Nosferatu. Vampire! First I will save your soul, then I will destroy you. I will show you your room.

[thehefner]

Mom just asked, "John, why are you sitting at the computer shouting 'NO NO NO FUCK YOU NO'?"

Because the fuckers are remaking George Romero's MARTIN.



George Romero is rightly remembered for his zombie movies, but MARTIN might well be his greatest film. It was hyped up to me for years before I finally saw it, so I was prepared to be disappointed.





I wasn't even sure how I felt until the last two minutes. Then, my jaw dropped, and I had to rewind and see it again. That ending was so powerful, it made the entire film, pulling the whole strange and uneven thing together, into a film that still haunts me to this day.

I just showed it to the Henchgirls and surrealname, who I don't think loved it quite as much as I do, and now all I want to do is show it to someone else. I was barely even aware that it existed until recently, so I can't really hold it against the vast majority of humanity for not having seen it.

And yet, to think that this fucking remake is coming out as a cash-in for the TWILIGHT crowd, when the original is exactly the kind of vampire antidote that those Twihards and TRUE BLOOD fans need to see... I'm literally ANGRY WITH RAGE.

One of my prouder moments on the road was getting Henchgirl to help rearrange a Wal-Mart stand of recommended vampire films for TWILIGHT fans--including stuff like BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA and THE LOST BOYS--by covering the films with copies of MARTIN, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, and NEAR DARK. Hopefully somebody checked 'em out before the Wal-Mart folks wised up.




With all that written, the anger is now out of my system. All I have left is sadness and disappointment. Because for the most part, I react to news of remakes with a cynical shrug of, "Of course they're remaking that. Why wouldn't they?" But this... this is far worse. Because it's a masterful little film whose name and legacy might be overshadowed by a remake that's specifically exploiting the current fad. Fuck, they'll probably try to make it a thriller, or an actual horror film.

On the plus side, at least writing this gave me the chance to discover the original trailer, which is awesome in its grindhousey-ness, particularly with the original narration by Martin himself:

Comments

[kitewithfish.livejournal.com]

Honesty time: I have never heard of this movie.

But I might look at it now. Because you recommended it.

[kingrockwell]

Likewise!

[bitemetechie.livejournal.com]

It was fascinating to hear the word, "WHAT?!" coming out of my own mouth at like, thirty times its normal volume without me even realizing it. Then I registered the angry outburst and went, "Huh. I care a lot more about that movie than I thought I did. MUST WATCH AGAIN."

And then when you told me about Deadly Friend...well, it was at about the same volume, but several octaves higher with disbelief.

Captain was nearly startled right off her bed.

In another vein...

[american-arcane.livejournal.com]

Speaking of vampires, have you seen Vamped Out? Web series by Kevin Pollack about a real vampire trying to get work in Hollywood... playing a vampire... and failing miserably. :)

And as far as a Martin remake goes... that's really too bad. I've actually never seen the film (something I have to fix), but I'm familiar with the effects. Good stuff... especially for the time. Also familiar with the plot (at least a little) and I already love it... and know that they'll completely neuter and butcher it in a modern remake. :(

Re: In another vein...

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Never even heard of it! Kevin Pollack as a vampire? Color me intrigued!

Yeah, the first collaboration between Savini and Romero! Plus Savini has a role before he had the facial hair! He looks just as skeezy either way, it's amazing!

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Awesome! Hope you like it! Just bear with the film. Like I said, I didn't know what I thought about it until the end. I liked it all right, but once that ending came, I officially loved it.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Huzzah! Let me know what you think! Again, I'll just warn you, stick with it to the end. I liked it all right, but wasn't really sure how to feel about it until that ending.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Let's definitely rewatch it down the line! :)

That and THE STEPFATHER. Why am I so itchy to watch that one again? I just want to hug him so!

[viajes.livejournal.com]

I have added Romero's Martin to my list.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Boo-yah!

[darkestnova.livejournal.com]

If by startled, you mean "didn't even bother to ask what was wrong."