Martin (1977) - Great, but dated

George A. Romero's, best known for his '...of the Dead' series, brings us his own gritty take on the vampire genre, 'Martin.' Nowadays, we've had 'realistic' takes on various supernatural creatures, but I'm guessing that this was one of the first to stand out for its portrayal of a young man's struggle with his bloodlust.  Released in 1977, "Martin" eschews the traditional tropes of vampire lore, presenting instead a deeply psychological and unsettling narrative that looks at themes of what might drive someone in this position to do the things he does.

The film follows the titular Martin, a troubled young man who believes himself to be an 84-year-old vampire. Unlike the elegant, supernatural creatures of classic vampire cinema, he uses syringes instead of fangs and lacks any mystical powers, making his predatory behavior disturbingly plausible. This grounded approach lends the movie an almost documentary-like feel, enhancing its eerie atmosphere.

Romero's direction is disconcerting and raw, taking us back - once again if you know his zombie flicks - to Pittsburgh and its decaying urban landscape.  John Amplas delivers a great performance as Martin, perfectly embodying the character's vulnerability and menace, but the film definitely has its moment of nastiness and the violence he portrays is pretty dark.

However, while 'Martin' remains a well-made film, it does feel dated by today's standards. The pacing can be slow, and some elements, such as the grainy visual quality and the dated special effects, might not resonate with today's audiences who are probably more accustomed to computer-generated alien armies rampaging through New York while a giant sky-beam threatens the world.  Additionally, the previously-mentioned 'dark subject matter' might come across as problematic to modern viewers.  But, leaving these smaller drawbacks aside, 'Martin' still holds up today as an exploration of the popular creature and if you're a fan of Romero's filmography and/or the horror genre at large you should definitely get something out of it.

7/10 if I woke up on Groundhog Day and had to watch this again, I could live with that