Is Martin gay?
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Martin
matheusmagalhaes10 — 10 years ago(February 22, 2016 05:25 AM)
Even though I'm risking myself of doing an exaggerated psychoanalytical lecture on this film, I really do believe that Romero, being the intelligent director that he is, wanted the film to have a symbolical nature as well. Said that, it's pretty clear that Martin is unable to function sexually without having to face the guilt, transforming his sexual desire into a physiological need (the vampirism). That's for sure an interpretation amidst many but a possible one.
Said that, Martin confronts the lover of his second victim in the film and kills him, sucking his blood right after. Before doing that, he says "why you had to be there?". Well, he didn't need to suck the guy's blood since he had the girl drugged inside the house. When he comes back for her, he is unable to have sex with her, even if she's asleep. After that, he stops to prey on women, saying that he doesn't feel interested anymore in the city girls because they're all ugly (all of that being said off-screen while Romero films a beautiful young girl putting her groceries on the back of car while a lot of guys are importuning her). I found this interesting because, after sucking the guy's blood (i.e. having "sex" with him if we interpret his whole ritual of drugging and sucking the blood as part of his sexual crave), Martin loses all interest on women (for an example, he stops seeing the housewife for good). I may be over-reading but it's weird that he changes suddenly his focus after the incident. Am I crazy?
Your mother cook socks in hell! -
ToastedCheese — 2 months ago(January 18, 2026 10:53 PM)
There are plenty of subliminal messages in the film, Martin himself, his family and the sociology of the town and era.
John Amplas was perfectly cast. His flawed cute boy looks and almost perfect slim physique, gave him an allure of sexuality that could be interpreted differently by whomever is watching him. I’d say this was a deliberate touch by Romero and Martin’s psyche was sexually aberrant.
This is a disturbing and well presented character study of a psychotic young mind, who also manages to illicit some sympathy for his predicament. One wants to help Martin, yet does one really want to be anywhere near him?
Norman! What did you put in my tea?