Martin

I wish I could rate a film with a NEGATIVE score! Perhaps if I were a fan of the Horror/Romero genre I might have some sensitivity to MARTIN's finer points, which other users here apparently see. EXTREMELY low-budget photography, effects, music; this looks like a bad grade in a community college filmmaking class. For those such as myself who are no fans of the genre but like NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD anyway, and so you might give this movie a shot, STAY AWAY! (But if you're a Romero fan you'll apparently like it, so it seems.)

I saw this film a few years ago, so my memory isn't great... Martin is a film I first saw as a matinée for 50p, and I wish I could get that back. First of all, the picture is HORRIBLE. It all seems just... sh*t. I know it was the 70s but they should have had some production values. It might symbolise something, but I don't get it at all. Secondly, the ending seems rushed. I mean really, really rushed. All I remember was "NOSFERATU!" *stab* Finally, I was shocked that it was George A. Romero who made this. I can't say it's all bad, It is possible to look at it as a vampire satire. (Although, again,if it was I definitely missed that), plus it isn't as bad as the vampire abomination that is Twilight.

I probably watched it 100 times in high school, although I probably haven't put it on in this decade. And how does it look now that Uncle Fuzzy has replaced my old Betamax copy? Well the first thing I noticed was the fine detail of the bored-housewives this teenage vampire gets mixed up with, and how that milieu really does affect their behaviour and hence the plot. I noticed that the bits of romantic dialogue that I used to find shudderingly cheesy are DELIBERATELY that, because that's how these people would actually talk. I noticed that old Tata Cuda, the colonel-sanders-like uncle who is out to save Martin's soul, is not completely unsympathetic, not due to anything the conservative old codger actually does, but due to the fact that Lincoln Maazel's performance is - I can hardly even type it - UNDERSTATED. I noticed that Romero's smoking-priest cameo is even more hilarious and apt than I remembered it. I saw how this guy can barely pack into one movie everything he's trying to get across, new stuff just keeps happening - he's not connecting the dots or marking time, he's inventing something new. And I asked myself again whether this puberty-parable-for-grownups is an even greater film than Romero's anticapitalism-for-teenyboppers. And once again I just dunno.

Writer-director George Romero delves into the world of modern vampirism...or does he? I am not real sure, but he does examine the life of a young man(says he is over eighty...is he?)that certainly thinks he is a vampire but has no fangs or claws but needs to use razor blades and needles to drug his victims. Is he a real vampire in the modern sense, or is he the product of societal, family and sexual repression and inner anger. Apparently there are family members that believe he is a "nosferatu," most notably his Uncle Cuda, played strongly by Lincoln Maazel, but Crosses, garlic, and the sun do not affect Martin. Martin tells his Uncle that the magic is all gone...what does that mean really? Martin is a strange, weirdly poetic, disturbing film. John Amplas does an outstanding job playing the ..whatever he is. I felt little sympathy for him but thought he was very evil in his madness and sickness. The rest of the cast is very adequate...although all unknowns for the most part except for Romero regular Tom Savini in a bit part. Romero's wife and father-in-law even have roles and to top that George Romero plays a priest(which he does quite nicely). Made on a small budget, Martin shows us the decay of city-life and briefly focusses on the young moving away to the suburbs. The movie is indeed slow at times, but the murder scenes are well executed(no pun intended) and create a great deal of suspense.

The unbalanced teenager Martin Mathias (John Amplas) travels to Braddock, Pennsylvania, by train. During the night, he breaks in a cabin and kills a passenger in a peculiar way, injecting drug with a syringe and draining her blood to drink in a careful way. Then he meets his old cousin Tateh Cuda (Lincoln Maazel) in the station and they go to Cuda's home where Martin will live. Martin was raised by his dysfunctional mother and believes that he is an 84 year-old vampire. The religious Cuda also believes that the teenager is Nosferatu and uses crosses and garlic in the house to protect himself and his granddaughter Christina (Christine Forrest) that lives with him from Martin. Along the days, Martin befriends Christina, who has a problematic relationship with her boyfriend Arthur (Tom Savini), while continues to attack persons every now and then. Further, he uses the telephone to tell the truth about vampires to a radio show. Martin has a love affair with Christina, but when she commits suicide, Cuda does not believe that his granddaughter killed herself. "Martin" is a strange and bizarre low-budget vampire movie with a totally different story. There is a documentary on the DVD where George Romero gives details about the production that uses real locations. He also tells that "Martin" is his masterpiece. Martin's daydreams with black-and-white are ambiguous and the viewer never knows whether whey we recollections or his imagination. My vote is seven. Title (Brazil): "Martin"

Martin (John Amplas) is a misunderstood young man, who is also a rapist and a murderer towards young woman or anyone gets in his way. Martin thinks, he lived the life of a vampire before. He has a few problems with his eyes. He creates a illusion or that could be from his pass life, when he starts out as a vampire. But he's craving for blood towards young woman but he has problems with his cousin or it could be his uncle Cuda (Lincoln Maazel), who believes in the family curses of vampires. Written & Directed by George A. Romero (Bruiser, Creepshow, The Dark Half) made an original horror drama with an dark sense of humor. This is one of Romero's best and it is also Romero's most personal film. DVD from Lions Gate Entertainment. DVD has an good anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1) transfer and an fine digitally remastered-Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. DVD has an new and fun commentary track by the writer/director:Romero, Producer:Richard P. Rubinstein, Make-Up Effects Artist:Tom Savini, Director of Cinematography:Michael Gornick and Music Composer:Donald Rubinstein. DVD also has an making of a featurette, new photo gallery, original t.v. spots and original trailer. The original DVD from Anchor Bay Entertainment, which it's now out of print. DVD has an fine Pan & Scan (1.33:1) transfer and an good-Dolby 2.0 Mono Sound. DVD has an excellent commentary track by Romero, Savini and actor:Amplas, original trailer and collector's booklet. Romero gives his most interesting film yet, this has an unusual premise with tongue in cheek humor. Romero comments in the commentary that his first cut runs 165 minutes but that cut is missing. The European Version of Martin has been re-edited with an new music score by The Goblins (Dawn of the Dead, Suspiria). Romero appears in a funny cameo as a Priest!, Christine Forrest Romero (The Director's Wife) appears in a supporting role, Tom Savini appears in a bit part. Amplas gives an excellent performance. Maazel is also very good in the film. Producer:Rubinstein appears in a cameo. Director of Cinematography:Gornick can be heard as the Radio Talk Show Host. This is an unusual and an unique film from the talented independent horror filmmaker. (**** ½/*****).

Trailer—Martin

source: Martin

Martin

This is a very interesting vampire story by George A. Romero. Storytelling is completely different from the Living Dead series of the same director in which there are several different stories about the daily life of Martin that are blended so nicely with each other. Director cleverly uses some filming techniques like black-and-white flashback sequences, close-up shots and nice background musics which remind of French movies. It is a little slow-paced but the ending is impressive.