Tras haber empezado con su primer gran éxito, haber hecho después 2 películas fallidas, haber mejorado con The Crazies poco tiempo después y haber hecho un par de documentales que quedaron en el olvido, George A. Romero realizo Martin como su siguiente proyecto original y es en esta película donde Romero ha logrado mejorar bastante. Martin es una idea original repleta de muchos aspectos positivos y es innegablemente una de las mejores obras de Romero. La película se orienta al cine de vampiros, pero con una vuelta de tuercas que la hace bastante original. No es una película de vampiros tradicional, aquí Romero plantea el concepto del vampirismo como algo patológico como el caso de la licantropía patológica. El joven Martin es alguien que no logra encontrar su lugar en la sociedad y que es víctima de las supersticiones de su familia. Lo que es claro es que Martin proviene de una familia que cree en la mitología de los vampiros como algo real y por eso Cuda no es capaz de darse cuenta de que su sobrino sufre de un problema mental. Martin es consciente de que sufre de un problema mental, pero no puede controlarlo. Ha llegado a creer que realmente es un vampiro que necesita beber sangre, pero diferente a lo que se conoce de la mitología. Recurre a un programa de radio para poder contarle al mundo su situación y así tener alguien con quien hablar y que sienta que no está solo. Esto ha llegado incluso a que Martin tenga problemas para poder entablar una relación con mujeres. Los flashbacks dan a entender que Martin tuvo una joven amada antes, pero en su intento por intimar por ella termino siendo reemplazado por su sed de sangre haciendo que Martin la acabara matando. Martin es alguien bastante retraído que no puede mantener una relación con una mujer sin que sienta deseos de beber la sangre. La joven Christina y hasta la mujer que contrata a Martin son las únicas que hacen que él tenga una oportunidad de vivir como alguien normal. Se trata de un joven que ha vivido demasiado tiempo aislado por las creencias de su familia y que necesitaba ayuda. La moraleja de la película es que las personas son quienes crean a los monstruos, dioses y seres mitológicos basados en la irracionalidad. Eso hace que se llegue a sospechas que los flashbacks que parecen transcurrir hace casi un siglo sean en realidad recuerdos implantados o alterados debido a como las creencias de la familia de Martin han distorsionado la mentalidad del joven. Este dramático thriller psicológico es una gran película que no ofrece la dosis de terror que los fans de Romero pueden esperar, pero no todo en Romero tiene que estar orientado siempre al horror. Sus películas de zombis se caracterizan por tener algún mensaje social y eso también está presente en sus demás películas. En el caso de Martin, se trata de una película con un mensaje sobre las creencias irracionales influyendo negativamente en algún miembro de la sociedad. En el caso de Martin, esas creencias han hecho que al muchacho le cueste encontrar su lugar en la sociedad y ser libre de esas creencias que tanto lo atormentan. Martin logra estar a la altura para ser otra de las grandes obras maestras de George A. Romero en el cine de género. Mi calificación final para esta película es un 10/10.

Worst movie I ever watched, the director is a drunken man who think people also watch movie in a drunken state .

Is Martin a vampire? Or just a messed up kid? Interesting concept if a little dated in production.

romero knows how to make a movie and he did a very good job.

There's apparently an as-of-yet unreleased three and a half-hour cut of this 95-minute film. Only one physical print exists, which sold for $50k at auction but didn't convey the distribution rights, so ... what are the odds that we'll see that unofficial 'Director's Cut'? Both a modernization and a satire of the vampire myth transposed to 1970s Pittsburgh. With the time period, a dingy urban American setting, lower-budget practical effects, the sense of social isolation, and recurring interesting monochrome fantasy cutaways, Martin feels like George Romeo was taking some inspiration from John Waters in writing a new take on bloodsuckers. John Amplas's Martin is an interesting character, an individual convinced through a combination of family lore and difficulty with communication that he's a vampire in the classic sense, tying in his thirst for blood with a series of rapes committed via sedative to fight a fear of intimacy; it's intended to be a series of alternative takes on genre conventions, both tragic and a bit comic - taking a classic movie monster usually portrayed as powerful and scheming and replacing him with an alienated kid that commits violent acts because he lacks the confidence to conduct himself 'appropriately'. Romero's ideas on social isolation messing with morality and conduct have proved to be remarkably forward-thinking. Interesting and a bit spooky based on what someone will do based off of their own beliefs about identity. Amplas is this unusual combination of awkward, ordinary, and vicious; his pedestrian appearance and slower energy make his crimes that much more brutal. (3/5)

