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The Hunger

  • 19831983
  • RR
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
26K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,249
1,991
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Susan Sarandon, David Bowie, and Catherine Deneuve in The Hunger (1983)
Theatrical Trailer from MGM/UA
Play trailer1:56
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Horror

A love triangle develops between a beautiful yet dangerous vampire (Catherine Deneuve), her cellist companion (David Bowie), and a gerontologist (Susan Sarandon).A love triangle develops between a beautiful yet dangerous vampire (Catherine Deneuve), her cellist companion (David Bowie), and a gerontologist (Susan Sarandon).A love triangle develops between a beautiful yet dangerous vampire (Catherine Deneuve), her cellist companion (David Bowie), and a gerontologist (Susan Sarandon).

IMDb RATING
6.6/10
26K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,249
1,991
  • Director
    • Tony Scott
  • Writers
    • James Costigan(screenplay)
    • Michael Thomas(screenplay)
    • Whitley Strieber(novel)
  • Stars
    • Catherine Deneuve
    • David Bowie
    • Susan Sarandon
Top credits
  • Director
    • Tony Scott
  • Writers
    • James Costigan(screenplay)
    • Michael Thomas(screenplay)
    • Whitley Strieber(novel)
  • Stars
    • Catherine Deneuve
    • David Bowie
    • Susan Sarandon
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 157User reviews
    • 87Critic reviews
    • 52Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations

    Videos1

    The Hunger
    Trailer 1:56
    The Hunger

    Photos269

    David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve in The Hunger (1983)
    Catherine Deneuve in The Hunger (1983)
    Catherine Deneuve in The Hunger (1983)
    David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve in The Hunger (1983)
    David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve in The Hunger (1983)
    "The Hunger" Catherine Deneuve 1983 MGM/UA
    Susan Sarandon and Catherine Deneuve at an event for The Hunger (1983)
    The Hunger (1983)
    David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve in The Hunger (1983)
    David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve in The Hunger (1983)
    David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve in The Hunger (1983)
    David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve in The Hunger (1983)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Catherine Deneuve
    Catherine Deneuve
    • Miriamas Miriam
    David Bowie
    David Bowie
    • Johnas John
    Susan Sarandon
    Susan Sarandon
    • Sarah Robertsas Sarah Roberts
    Cliff De Young
    Cliff De Young
    • Tom Haveras Tom Haver
    Beth Ehlers
    Beth Ehlers
    • Alice Cavenderas Alice Cavender
    Dan Hedaya
    Dan Hedaya
    • Lieutenant Allegrezzaas Lieutenant Allegrezza
    Rufus Collins
    Rufus Collins
    • Charlie Humphriesas Charlie Humphries
    Suzanne Bertish
    Suzanne Bertish
    • Phyllisas Phyllis
    James Aubrey
    James Aubrey
    • Ronas Ron
    Ann Magnuson
    Ann Magnuson
    • Young Woman from Discoas Young Woman from Disco
    John Stephen Hill
    • Young Man from Discoas Young Man from Disco
    Shane Rimmer
    Shane Rimmer
    • Arthur Jelinekas Arthur Jelinek
    Bauhaus
    Bauhaus
    • Disco Groupas Disco Group
    Douglas Lambert
    • TV Hostas TV Host
    Bessie Love
    Bessie Love
    • Lillybelleas Lillybelle
    John Pankow
    John Pankow
    • 1st Phone Booth Youthas 1st Phone Booth Youth
    Willem Dafoe
    Willem Dafoe
    • 2nd Phone Booth Youthas 2nd Phone Booth Youth
    Sophie Ward
    Sophie Ward
    • Girl in London Houseas Girl in London House
    • Director
      • Tony Scott
    • Writers
      • James Costigan(screenplay)
      • Michael Thomas(screenplay)
      • Whitley Strieber(novel)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    The Egyptian vampire lady Miriam (Catherine Deneuve) subsists upon the blood of her lovers. In return, the guys or girls don't age until Miriam has had enough of them. Unfortunately that's currently the case with John (David Bowie), so his life expectancy is less than 24 hours. Desperately he seeks help from, the famous, Dr. Sarah Roberts (Susan Sarandon). She doesn't really believe his story, but becomes curious and contacts Miriam . . . and gets caught in her spell, too. —Tom Zoerner <Tom.Zoerner@informatik.uni-erlangen.de>
    • female stockinged legs
    • immortality
    • self defense
    • attempted murder
    • strong female character
    • 119 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Nothing Human Loves Forever
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Horror
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      David Bowie was reportedly somewhat intimidated by Catherine Deneuve but got on easily with Susan Sarandon.
    • Goofs
      When Sarah is on the TV program discussing the condition Progeria, she pronounces it "Pra-j-eriah'. The correct pronunciation is "Pro-geria."
    • Quotes

      Sarah Roberts: What's that piece you're playing?

