget, simple film. For me, it's a must own and a definite must see. 

IMDB: 7.2

Rotten Tomatoes: 7.6

WeFLM: 8

Come for the tomato soup like blood. Stay for the ending.

-kp