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THE HUNGER was one of the first “modern day” vampire films, discarding the clichéd cloaks, crucifixes, wooden stakes and garlic. This 1983 cult classic was the debut directorial effort by Tony Scott who softened the vampire genre to create a more sophisticated, intellectual, lush and sensual atmosphere.
Scott went on to direct numerous highly successful thriller and action films over 30 years, such as Top Gun, True Romance, Crimson Tide, Enemy of the State, Man on Fire, Déjà Vu, Days of Thunder, Spy Game, and Unstoppable.
Born in the UK in 1944 he died at age 68 in 2012.
The excellent performances by stars Catherine Deneuve, David Bowie and Susan Sarandon enhance the story, aided by the supporting cast of Cliff De Young, Dan Hedeya and Beth Ehlers, plus cameos by Willem Dafoe and Jane Leeves.
Recognized for its bold visual aesthetic, the production values are exceptional, artfully contrasting the hustle-and-bustle of New York City with cinematographer Stephen Goldblatt’s gauzy, muted blues and greens in the interior scenes. THE HUNGER is a stylish time capsule — an example of the high-gloss storytelling style that prevailed in early 1980s Hollywood.
Done without computer imagery, the special effects make-up by Dick Smith is amazing as he ages David Bowie 150 years in a single scene. Smith’s team also created the film’s mummies.
WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, TIX
WHAT:
“THE HUNGER”
Director Tony Scott,
UK/USA, 1983, 97 minutes. Genre: cult classic romance-horror thriller. Rated (R) for violence, nudity, sexual situations.
WHERE:
☀ THE GARFIELD THEATRE,719 Race St., Cincinnati 45202.
Google Map
WHEN:
☀ 7:00 pm, Thursday October 30, 2025.
Doors/box office open at 6:30.
TICKETS:
Tickets are $10.00 in advance, $15.00 at the door. Advance tickets are available online via the Tix Button, and by phone at (859) 957-3456.
ADA ACCESS & SAFETY PROTOCOLS:
The Garfield is ADA accessible, offering a direct indoor path — no ramps, no stairs — from the front door to wheelchair spaces and companion seats. Individuals using walkers, scooters or wheelchairs should call (859) 957-3456 at least 48 hours in advance to confirm your screening date and time. When notified, our staff will be standing by to assist. Additional info can be found on the CWC Policies Page.
TERMS OF PURCHASE:
Purchase of a ticket confirms acceptance by the purchaser that the presenter/host and their staff will not be liable for any loss, damage, action, claim, cost or expenses which may arise in the consequence of attendance at this event. Outside food and drink is not allowed in the theatre. Sales are final, no refunds, no exchange.
SYNOPSIS
THE HUNGER follows an elegant pair of vampires, affluent New Yorkers Miriam and John Blaylock (Deneuve, Bowie) and their encounter and ultimate love triangle with gerontologist Sarah Roberts (Sarandon).
Against a background of live performance and music by Bauhaus we meet John and Miriam prowling a trendy NYC club in search of excitement and a bit of blood.
The last of a line of Egyptian vampires, Miriam Blaylock is immortal and her enigmatic presence dominates the film from beginning to end. Miriam’s paramours over the centuries gain longevity from the mix of Miriam’s blood with their own, but it comes with a price: after three hundred years they age rapidly and become living mummies.
Bowie’s on-screen aura of wounded vulnerability provides a tragic depth to his character’s increasing despair over signs of accelerated aging. He seeks help from gerontology researcher Dr. Sarah Roberts, who initially blows him off as a crank.
After realizing John Blaylock has aged decades in a matter of mere hours, Roberts visits the Blaylock mansion the next day to learn more. She encounters Miriam, home alone. The two women are taken with each other and we witness the famous seduction scene wherein Miriam impulsively decides that Sarah should become her next life companion.
What happens next we will not reveal, but the film has a surprise ending.
CATHERINE DENEUVE
Initially best known to American audiences for her role as Miriam Blaylock in The Hunger (1983) , Catherine Deneuve has had acting roles in 108 films while appearing in another 51 documentaries.
Her 10 best: Belle de jour, Dancer in the Dark, The Hunger, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, The Last Metro, Tristana, Indochine, My Favorite Season, A Christmas Tale and The Young Girls of Rochefort.
Letterboxd – Deneuve Titles & Reviews
INTERESTING FACTS
• An archetype for Gallic beauty, her image was used to represent Marianne, the national symbol of France, from 1985 to 1989.
• Is one of 12 French actresses to have received an Academy Award nomination. The others in chronological order are: Claudette Colbert, Colette Marchand, Leslie Caron, Simone Signoret, Anouk Aimée, Isabelle Adjani, Marie-Christine Barrault, Juliette Binoche, Marion Cotillard, Bérénice Bejo and Emmanuelle Riva.
• Her performance as Séverine Sérizy in Belle de Jour (1967) is ranked #59 on Premiere Magazine’s 100 Greatest Performances of All Time.
• Was the 4th French actress (out of 7) to be nominated for an Academy Award for a French-language performance. The others in chronological order are Anouk Aimée, Isabelle Adjani, Marie-Christine Barrault, Marion Cotillard, Emmanuelle Riva and Isabelle Huppert.
• Ranked #89 in Empire (UK) magazine’s “The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time” list.
• 2012 recipient of the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Chaplin Award.
• As of 2017, she had 14 César Awards nominations; 13 nominations for Best Actress and one for Best Supporting Actress. She won twice; in 1981 and 1993. She’s the second-most nominated actress, behind only Isabelle Huppert, with 16 nominations.