      Miriam Blaylock: It's "Lakme" by Delibes. Lakme is a Brahmin princess in India, she has a slave named Malika.

      Sarah Roberts: Malika...

      Miriam Blaylock: In a magical garden they sing how they follow the stream to its source, gliding over the water.

      Sarah Roberts: Is it a love song?

      Miriam Blaylock: I told you, it was sung by two women.

      Sarah Roberts: It sounds like a love song.

      Miriam Blaylock: Then I suppose that's what it is.

      Sarah Roberts: Are you making a pass at me, Mrs. Blaylock?

      Miriam Blaylock: Miriam.

      Sarah Roberts: Miriam.

      Miriam Blaylock: Not that I'm aware of, Sarah.

      [Sarah smiles, shakes her head, and then spills wine on her top]

    • Crazy credits
      Ironically, in the credits Willem Dafoe is identified as "2nd Phone Booth Youth"; whereas, he is the first "Phone Booth Youth" to be seen and speak in the Phone Booth scene. Likewise, John Pankow is noted in the credits as "1st Phone Booth Youth"; whereas, he is actually the second "Phone Booth Youth" to be seen and say his lines.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Adult Sexuality (1983)
    • Soundtracks
      Le Gibet
      by Maurice Ravel

      Published by Arima and Durand SA

      Music Supervised and Arranged by Howard Blake

    User reviews157

    Review
    Top review
    Too Much Style and Not Enough Substance
    The Hunger (1983)

    ** (out of 4)

    When vampire Miriam Blaylock (Catherine Deneuve) bites a new lover, they don't age, which is a great benefit but that changes when she's done with you and wants someone else. John (David Bowie) finds himself aging at a rapid pace so he goes to a doctor (Susan Sarandon) for help but soon the doctor finds herself under the spell of Miriam.

    THE HUNGER features some truly great stuff but sadly it's all pretty much lost in this rather bland movie that's certainly a strange take on the vampire story but in the end there's just way too much style and not a lot of substance. Director Tony Scott certainly likes his style even when it overtakes any sort of story that might have been in the screenplay. There's all sorts of quick edits here and it's clear that the director wants you to be impressed with how many cuts there are in one small sequence. As far as the story goes, I guess they figured since you had two beautiful women naked and making out with each other you didn't need a story.

    As I said, there are some terrific things here including the special effects of Dick Smith who had to take a very young Bowie and age him in front of our eyes. The special effects used are simply brilliant and you almost with that the entire 97-minutes would have been devoted to watching Bowie grow old. This sequence doesn't contain the power that it should have, thanks to the direction, but there's no doubt that you're eyes will be one the effects. Another major plus are the actual performances from the three leads. Bowie is marvelous here and steals the film as you really can feel his character's fear of growing old, which of course means his life is going to be over. Deneuve is also extremely good having to work with limited dialogue. The same with Sarandon who falls under her spell.

    The now infamous lesbian scene has two beautiful women who are obviously easy to look at but even the style to it wasn't all that impressive. Obviously, I wasn't overly thrilled in how director Scott handled the picture. It's really a shame because there aren't too many horror movies that get this type of cast and in the end you can't help but feel that it was a wasted opportunity even with the great moments that are scattered throughout.
    helpful•10
    3
    • Michael_Elliott
    • Apr 25, 2015

    FAQ6

    • What is 'The Hunger' about?
    • Is "The Hunger" based on a book?
    • Is "progeria" a real disease?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 29, 1983 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Glad po krvi
    • Filming locations
      • 6 Chesterfield Gardens, London, England, UK
    • Production company
      • Peerford
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,979,292
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,832,898
      • May 1, 1983
    • Gross worldwide
      • $5,988,322
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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