The Addiction, Abel Ferrara’s stark vampire tale, is now streaming free on Plex, bringing a spare, relentlessly observant work back into circulation. The film uses vampirism as a metaphor for addiction and sin, pairing that theme with a sustained examination of power, religion, and society.
A vampire tale anchored in addiction and philosophy
The narrative centers on Kathleen (Lili Taylor), a graduate student who becomes a vampire after a night-time encounter with a mysterious woman. The vampire’s bite and the moral framing of the story underscore Ferrara’s view that humanity bears responsibility for transgression. The film presents vampirism as a cycle of pain and pleasure that mirrors addiction.
Ferrara and screenwriter Nicholas St. John guide the film through a slow, contemplative pacing that blends philosophy with horror. The cast includes Lili Taylor as Kathleen and Christopher Walken as Peina, an older vampire who embodies a harsher willpower. Ferrara has described the production as street-level and shot on location in New York.
On-location craft: NYC streets and stark visuals
The film’s look is defined by black-and-white cinematography from Ken Kelsch, a frequent Ferrara collaborator. The shooting fuses shadows with on-location realism across New York City streets, NYU, and Greenwich Village. The production ran 23 days on location, emphasizing raw, street-level authenticity rather than a studio-bound approach.
Production notes describe a blend of technical precision and rough edges, with a stark integration of real-world environments that contribute to the film’s immediacy and atmosphere.
Streaming update
The Addiction is now streaming free on Plex, courtesy of October Films. The film is noted for its patient pace and stark formal choices, letting themes of violence and control unfold gradually. Described as a slow-burn experience that intensifies toward a harrowing third act, the work centers Kathleen’s ascent into a form of power and offers a sober meditation on the use of vampirism in cinema.