• As of the 5th edition of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (edited by Steven Jay Schneider), she ties with Mae Marsh (most of whose performances only amount to cameos), as the most represented actress with 7 films. Included are the Deneuve films The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964), Repulsion (1965), Belle de Jour (1967), Tristana (1970), The Last Metro (1980), The Hunger (1983) and Dancer in the Dark (2000).
• As of 2022, she has starred in 11 films that were screened in the official competition of the Cannes Film Festival.
• She liked Breaking the Waves (1996) by Lars von Trier so much that she wrote a personal letter to him, asking him for a role in a film of his. The result of this is her part in Dancer in the Dark (2000).
• Vice President of the Official Competition jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1994.
• Received the European Film Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013 in Berlin.
• Jury chair for the 2006 Venice Film Festival.
• Honored at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival.
• She speaks fluent French, Italian and English as well as semi-fluent German and Spanish.
• She was awarded a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in 2000.
• Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#38).
• Interests include gardening, drawing, photography, reading, music, cinema, fashion, antiques and decoration.
• Involved with various charities in the fight against AIDS and cancer.
DAVID BOWIE
DAVID BOWIE appeared in approximately 180 films, most of which were documentary and concert movies. While celebrated as a visionary musician, his acting roles were equally impressive, including fantasy, war dramas, art films, sci-fi, horror and more.
Movieweb ranked his ten best dramatic performances with a brief synopsis for each.
Letterboxd lists the Bowie films, with details and reviews for each.
SUSAN SARANDON
SUSAN SARANDON
Best known works: Dead Man Walking, Thelma & Louise, Atlantic City, Bull Durham, The Hunger, The Witches of Eastwick, Romance & Cigarettes, Lorenzo’s Oil, The Meddler, The Client, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Pretty Baby, Shall We Dance?
Sarandon Filmography
Sarandon Awards & Nominations
Letterboxd – Sarandon Titles & Reviews
Sarandon photo collage, click to enlarge
DISCUSSION LEADER
John Alberti
Dr. John Alberti has taught at Northern Kentucky University for roughly three decades, with focus on the relationship between American literature and popular culture as evidenced in cinema, television and music.
At NKU, he is currently Chair of the English Department, Director of the Cinema Studies Program, and has been instrumental in bringing the Festival of New French Films to campus.
John is a graduate of the University of Southern California (BA, English, 1981) and UCLA (MA, English 1984 and Ph.D., English, 1989). He recently authored Screen Ages: A Survey of American Cinema, and his current projects include work on gender in American cinema and television; writing in the digital age; and the movie adaptations of the Harry Potter series.
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Tim Swallow, Moderator
Tim operates The Garfield Theatre and is a founder and president of Cincinnati World Cinema, with a 23-year history of film programming and presentation, including world premieres, retrospectives and festivals.
Prior to CWC, he spent two decades as a live events producer, focusing on music, theatre and the arts.
Specializing in short film and documentaries, Tim’s passion, and CWC’s mission, is building a film community to experience high-quality international, independent and short-form cinema not otherwise available in this market.
DRINKS & DINING
SHANGHAI
ON ELM
Please welcome Shanghai on Elm to the CWC film family! One-and-a-half blocks from the theatre at 7th & Elm, this friendly, fun and affordable Asian fusion eatery offers late-night hours: 5 PM-Midnight, Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday; and 5 PM-2 AM, Friday-Saturday. Closed Sunday.
Perfect for a post film drink or delicious selection from their extensive menu – big-bowl noodle soups, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes, traditional stir fry, fish/scallops/shrimp/prawn, plus all manner of wontons, dumplings, noodles, rice and homemade sauces.
Also open for lunch, 11 AM – 2 PM, Monday-Friday.
CWC patrons receive a 15% discount on their order, excluding alcohol; The discount is valid only for the date of a CWC screening. Let your server know you are a CWC patron and ask for your discount. Hours and menu subject to change – check before booking.
RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED: 513-906-7000, Shanghai On Elm.
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BUTCHER
& BARREL
CWC patrons receive a 15% discount on their order, excluding alcohol; menu is on the website. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially if you are dining between weekend sessions. You should present your online confirmation or ticket from the event, and let your server know if there are time constraints. The discount is valid only for the date of ticket.
HOURS: MON, closed; TUE-WED-THS, 4-10 pm; FRI-SAT, 4-12 am; SUN, 4-10 pm. The kitchen closes one hour before the restaurant. Hours and menu subject to change – check the website before booking. RESERVATIONS REQUESTED: 513-954-8974 or thebutcherbarrel.com.
Did you know…
David Bowie learned to play the cello for his music scenes and Beth Ehlers learned the basics of violin for her role.
The famous love scene between Deneuve and Sarandon was shot on a closed set. The film’s release was delayed nearly three months, due to the “X” rating received from the MPAA. Extra time was needed to re-edit the love scene to qualify for an “R”.
Off-screen Sex & Romance: During the shooting, Susan Sarandon and David Bowie began an affair, as did Catherine Deneuve and cinematographer Hugh Johnson.
Director Tony Scott had to actively campaign for the casting of Willem Dafoe in a small part.
Scott heard the rock group Bauhaus in a London nightclub and decided to put them in the movie. Their song “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” is heard during the opening credits.
Most of the film was shot in London, with only one week in New York, for exteriors. The 19th Century mansion seen in the movie was located in the affluent London suburb of Mayfair.
Yves Saint Laurent dressed Deneuve for the film adding haute couture to her seductive, frightening and thoroughly elegant portrayal of Miriam Blaylock.