The Addiction

1995

The Addiction

Critics Consensus

Abel Ferrara's 1995 horror/suspense experiment blends urban vampire adventure with philosophical analysis to create a smart, idiosyncratic, and undeniably odd take on the genre.

75%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 28

68%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 3,478
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The Addiction Photos

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Movie Info

Director Abel Ferrara applies his eccentric vision to the vampire genre with this cerebral "Art" film about graduate philosophy student Kathleen Conklin (Lili Taylor), who is bitten by an aggressive female vampire (Annabella Sciorra) and soon spirals into a nightmarish world of blood addiction and existential angst. Driven by her merciless condition, she attacks several of her pretentious friends and classmates (even her professor) and mainlines their blood like heroin. Just as she becomes more bold in seeking prey on the streets of New York, she is waylaid by a potential victim -- actually a sophisticated vampire himself named Peina (Christopher Walken), who chooses to control his own blood addiction through fasting and meditation. Seeming to regain her self-control, she eventually completes her graduate thesis (helped by a bit of vampire nepotism) and holds a party to celebrate, inviting the entire faculty as well as members of her new "family" to join in the festivities. Although the parallels to heroin addiction are in plain view, this is also a study in the essential evil of humankind -- a theme evident in much of Ferrara's work.

Cast

Lili Taylor
as Kathleen Conklin
Christopher Walken
as Peina
Annabella Sciorra
as Casanova
Edie Falco
as Jean
Paul Calderon
as The Professor
Fredro Starr
as Black
Kathryn Erbe
as College Student
Michael Imperioli
as Missionary
Jamel "Redrum" Simmons
as Black's Friend
Robert Castle
as Priest/Narrator
Michael Fella
as Cop
Frank Aquilino
as Delivery Man
Louis A. Katz
as Doctor
Nicholas de Cegli
as Cabby
Leroy Johnson
as Homeless Victim
Chuck Jeffreys
as Bartender
Fred Williams
as Homeless Victim
Avron Coleman
as Cellist
Lisa Casillo
as Lisa
Frank 'Butch the Hat' Aquilino
as Delivery Man
Christian Campanella
as Featured Victim
Jay Julien
as Dean
Chuck Jeffries
as Bartender
Ed Conna
as Waiter
Eddie Conna
as Waiter
Nancy Ellen Anzalone
as Dress Victim
Heather Bracken
as nurse
Susan Mitchell
as Victim
Mary Ann Hannon
as Victim
Dr. Louis A. Katz
as Doctor
John Vincent McEvily
as Victim
Bianca Pratt
as Victim
Christina Campenella
as Victim
Anthony Giangrando
as Victim
Kevin Scullin
as Victim
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News & Interviews for The Addiction

Further Reading: Marion Cotillard and Forest Whittaker in Abel Ferrara’s Mary
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Critic Reviews for The Addiction

All Critics (28) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (21) | Rotten (7)

  • No matter, without exactly transcending the awful material, Ferrara puts it across with astonishing poetry and conviction.

    Oct 20, 2009 | Full Review…

    Jonathan Rosenbaum

    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic

  • Scary, funny, magnificently risible, this could be the most pretentious B-movie ever -- and I mean that as a compliment.

    Jun 24, 2006 | Full Review…
    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • Love him or hate him, Mr. Ferrara is one of the few directors who can turn genre movies into something deeper.

    May 20, 2003 | Rating: 3/5

    Caryn James

    New York Times
    Top Critic

  • Abel Ferrara, working from a rabidly ambitious script by Nicholas St. John, gives the genre a provocative and perversely funny snap that Anne Rice might envy.

    May 12, 2001

    Peter Travers

    Rolling Stone
    Top Critic

  • Unfortunately, it's so dark -- and impenetrable -- that it shuts us out.

    Jan 1, 2000 | Full Review…

    Hal Hinson

    Washington Post
    Top Critic

  • Macabre and provocative, yet wonderfully restrained.

    Jan 1, 2000 | Full Review…

    Desson Thomson

    Washington Post
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (28)

Audience Reviews for The Addiction

  • Feb 26, 2014
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img]
    Directors C Super Reviewer
  • Mar 15, 2013
    an existential vampire film. very disturbing. probably only ferrara could pull this off. fun cameo by chiristopher walken. 'twilight' eat your heart out
    Stella D Super Reviewer
  • Sep 08, 2008
    Stylistically interesting modern (or post-modern) vampire film. It makes a comparison between vampirism and drug addiction (specifically drugs in the visuals), which is unusual. I don't know if it was the director's intention to distance his audience from the characters and events, but that's what I felt. The film probably means more to those who know Philosophy.
    Kylie B Super Reviewer
  • Nov 19, 2007
    Another great one from Ferrara. Using vampirism as a metaphor for drug addiction would make me puke blood if it were released now, but at the time I thought it was brilliant. When I first saw this I thought the movie was smarter than me, but now that I've grown up big and strong...well big anyway, I might keep up with it. Nevertheless, great film that's stylish as hell with a great payoff.
    Christopher B Super Reviewer
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