A very unique low budget horror movie. This is a precursor to the Donnie Darko plot where two questionable ideas are presented. Either the kid is schizophrenic and everything presented is in his mind is in their imagination, or everything presented in their thoughts is truly happening but everyone just believes their crazy. I love these plots because they are usually left with loose ends leaving multiple possibilities.

Starting point is suggestive, but although the situation is described quite vividly, the action does not help to see an evolution in characters.

Not bad but nowhere near as good as his zombie films.

Like Baltimore is to John Waters, Pittsburgh is to George A. Romero. The pervasive gloominess of the old steel town inhabits every sidewalk, train station, and living room in this profoundly sad urban vampire tale. More Cassavetes than Hammer or Tod Browning, Romero's shy, awkward bloodsucker is miles away from the suave, menacing Counts with which most film fans have become familiar. Instead of inhabiting a cobwebbed European castle, this Nosferatu lives in a shabby, working-class Western Pennsylvania neighborhood. And while Dracula subdued his victims with an hypnotic gaze before sinking his fangs into their throats, Martin must resort to sneaking up on unsuspecting women and drugging them with a syringe. Working part-time delivering groceries to lonely, suicidal housewives may not sound all that scary, but in the hands of the maestro Romero, the mundane never felt so frightening.

Not underrated but forgotten none the less. Martin is George A. Romaro's finest film. It's hard to put your finger on what this movie truly is, it's either a deep look into the psyche of a deranged serial killer who thinks he's a vampire or it's one of the most unique takes on vampire cinema ever. This film had me nervous, on edge & down right cringing in horror at times & it should be considered an absolute essential for any horror (or film in general) fans collection.

Without a doubt one of the most under seen and underappreciated horror flicks out there. Essentially a character study of a boy who has an identity crisis as a vampire - he accepts what he does but doesn't agree with the old idea of what society views as a vampire. The sexual/violent scenes are quite disturbing as Martin lives out his fantasies all while remaining so innocent, calm and quite in other parts of the film. The whole situation is tragic and a very unique take on the vampire mythology. It also contains some of the best acting among early Romero works, with a great meaningful performance from a young John Amplas. Should be considered one of George A. Romero's best and horror movies in general.

"Martin" from 1977, Directed by George A. Romero is in my opinion an outstanding movie and is severely underrated and forgotten. The acting is brilliant, the story is so unique and so interesting and for once it's completely baffled me that this hasn't received the remake treatment. I am glad it hasn't. This is a must watch for any horror fan of the 70s and any vampire fan. Puts a refreshing new take on the vampire story and mythology which engages me. 100% Recommend

Good satire but lacking in too many scares. An unconventional vampire film.

strange vampire movie

Time Out London's List: 100 Best Horror Films (#98) on YT 11.6.17 Would not re-watch

An odd but compelling movie.

The most underrated of all George Romero films, and one of the best. A must watch for any fans of Romero, or those who want to check out a solid movie.

Nice period piece from the clothes to the music. Also has a good psycological aspect to Martin's vampirisim and a solid ending.

Low budgets have never stopped Romero from making succesful and entertaining horror movies, and this is one of his best ones, even Romero himself has actually considered this his best work. It's a thoughful vampire film, and it's also a horror fan's dream, cause it's written and directed by Romero and the cheesy gore effects are done by Tom Savini, who actually also appears in the flick. Everything about this movie is campy exploitation stuff. Recommended !!

It's a shame Romero got stuck in the black hole of "...Of The Dead" movies. This early film in his career, a purposely unique and grounded take on vampires, is an unnerving and surreal outing that shows real originality for a guy perpetually making zombie flicks. Fantastic camera framing, effective jumps in time, and the minutiae of everyday existence create an awesome experience that makes you question even the mundane people you stand next to at the grocery store.