THE HUNGER
US, 1983, 100 minutes, Colour.
David Bowie, Catherine Deneuve, Susan Sarandon, Cliff de Young, Dan Hedaya.
Directed by Tony Scott.
The Hunger is an example of '80s up-market chic horror. It is a vampire story, taking some of the classic conventions of the genre. However, it is set in fashionable New York and has a director who was strongly influenced by his experience in making television commercials. He is Tony Scott who was to go on to make Top Gun and Beverly Hills Cop II. The stars are stylish: David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve with support from Susan Sarandon.
The film is very strong on its atmosphere and style - decor and costumes, colourful special effects - but always chic.
The film fascinated many viewers - while being strongly criticised by the critics who expected much harder versions of vampire stories.
1. Entertaining horror, vampire story? The glossy and chic style?
2. The work of Tony Scott, the experience in commercials and their style? The importance of style? The advertising referred to an ambience?
3. The title and its ambiguity, references to past films, the Living Dead and their lust for blood?
4. The literary and cinema traditions of the vampire films? on this film? Its quotations? The plausibility of the plot? The influences?
5. David Bowie as John Blaylock: in himself, his age, his relationship with Miriam, their killings and taking the blood, 20th century New York? The flashbacks to the past, to the 18th century? Was he a victim or a personification of evil? The designs on Alice and her death? The continued lust for blood? His visits to Sarah, her fascination with his ageing processes? His dying? In the attic? The chic decomposition? His rising? The Living Dead?
6. Catherine Deneuve as Miriam: her classic and cool beauty? 20th. century vampire? Her relationship with John, the murders and the blood? The flashbacks and her experd6nce in Ancient Egypt? Image and reality? The Living Dead? Designs on Alice and her death? The attraction towards Sarah? Luring her, the sexual liaison, her hold over her? Sarah's reaction and death? The attic and the bodies? Decomposition, the attack, her rising again?
7. Sarah as the modern 20th century rationalist doctor, her investigations and work, her interest in John, concern about him? Her personal life and relationship with Tom? The encounters with Miriam, attraction, the visit? Seduction? The puzzle, her blood, her decision to kill herself?
8. The sketch of Tom, his relationship with Sarah, the investigation?
9. The background of the New York police, the Lieutenant, his investigations?
10. New York life, the '80s, modern styles, activities? video - and the connections with David Bowie? rock music?
11. The relationship between content and style? Horror themes? Affluent and decorous, glossy treatment of the genre?
