FAQ

When vampire John Blaylock (David Bowie), the lover and husband of centuries-old Egyptian vampire Miriam Blaylock (Catherine Deneuve), begins to show signs of aging, e.g., wrinkling, thinning hair, and inability to sleep, he seeks help from geriontologist Dr Sarah Roberts (Susan Sarandon), who is currently researching progeria or "premature aging disease". Meanwhile, Miriam has already begun looking for a replacement companion.

The Hunger is also a 1981 novel by American writer Whitley Strieber. The novel was adapted for the film by screenwriter Ivan Davis.

Progeria is not a disease in the sense that it can be passed from one individual to another. It's a genetic disorder in which children begin to age prematurely. They age in a fashion similar to elderly humans, e.g., hair loss, wrinkled skin, fragility, hardening of the arteries, stiff joints, etc. Lifespan is short, ranging from 13 years to early 20s.

After assuaging her hunger on the blood of boyfriend Tom Haver (Cliff De Young), Sarah is overcome with guilt. After sipping some sherry with Miriam, they kiss, during which Sarah slits her own throat with Miriam's ankh, her blood pouring into Miriam's mouth. Sarah collapses on the floor, while Miriam pleads with her to stay with her. "I can't," Sarah replies. Tearfully, Miriam carries Sarah's body upstairs to place in a box next to her other discarded lovers. Suddenly, she hears a rumbling and realizes that the others have left their boxes and are advacing toward her. "I love you all!", she exclaims as they attempt to embrace her, then "No! No!" As she backs away, attempting to elude them, Miriam stumbles against the banister and falls several flights to the landing below. As Miriam lay dying, her lovers begin to crumble into dust. Several days later, Lt Allegrezza (Dan Hedaya) stops by to discuss the disappearance of music student Alice Cavender (Beth Ehlers), only to find a real estate agent preparing to sell the house. The agent informs him that the owners are deceased and that any profits are going to some research center. In the final scene, Sarah is shown living comfortably with a young man and woman in a high-rise apartment in London. Sarah kisses the woman, then goes out on the balcony. Housed in a box in a storage locker, Miriam can be heard calling Sarah's name.

Not to the movie. However, Strieber's novel The Hunger was followed by two sequels: The Last Vampire (2001) and Lilith's Dream (2002).

..in the opening scenes at the disco:"Bela Lugosi's Dead" performed by Bauhaus ..as Miriam and John are driving home: Piano Trio no. 2 in E flat major, op. 100 by Austrian composer Franz Schubert [1797-1828] ..in the cello solo when John remembers his early years with Miriam: "Prelude" for solo cello suite no. 1 in G major by German composer Johann Sebastian Bach [1685-1750] ..that John (cello), Miriam (piano), and Alice (violin) play together: Second movement from Piano Trio no. 1 in B Flat Major by Franz Schubert ..when John talks to Miriam about his aging: Piano Sonata No. 21 in B flat major by Franz Schubert (plays again when Miriam kisses the aged John) ..when John attacks the roller skater: "Funtime" performed by Iggy Pop ..Alice plays for old John: Piano Trio No. 1 in C minor, op. 7 by French composer Edouard Lalo [1823-1892] ..when Miriam carries John into the attic: "Miserere" by Italian composer Gregorio Allegri [1582-1652] ..Miriam plays on the piano just after she places John in his box: Gaspard de la Nuit, No. 2, "Le Gibet" by French composer Maurice Ravel [1875-1937] (plays again just after Sarah kills Tom) ..during Miriam's seduction of Sarah: "The Flower Duet" from the opera Lakmé Acte I, No. 2 by French composer Leo Delibes [1836-1891] ..playing when Sarah and Tom are in the restaurant: "Dolphin Square Blues" by the film's musical director Howard Blake ..during the ending scenes and credits: Piano Trio no. 2 in E flat major, op. 100 by Franz Schubert