The Hunger (1983)

Naming an 80's vampire flick usually results in one answer: The Lost Boys. The Hunger is often overlooked cult gem that's, shall we say, for adults.

Sensual and seductive, The Hunger stars Cathering Deneauve as Miriam Blaylock, an elegant, beautiful woman who shares her luxurious lifestyle with her husband John (David Bowie). Miriam is immortal--a vampire. John is not; life immortal for him is a curse. 300 years later and aging rapidly, John is cursed. Aware of the flaw in the human existence, Miriam sets her sights on a new lover, a promising Dr. Sarah Roberts (Susan Sarandon).

Surprisingly, Tony Scott is at the helm of this 80's piece and boy does it scream 80's. Thankfully, the story rises above it's dated settings and is quite riveting. The film is beautifully shot, almost ethereal. Scott creates a dream-like setting.

French actress Deneauve is stunning. She's elegant beyond words. Bowie is a nice compliment. Susan Sarandon with that awful 80's shag is sufficient; but there's a nagging feeling that her character could have been so much more with the right actress.

Still the film is solely Scott's vision and it is a stunning one. The use of color and the sumptuous classical score that oddly enough begins with Bauhaus' famous song "Bela Lugosi is Dead". The Gothic feel of the film is pitch-perfect, but it's the camera that elevates a dragging plot into something sublime.

The Hunger is a beautifully stylized film that's completely underrated. Bloody, erotic, haunting and cool, this film is a credit to the genre. It's truly a shame it's not better known.