Film Review: The Addiction

Released simultaneously with his gangster piece 'The Funeral', 'The Addiction' is Abel Ferrera's 'vampire' movie, but as you may expect from the guy - it's not exactly straight forward.

Like 'Near Dark' (and that is where the similarities end) the 'V' word is never mentioned, and the film is shot entirely in black and white.

Lili Taylor plays Kathleen Conklin a grad student who is attacked and bitten one night (by Annabella Sciorra) and is left to deal with the consequences of her new found addiction.

As the film goes on Kathleen has to deal with her urge for blood by however possible, and therein also lies the main reference of the film - the allegory of blood addiction to drug addiction. There is also mention of how mankind is addicted to evil, used in the graphic documentary footage of atrocities that occurred in Vietnam and World War II.

Sadly, I found the references to be about as subtle as a sledgehammer, and the movie is dragged down for me by the main characters just endlessly quoting philosophers. I'm not saying I was looking for more action or anything like that, but it was in very real danger of dissapearing up its own arse at times.

Also the music used - mid -90s hip hop and rap like Cypress Hill and Schooly D- seems totally at odds with the film.

But onto the positives - Taylor puts in a good, tortured performance but Christopher Walken steals the entire movie in the 2 scenes he is in as Peina who not only has learnt how to curb his own addiction but survive in the outdoor world during the day. The first scene he is in is nothing short of electrifying.

Another highlight was the brutal and disturbing 'Graduation Party' scene. Graphic and somehow very REAL this really shows what this film could have been. I'm not advocating more violence but the tension and uneasy feeling the scene produces vanishes as soon as it ends.

Also worth pointing out for Soprano's fans that as well as Sciorra watch out for Edie Falco and a blink and you'll miss it appearance from Michael Imperioli as a Missionary of all things!

**

Different? Yes. Interesting? Depends how you feel about philosophy I guess. But the fantastic Christopher Walken and an outstanding set-piece just before the films last act may make it worth a watch for some.