The Hunger

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The Hunger

R

Released Apr 29, 1983

1h 37m

Horror

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Popcornmeter

58%

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38 Reviews

66%

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10,000+ Ratings

John (David Bowie) is the lover of the gorgeous immortal vampire Miriam (Catherine Deneuve), and he's been led to believe that he'll live forever, too. Unfortunately, he quickly deteriorates into a horrible living death, and Miriam seeks a new companion. She soon sets her sights on Sarah (Susan Sarandon), a lovely young scientist, who quickly falls under Miriam's spell. However, Sarah doesn't warm up to the concept of vampirism easily, leading to conflict with Miriam.

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Critics Consensus

Stylish yet hollow, The Hunger is a well-cast vampire thriller that mistakes erotic moments for a satisfying story.

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Simran Hans

New Statesman

The film's enduring quality is its ineffable coolness, which feels inextricable from Scott's supposedly lowbrow music video origins.

Jan 7, 2021

Full Review

Raoul Hernandez

Austin Chronicle

More style than substance, and perhaps simply an excuse to get Denueve and Susan Sarandon, Miriam's post-Bowie love, in bed together.

Nov 18, 2008

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Variety Staff

Variety

In his feature debut, director Tony Scott, brother of Ridley, exhibits the same penchant for eleborate art direction, minimal, humorless dialog and shooting in smoky rooms.

Nov 18, 2008

Full Review

Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

What should've been a lingering lamentation suffers an all-consuming transfusion of style over substance. But for a flawless first half, David Bowie’s outstanding performance & Tony Scott’s image-making proof of concept, "The Hunger" remains worthwhile.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 26, 2023

Full Review

Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

Tony Scott's gorgeously shot erotic vampire drama is so much more than the lesbian sex scene that made it (in)famous. It's a very strong debut for Scott.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 17, 2023

Full Review

Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

A visual feast starring a trio of gorgeous bloodsuckers, Tony Scott's vampire film is the perfect synthesis of music video sensibilities and pre-AIDS crisis consideration of sex and bisexuality. Sarandon and Deneuve's coupling is infamous for a reason

Rated: 4/5

Apr 16, 2023

Full Review

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Angelo R

Not so much horror than an examination of immortality and undying love. Very stylized. Bowie gives a beautiful portrayal of one who does not understand the promise of love, beauty and immortality being unwoven. Catherine Deneuve plays creator and lover who always has to watch her creations wither away leaving her alone and looking for a new companion in a timeless existence. A Goth touchstone.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/19/24

Full Review

Alec B

A gorgeously filmed Gothic horror piece. It is a shame the movie so blatantly disregards its own internal logic and rules in the end but by that point you're so thoroughly hypnotized by all of the billowing curtains and Deneuve's presence that you may not care.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/09/24

Full Review

Dallas H

The visuals are amazing to watch, and the makeup effects are masterfully done. However, the dialogue is wooden and shallow. I struggled to sit through the dinner scene between Sarah and Tom right after she began turning into a vampire. The conversation between them is laughable, with lines of dialogue that almost reach the point of being beyond the level of a cliché.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/08/23

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PridePosterStudios

Aha noooo Bowie you’re so crusty now time for the attic

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/21/24

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Steve D

The script does it in,

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

08/23/23

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Max N

This is a very bad start-up for Tony Scott as a director. The Hunger is a very weird, boring, and awkward movie. The premise was strange but also interesting. But after it seemed like it was going to go somewhere, they killed David Bowie off halfway through. And the second half is lesbian romance with Catherine Deneuve and Susan Sarandon, it goes nowhere. Plus the movie was executed very badly. The Hunger is Awful. One of Tony Scott's worst movies.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/22/23

Full Review

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Tony Scott

Director

Catherine Deneuve

Miriam Blaylock

David Bowie

John Blaylock

Susan Sarandon

Sarah Roberts

Cliff DeYoung

Tom Haver

Beth Ehlers

Alice Cavender

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Synopsis

John (David Bowie) is the lover of the gorgeous immortal vampire Miriam (Catherine Deneuve), and he's been led to believe that he'll live forever, too. Unfortunately, he quickly deteriorates into a horrible living death, and Miriam seeks a new companion. She soon sets her sights on Sarah (Susan Sarandon), a lovely young scientist, who quickly falls under Miriam's spell. However, Sarah doesn't warm up to the concept of vampirism easily, leading to conflict with Miriam.

Director: Tony Scott
Producer: Richard Shepherd
Screenwriter: James Costigan, Ivan Davis, Whitley Strieber, Michael Thomas
Distributor: MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Peerford Ltd.
Rating: R
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 29, 1983, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 14, 2014
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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