9. Bela Lugosis Dead Opening Sequence The Hunger (1982)
The opening sequence of The Hunger isnt really in keeping with the rest of the film, let alone his other films. With The Hunger we get to see a direction Tony Scotts career might have gone if Simpson and Bruckheimer didnt come knocking. The film is technically Scotts second feature (after Loving Memory, 1971) and stars Catherine Deneuve, Susan Sarandon and David Bowie. It deals with immortality through vampirism and although a flop at the box office has since found a cult following on VHS and DVD. The film didnt go down that well with the critics either, but its worth seeking out for the opening sequence alone. To describe it would sound crazy, but lets give it a go. The look of the scene is ahead of its time, like a grimier, less family-friendly version of The Lost Boys or Near Dark, both released in 1987. As Bauhaus perform Bela Lugosis Dead in front of a neon blue-lit cage the picture cuts to a dim, smoke-filled club scene with David Bowies face appearing mysteriously behind John Lennon-style sunglasses. As Scott cuts to exterior shots the music cuts too, only to be returned to Bauhaus, then to exterior and so on. As a girl dances provocatively in front of a white screen the atmosphere changes, becoming sinister. Cigarettes are smoked, sunglasses removed and breasts revealed, thenbaboons roar as blood spatters, confusion reigns. To anyone unfamiliar with the film, that might just sound silly. Anyone familiar with the film will know thats exactly what happens and its great. Its filthy, fetishistic, camp, androgynous and violent all at once. It represents a young Tony Scott working without restriction. The remainder of the film doesnt live up to its early promise but for this opening concoction of a scene he should be applauded.