The Addiction (1995)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Abel Ferrara

Writer (WGA):

Nicholas St. John (written by)

Release Date:

6 October 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Drama

Tagline:

The dark is their sunlight. What makes them different is what keeps them alive.

Plot:

A New York anthropology grad student turns into a vampire after getting bitten by one, and then tries to come to terms with her new lifestyle and frequent craving for human blood.

Plot Keywords:

Vampire | Blood | Drugs | Philosophy | College

Awards:

5 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Lili Taylor	...	Kathleen Conklin
Christopher Walken	...	Peina
Annabella Sciorra	...	Casanova
Edie Falco	...	Jean
Paul Calderon	...	Professor
Fredro Starr	...	Black
Kathryn Erbe	...	Anthropology Student
Michael Imperioli	...	Missionary
Jamal Simmons	...	Black's Friend (as Jamel 'Redrum' Simmons)
Michael A. Fella	...	Cop
Louis Katz	...	Doctor (as Louis A. Katz)
Leroy Johnson	...	Homeless Victim #1
Fred Williams	...	Homeless Victim #2
Avron Coleman	...	Cellist
Lisa Casillo	...	Mary
Frank Aquilino	...	Delivery Man
Nicholas De Cegli	...	Cabby
Jay Julien	...	Dean
Chuck Jeffreys	...	Bartender (as Chuck Jeffries)
Edward Conna	...	Waiter
Nancy Ellen Anzalone	...	Dress Victim
Susan Mitchell	...	Featured Victim
Mary Ann Hannon	...	Featured Victim
John Vincent McEvily	...	Featured Victim
Bianca Pratt	...	Featured Victim
Christina Campanella	...	Featured Victim
Anthony Giangrande	...	Featured Victim (as Anthony Giangrando)
Heather Bracken	...	Nurse
Robert W. Castle	...	Narrator / Priest
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kevin Scullin	...	Featured Victim
Harrison Freed	...	College Student (uncredited)

Directed by
Abel Ferrara

Writing credits (WGA)
Nicholas St. John		(written by)

Produced by
Denis Hann	....	producer
Preston L. Holmes	....	executive producer
Margot Lulick	....	line producer
Russell Simmons	....	executive producer
Fernando Sulichin	....	producer

Original Music by
Joe Delia

Cinematography by
Ken Kelsch

Film Editing by
Mayin Lo

Production Design by
Charles M. Lagola

Art Direction by
Beth Curtis

Set Decoration by
Sara Baldocchi
Mary Prlain

Costume Design by
Melinda Eshelman

Makeup Department
Linda Grimes	....	makeup artist
Wayne Herndon	....	key hair stylist
Patricia Regan	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Margot Lulick	....	unit production manager
Andrew Ramsey	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Randy Fletcher	....	assistant director
Dean Garvin	....	assistant director
Evan Labb	....	assistant director
Chris Marazzo	....	second second assistant director: exteriors
Glen Trotiner	....	assistant director

Art Department
Erick Schiele	....	draftsman

Sound Department
Bob Barnes	....	boom operator
Héctor Cordero	....	sound editor
Andrew Edelman	....	sound utility
Clancy T. Troutman	....	supervising sound editor

Stunts
Ren Campbell	....	stunts
Blaise Corrigan	....	stunts
Phil Neilson	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Bill Almeida	....	electrician
Charlie McNamara	....	gaffer
Alpesh Patel	....	grip truck
Lance Rieck	....	second assistant camera

Casting Department
Meredith Jacobson	....	casting: New York

Music Department
James Flatto	....	music editor

Other crew
Adam Baer	....	location scout
Jay Cannold	....	production accountant
Alex Corven Caronia	....	location manager
Arthur Flam	....	production assistant
Adam Ben Frank	....	set production assistant
Melissa Marr	....	production coordinator
Joseph Stephans	....	location assistant

Production Companies

• Fast Films
• Guild
• October Films

Distributors

• Hallmark (video)
• October Films
• Polygram Filmed Entertainment (video)
• TriPictures (Spain)
• Twister Digital Video (2005) (Russia) (DVD)
• Vitória Filmes (Portugal)

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

USA | Argentina

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Italy:VM14 | Norway:18 (TV rating) | Australia:R | Germany:16 | Portugal:M/18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

New York, USA

Company:

Fast Films

Trivia:

Film critic Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian placed the film at #1 in his top ten films of all time (as submitted for the 2002 Sight & Sound Poll)

Quotes:

Jean: You're hurting me.
Kathleen Conklin: Are you kidding me? I'll crush you like cardboard.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in A Short Film About the Long Career of Abel Ferrara (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Better Off Dead

I loved the Addiction

I loved this film. I was an NYU grad student and the process of getting my doctorate and writing the dissertation and dealing with the committee were perfectly captured by all the aspects of the vampire's experience and transformation. The hunger she felt was so accurate. I recall those days of struggle and grad student doubts about ever finishing and feeling as if no one would appreciate what I had written. The writers captured all that perfectly in the scenes of her trying to write and focus, all while something else was pulling on her and transforming her.

The film itself was well acted and the emotional atmosphere was captured perfectly. The street scenes incorporated the neighborhood beautifully, especially in the way people in the village actually live there. It was a dark wonderful film and I have recommended it to many people, especially those currently in grad school, writing their dissertations. I hope it is released on DVD soon. I keep looking.