 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Hunger
- Review Date: March 3, 2011
- R
- Genre: Horror
- 1983
Common Sense Media says
Bloody lesbian-vampire story is stylish, but no Twilight.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this stylish, blood-soaked drama with lots of sex is definitely not for kids. It's spooky and tense throughout as beautiful vampires lure numerous victims to their deaths by strangulation, stabbing, and more. Sexual activity is used as foreplay to murder from the opening scenes until the final resolution. There is partial female nudity (including multiple shots of bare breasts), oral sex, erotic dancing and seduction, and lesbian sex. Occasional coarse language is heard, including "f--k." Characters smoke heavily throughout, consume alcohol, and quaaludes are mentioned. Though vampire movies continue to appeal to a mass audience, particularly teens, this film is very different from the tame, romantic, and idealized vampirism of the Twilight series and others like it.
What's the story?
Miriam (Catherine Deneuve) and John (David Bowie), the elegant vampires-next-door in a chic modern-day Manhattan mansion, face the end of their centuries-old romance when John begins to age and rapidly dies. Miriam's quest for a new life partner leads her to Sarah (Susan Sarandon), a doctor researching longevity and humankind's biological clock. Sarah falls victim to the beautiful vampire's seduction and enters a world of erotic sex and brutal murder. But when Sarah fights back, refusing to accept her fate, Miriam encounters a formidable enemy.
Is it any good?
Inventive direction, stunning visual effects and production design, along with two of the world's most beautiful women willing to participate in what must have been very controversial love scenes in 1983 when the film was made, cannot make up for the humorless, weak story and shallow, undefined characters in THE HUNGER. The audience is continually assaulted by orgies of blood and gore, often combined with erotica, all of which lead to a silly final battle between the dying and the undead. This exercise in style over substance has a cult following of vampire fans and mature teen fans of the genre will overlook the film's weaknesses for it's stylish and sometimes shocking plot elements.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about teens' continuing fascination with horror movies (and specifically vampires) in film, books, and television. What do you think is so appealing about the genre?
Why do so many horror movies combine sex with violence? What is the effect of watching this combination? What is the appeal?
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Teen, 13 years old
March 25, 2012
AGE
Good for very mature teens.
Can't remember about this movie since I saw it a long time ago but it's very bloody lots of killings copious amounts of blood vampires attack people some sex but not really by much and some language here and there but overall it's not scary so if you have a very mature teen let him watch,
What other families should know:
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| Studio: | MGM/UA |
| Director: | Tony Scott |
| Cast: | Catherine Deneuve, David Bowie, Susan Sarandon |
| Genre: | Horror |
| Run time: | 97 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | April 29, 1983 |
| DVD release date: | October 5, 2004 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
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