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Lili Taylor, Christopher Walken, Annabella Sciorra, Edie Falco, Paul Calderon ... see more see more... , Fredro Starr , Frank Aquilino , Kathryn Erbe , Michael Imperioli , Chuck Jeffreys , Leroy Johnson , Kevin Scullin , Nicholas de Cegli , Jamel "Redrum" Simmons , Susan Mitchell , Jay Julien , Eddie Conna , Fred Williams , Heather Bracken , Michael Fella , Robert W. Castle , Nancy Ellen Anzalone , Christian Campanella , Lisa Casillo , Avron Coleman , Anthony Giangrando , Mary Ann Hannon , Dr. Louis A. Katz , John Vincent McEvily , Bianca Pratt

Director Abel Ferrara applies his eccentric vision to the vampire genre with this cerebral "Art" film about graduate philosophy student Kathleen Conklin (Lili Taylor), who is bitten by an aggressive f... read more read more...emale vampire (Annabella Sciorra) and soon spirals into a nightmarish world of blood addiction and existential angst. Driven by her merciless condition, she attacks several of her pretentious friends and classmates (even her professor) and mainlines their blood like heroin. Just as she becomes more bold in seeking prey on the streets of New York, she is waylaid by a potential victim -- actually a sophisticated vampire himself named Peina (Christopher Walken), who chooses to control his own blood addiction through fasting and meditation. Seeming to regain her self-control, she eventually completes her graduate thesis (helped by a bit of vampire nepotism) and holds a party to celebrate, inviting the entire faculty as well as members of her new "family" to join in the festivities. Although the parallels to heroin addiction are in plain view, this is also a study in the essential evil of humankind -- a theme evident in much of Ferrara's work. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

Flixster Users

66% liked it

3,144 ratings

Critics

73% liked it

26 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Abel Ferrara

Release Date: October 4, 1995

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DVD Release Date: April 28, 1998

Stats: 167 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (167)

  • vierasesine
    August 7, 2011
    vierasesine
    Very plausible.
  • guttersnipe28
    July 22, 2011
    guttersnipe28
    Appropriately down 'n' dirty flick from marverick director Abel Ferrara. The Addiction deals with vampirism sans mythology, placing such an affliction as a parallel with drug addiction, a topic Ferrara has addressed before several times, most notably in the seminal Bad Lieutenant... read more. Walken has a small but highly worthy part, playing a world-weary existential child of the night, using torturous methods to validate his claims that the world is uncompromisingly dog-eat-dog ("The entire world's a graveyard, and we, the birds of prey picking at the bones"). The cinematography (in glorious black and white) is stark, adding to the urban nightmarish feel that Ferrara is so accustomed to. This is the perfect antidote to any claims that he is nothing more than a Scorsese imitator.
  • newvogueravyn
    September 8, 2008
    newvogueravyn
    Stylistically interesting modern (or post-modern) vampire film. It makes a comparison between vampirism and drug addiction (specifically drugs in the visuals), which is unusual. I don't know if it was the director's intention to distance his audience from the characters and event... read mores, but that's what I felt.

