The Podcast Macabre 2023 Horror Challenge
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21. From Edgar Wright's 100 Favorite Horror Films of All Time list
Tubi

"He could be in your neighborhood."

MARTIN starts with a disturbing kill on a moving train. We're introduced to a young man who's convinced he's a vampire and needs to feed by drugging women, then slicing their wrists and drinking their blood. He's moving to a dying factory town to live with an elderly cousin, who also thinks he's a vampire, but more of a Hollywood vamp (garlic, stakes through the heart, crucifixes, etc).

Romero's vampire film is more of a character study with occasional horrific scenes. Martin has only had sex with his victims after killing them, but he finds himself in a relationship with a bored housewife and wonders if he can live a normal human life. Martin becomes a notorious call-in guest for a radio show, where the DJ introduces him as "the Count." The DJ is a great device where Martin can give some exposition -- because otherwise he hardly talks to people.

Romero really knew how to mash beauty, sadness and death. The rotting Pittsburgh suburbs give a nice preview of DAWN OF THE DEAD. The town is dying, everyone is lost and lonely but it's beautiful to look at.