The Addiction
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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The Addiction is a 1995 American vampire film directed by Abel Ferrara, starring Lili Taylor, Edie Falco, Paul Calderón, Kathryn Erbe and Christopher Walken. It was written by Ferrara's regular screenwriter, Nicholas St John, filmed in black-and-white and released simultaneously with Ferrara's period gangster film, The Funeral.
The film has been considered an allegory about drug addiction, as well as an allegory of the theological concept of sin. It contains philosophical, theological and other intellectual content, including references to Husserl, Nietzsche, Feuerbach, and Descartes. The film also features a vampire quoting the highly conservative Reformed Theologian R. C. Sproul, who is a critic of Roman Catholicism.
Plot
Kathleen Conklin (Taylor), a young philosophy student at New York University, is attacked by a woman (Annabella Sciorra), who tells her "order me to go away" and, when the frightened Kathleen is unable to do so, bites her neck and drinks her blood. Kathleen develops several of the traditional symptoms of vampirism, including aversion to daylight, but the film's main focus is on her moral degradation. It is hinted that vampires become immortal in this film, but the price is an addiction to blood. Vampires are shown repeatedly resorting to the strategy of blaming their victims for not being strong enough to resist them. As one of Kathleen's victims weeps incredulously over the damage, Kathleen coldly informs her: "My indifference is not the concern here - it's your astonishment that needs studying."
Eventually Kathleen meets Peina (Walken), a vampire who claims to have almost conquered his addiction, and as a result is almost human. For a time he keeps her in his home trying to help her overcome hers, recommending that she read William S. Burroughs' Naked Lunch. At her graduation party, she says "I'd like to share a little bit of what I've learned" she and her victims (now vampires themselves) attack the party goers, participating in a bloody, chaotic vampire orgy.
After the party, Kathleen appears to be wracked with regret and wanders the streets. She ends up in a hospital and asks the nurse to let her die. The nurse says no one will let her die. Kathleen then decides to commit suicide by asking the nurse to open the window shades.
Kathleen is again confronted with the woman who first bit her, who stops her suicide attempt and quotes R. C. Sproul to her. Kathleen Conklin gives in to her new fate as an immortal vampire. In the final scene, she is shown walking away from a grave with her own name on it, in broad daylight, having apparently defeated her addiction. Coincidentally, her birthdate on the tombstone is Halloween, 1967. The date of her death is November 1, 1994. The movie ends with Kathleen quoting the line: "self revelation is annihilation of self."
Soundtrack
Better Off Dead Written by Fredro Starr, Sticky Fingaz (as Sticky Fingers), Sonny Cezar Performed by Onyx (as ONYX)
I Wanna Get High Written by B-Real (as Freese) / Larry Muggerud (as Muggerud) Performed by Cypress Hill
Eternity Written by Schooly-D (as Schooly D), Joe Delia
Addiction Written by Eddie Kendrix Produced by Rick Rubin Performed by Eddie Kendrix, David Ruffin
Ngu Ngon Traditional Performed by Dean Thudman
Vivaldi Cello Concerto In A Minor Written by Antonio Vivaldi (as Vivaldi) Performed by Avron Coleman
London Bridge Traditional Performed by Endira
Draw The Line Written by Danny Toan (as Toan) / Joe Delia (as Delia) / Abel Ferrara (as Ferrara) Published by 18th Street Music Performed by Danny Toan/Joe Delia
Eine Sylvesternacht Written by Friedrich Nietzsche (as Friedrich Nietzshe) Performed by Nick Eanet (as Nicholas Eanet), John Bell Young (as John Bell)
Cast
- Lili Taylor as Kathleen Conklin
- Christopher Walken as Peina
- Annabella Sciorra as Casanova
- Edie Falco as Jean
- Paul Calderon as Professor
- Fredro Starr as Black
- Kathryn Erbe as Anthropology Student
- Michael Imperioli as Missionary
- Jamal Simmons as Black's Friend (as Jamel 'RedRum' Simmons)
- Robert W. Castle as Narrator / Priest (as Father Robert Castle)
- Michael A. Fella as Cop (as Michael Fella)
- Louis Katz as Doctor (as Dr. Louis A. Katz)