    The film probably means more to those who know Philosophy.
  • cacutshaw
    November 19, 2007
    cacutshaw
    Another great one from Ferrara. Using vampirism as a metaphor for drug addiction would make me puke blood if it were released now, but at the time I thought it was brilliant. When I first saw this I thought the movie was smarter than me, but now that I've grown up big and stron... read moreg...well big anyway, I might keep up with it. Nevertheless, great film that's stylish as hell with a great payoff.
  • PinkMinkPrincess
    June 17, 2011
    PinkMinkPrincess
    Great Vampire Flick Done in a New way, Med Student Vampire learns to Control her Heroine Like Blood Addiction.Very Interesting & Very Well Done.This is not Horror for Horrors Sake, but for those of us who need a Good Story to DRINK in.
  • jamilyn0276
    September 23, 2008
    jamilyn0276
    My friends often feel that it's fully salubrious to feed my vampire movie compulsion. So, one of these wonderful creatures bought me this DVD. I was excited to see it again, since it had been a awhile.
    The Addiction will not appeal to everyone. A. It is an independent film. B. ... read moreIt is black and white. I on the other hand, really enjoy this film.
    The Addiction is the story of a college student, name Kathleen. Kathleen is bitten by a strange woman, and comes to the realization that she is a vampire. This is not your average gore fest vampire kills everyone film. It's really quite a clever tale of the inner battle between good and evil that feeds on humanity, and how it's easier then we think to go a little over the edge.
    Abel Ferrara's vision was well played out in this film. The casting was stellar. Lili Taylor played Kathleen flawlessly. She made the audience cognizant and some times even compassionate of her struggles. I was pleased that the lead vampire in this film was played by Annabella Sciorra. I can only think of a few other films that would give this fantasized character to a woman. She is also quite striking, bravo. There are a heap of well known faces in this film including; Christopher Walken, Edie Falco, Kathryn Erbe, and Michael Imperioli.
    The Addiction is a movie that didn't get near the credit it deserves. If you share my strange obsession, or just enjoy a good vampire movie...You should put this one on your list.
  • hpmoon
    June 16, 2008
    hpmoon
    If Abel Ferrara's "The Bad Lieutenant" was a streetwise seminary, this is a doctorate in divinity. Tragically overlooked and forgotten, this film consummates Ferrara's obsession with theology (probably owing most to Nicholas St. John's screenplay).
  • loserlessthan3
    May 25, 2007
    loserlessthan3
    I like vampire movies, and this one as it goes is good - mention of "Naked Lunch" gets a plus, also, but it's just weird as hell.
  • pscott27
    April 19, 2007
    pscott27
    This is a great film that takes a unique approach compared to your typical vampire movies. Most typical vampire movies glorify the idea of being a vampire, while this movie describes it as a drug addiction. The film is brutal and raw, but goes way beyond just being a vampire mo... read morevie.

View All The Addiction Reviews

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum
October 20, 2009
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

No matter, without exactly transcending the awful material, Ferrara puts it across with astonishing poetry and conviction. Full Review

Caryn James
May 20, 2003
Caryn James, New York Times

Love him or hate him, Mr. Ferrara is one of the few directors who can turn genre movies into something deeper. Full Review

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Abel Ferrara, working from a rabidly ambitious script by Nicholas St. John, gives the genre a provocative and perversely funny snap that Anne Rice might envy.

Hal Hinson
January 1, 2000
Hal Hinson, Washington Post

Unfortunately, it's so dark -- and impenetrable -- that it shuts us out. Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Macabre and provocative, yet wonderfully restrained. Full Review

October 20, 2009
Film4

One of Ferrara's most idiosyncratic yet popular slices of misanthropy. Full Review

October 20, 2009
TV Guide's Movie Guide

It's got a remarkable visual texture, integrity to burn, and almost -- but not quite -- enough intelligence to justify its lofty ambitions. Full Review

June 24, 2006
Time Out

Scary, funny, magnificently risible, this could be the most pretentious B-movie ever -- and I mean that as a compliment. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
May 26, 2006
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

What we get is a slight, but entertaining movie, that's (dare I say it?) unintentionally funny at times. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
June 20, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Reflecting Ferrara's obsession with guilt and redemption, the film acknowledges the capacity for evil, urging viewers to take responsibility for their actions, or else there won't be a way to arrest e... Full Review

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The Addiction Trivia

  • Was a spy with no memory, a genius with no future, a medic who developed a drug addiction after keeping the murder of his CO quiet, and refused to leave his fellow soldiers when he discovered his brothers were dead  Answer »
  • What addiction did Hitler's top assassin have in the movie, "Hellboy ?"  Answer »
  • Which well known Television personality said this at the AA meeting in the Movie Half baked? Marijuana is not a drug. I used to suck dick for coke. Now that's an addiction. You ever suck some dick for marijuana?   Answer »
  • ***An Actress Battles Drug Addiction And Must Move in With Her Overbearing Mother in This Film.......***  Answer »
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