The dark is their sunlight. What makes them different is what keeps them alive.
The Premise
The Addiction is a 1995 American vampire horror film directed by Abel Ferrara, written by Nicholas St. John, and starring Lili Taylor, Christopher Walken, Annabella Sciorra, Edie Falco, Paul Calderón, Fredro Starr, Kathryn Erbe, and Michael Imperioli. The film follows a philosophy doctoral student who is turned into a vampire after being bitten by a woman during a chance encounter on the streets of New York City. After the attack, she struggles coming to terms with her new life and begins developing an addiction for human blood. The film was shot in black-and-white and has been considered an allegory about drug addiction and the theological concept of sin. The Addiction premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 1995, and was screened at the 45th Berlin International Film Festival on February 18, 1995, where it was nominated for the Golden Bear. The film was theatrically released in the United States on October 6, 1995. Despite underperforming commercially, the film received positive reviews, with Taylor's performance earning critical praise. At the 11th Independent Spirit Awards, Ferrara was nominated for Best Feature and Taylor was nominated for Best Female Lead.
Why It Terrifies Us
Categorized under Philosophical Horror, Vampire, The Addiction taps into fundamental fears. The 6.4/100 Scare Score is well-earned. The themes of new york city, vampire, philosophy continually haunt viewers long after the credits roll.
Into The Vault
Ready to dig deeper? The ScreamDesk Vault connects you to the architecture of fear.
- If you survived The Addiction, you should read about Alucarda.
- If you survived The Addiction, you should read about The Designated Victim.
- If you survived The Addiction, you should read about Suspiria.