It took a couple of viewings to appreciate Martin, because what appears to be a modern, gritty take on vampires is actually a very sad portrait of a confused young man who finds a sense of belonging in vampire mythology. Martin comes of age within a strict religious upbringing, he feels his lust is a monstrous impulse, so he commits actual horrible acts because he believes blood calms his lust. Like James McAvoy’s character in Split, Martin becomes a monster through the trauma of his abusive family. Having no supernatural powers, he must resort to sedative syringes and razor blades, and his search for victims uncovers the quietly lonely housewives of his Pittsburgh suburb. By living in Martin’s view of the world, true evil takes the form of humanity’s customs and routine.
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