We look back at George Romeros take on the teen vampire phenomenon, the nearly forgotten Martin.
Sure does seem theres a lotta them teen vampires hanging around these days.
Turn around too slow, youll bump into another one.
Damn kids and their vampirism, always cutting across my lawn like that.
Aint bad enough there, theyre always so well dressed and good looking and angst-ridden, too.
Sic my dog Deke here on em one of these days, hell show em what angst-ridden really means.
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Martin was not hip.
He was not popular.
He wasnt good looking and he didnt dress in all the latest cool designer teen vampire fashions.
He wasnt slim and his hair was nothing to write home about.
Poor kid didnt even have fangs.
Sure did have a lotta angst, though, gotta give him that.
He was a quiet, pathologically shy and possibly deranged schlubby geek who had trouble talking to girls.
Part of his problem might well be that theres some question whether or not he really was a vampire.
But Ill leave that hanging there.
Now who wants to hear that, right?
Who the hell wants a goddamn character study about some mopey loser from George Romero?
The plot is simple.
He fills the house with garlic and crucifixes, and lays out a strict set of rules.
Same with vampirism, I guess.
In many ways its reminiscent ofThe Boy With Green Hairin that its a case history of a complete outsider.
The film went through myriad changes beginning long before it was even cast.
He wanted to shoot the film in black and white, but the producers had other ideas.
As things stand, only the flashbacks remain in black and white, which is probably for the best.
So its up to you.
Nope, you sure dont see kids likeMartinaround anymore.
Not in the movies or TV you dont.
Boy, Ill tell you though, them damn kids today!
Rating:
4.5 out of 5
