Martin - by George Romero

An often overlooked classic, George Romero’s Martin is still the epitome of the “is he or isn’t he really a vampire?” movies (such as Habit and Vampire’s Kiss). The movie constantly walks the line between both possibilities and keeps you guessing, presenting just enough evidence to support both charges but never enough to convict on one. The lines between fantasy and reality become blurred like shadows into darkness, leaving the viewer alone to discern what might actually lurk in the night.

Made in 1977, Martin immediately precedes George Romero’s monster milestone Dawn of the Dead. Yet the two movies are so very different. Stylistic, raw, immediate, and artistic without being too artsy, Martin is a visceral psychological thriller with a very personal emotional side that compels it to greatness. It is the story of a boy becoming a man and wrestling with his inner demons, both sexual and homicidal… an intelligent horror movie for the mature and discerning horror fan.

Despite his youthful appearance, Martin is an 84 year old vampire. Or does he just think he is? He lacks a vampire’s strength, so he is forced to sneak up on his victims and inject them with tranquilizers to subdue them. He lacks a vampire’s power of hypnotism, so his prey actually screams and fights back, making for some very realistic and horrific scenes that often leave him worse for the wear. He lacks a vampire’s fangs, so he must resort to using razor blades to bleed his victims. He suffers no reaction to sunlight, and no aversion to holy water or garlic. Yet he murders people and drinks their blood to survive. Sometimes he even has sex with his victims! But he does it so tenderly. Martin is both fearsome and vulnerable, repulsive and likable. Is Martin simply a very sick boy, suffering from gruesome delusions, or is he the real thing, a stark contrast to all the myths we’ve been told?

And Martin is not the only one who thinks he’s a vampire! His cousin, who Martin comes to live with, is absolutely certain Martin is a “nosferatu”, part of a family curse. His conviction runs so deep he even goes so far as to quote scripture and wave crosses and garlic at Martin, who of course is unaffected by it all. Much to his cousin’s horror and disbelief, Martin simply munches a mouthful of garlic and grabs hold of a cross, saying “It’s just a sickness… there isn’t any magic.” Its a double entendre, referring both to Martin’s own vampirism and to his cousin’s superstitious/religious beliefs.

I won’t give away the ending, so suffice it to say that its very touching, very poignant, and extremely shocking, easily one of the best endings in all of horrordom… its a bittersweet finish that fits perfectly with all the other thematic dichotomies presented throughout the film. No wonder this little known gem is considered Romero’s finest film by many connesseurs of creepy movies.

This official movie trailer is “Totally 70’s”, and though its really cool, the mood doesn’t really match that of the movie itself (which is much darker). For instance, Martin’s soliloquy scenes that give this trailer some of its cheesiness are not found in the movie at all. Still, its a pretty groovy trailer and it gives you a sense of what to expect from this masterpiece of monstrosity from the legendary George Romero:

Posted in: Horror Movies »  by: Morbidementia