The Hunger (serial)
Encyclopedia
The Hunger is a British/Canadian
television
horror
anthology series, co-produced by Scott Free Productions, Telescene Film Group
Productions and the Canadian pay-TV channel The Movie Network
. Though it shares a title with the feature film The Hunger the series has no direct plot or character connection to the film, and was created by Jeff Fazio.
Originally shown on the Sci Fi Channel
in the UK, The Movie Network
in Canada and Showtime in the US, the series was broadcast from 1997 to 2000, and is internally organized into two seasons. Each episode was based around an independent story introduced by the host; Terence Stamp
hosted each episode for the first season, and was replaced in the second season by David Bowie
. Stories tended to focus on themes of self-destructive desire and obsession, with a strong component of soft-core erotica
; popular tropes for the stories included cannibalism
, vampires, sex
and poison
.
, Gemma Files
, Poppy Z. Brite
and Harlan Ellison
among others), The Hunger did not receive great critical acclaim. Many of the criticisms directed against the series had to do with the limitations of the broadcast medium; unlike later series such as Showtime's Masters of Horror
, the largely Canadian-based production was restricted in terms of the imagery and language permissible by broadcast standards, and by the budget and production values typically available to small-screen productions. Often broadcast late at night in keeping with requirements for adult material, The Hunger never accumulated a significant audience . However, in later years the show obtained a small cult following .
In 2011, episodes began airing in the US on the horror-centric Chiller
cable channel.
Entertainment One
released both seasons on DVD in the US in 2009. Season 1 was released on June 2, 2009 and Season 2 on October 13, 2009.
Alliance Home Entertainment
has released the entire series on DVD in Canada for the very first time.
Region 2
Infinity Video released both seasons on DVD in the UK for the very first time on October 31, 2005 as Amazon exclusives. Season 1 and 2 were re-released as full retail releases in 2007.
Television in Canada
Television in Canada officially began with the opening of the nation's first television stations in Montreal and Toronto in 1952. As with most media in Canada, the television industry, and the television programming available in that country, are strongly influenced by the American media, perhaps...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
horror
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
anthology series, co-produced by Scott Free Productions, Telescene Film Group
Telescene
Telescene was a Canadian television production company based in Montreal, which closed down in 2001. First owned by director/producer/cameraman/editor Jean-Louis Côté, in 1996 it was then owned by Robin Spry and Paul Painter...
Productions and the Canadian pay-TV channel The Movie Network
The Movie Network
The Movie Network is a Canadian English language Category A premium television service, owned by Astral Media. The service is licensed to operate east of the Ontario-Manitoba border, excluding the territories...
. Though it shares a title with the feature film The Hunger the series has no direct plot or character connection to the film, and was created by Jeff Fazio.
Originally shown on the Sci Fi Channel
Sci Fi channel (United Kingdom)
Syfy is a television channel service specialising in science fiction, fantasy and horror shows and movies. It is available via digital cable, IPTV, satellite television and Top Up TV platforms. The channel launched in 1995 in the UK a sister channel to the US Sci Fi Channel , with a similar...
in the UK, The Movie Network
The Movie Network
The Movie Network is a Canadian English language Category A premium television service, owned by Astral Media. The service is licensed to operate east of the Ontario-Manitoba border, excluding the territories...
in Canada and Showtime in the US, the series was broadcast from 1997 to 2000, and is internally organized into two seasons. Each episode was based around an independent story introduced by the host; Terence Stamp
Terence Stamp
Terence Henry Stamp is an English actor. Since starting his career in 1962 he has appeared in over 60 films. His title role as Billy Budd in his film debut earned Stamp an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and a BAFTA nomination for Best Newcomer.His other major roles include...
hosted each episode for the first season, and was replaced in the second season by David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
. Stories tended to focus on themes of self-destructive desire and obsession, with a strong component of soft-core erotica
Erotica
Erotica are works of art, including literature, photography, film, sculpture and painting, that deal substantively with erotically stimulating or sexually arousing descriptions...
; popular tropes for the stories included cannibalism
Cannibalism
Cannibalism is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh of other human beings. It is also called anthropophagy...
, vampires, sex
Sex
In biology, sex is a process of combining and mixing genetic traits, often resulting in the specialization of organisms into a male or female variety . Sexual reproduction involves combining specialized cells to form offspring that inherit traits from both parents...
and poison
Poison
In the context of biology, poisons are substances that can cause disturbances to organisms, usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism....
.
Reception
Though notable for the quality of the authors who wrote for the series (episodes were penned by well-known authors Graham MastertonGraham Masterton
Graham Masterton is a British horror author. Originally editor of Mayfair and the British edition of Penthouse, Graham Masterton's first novel The Manitou was released in 1976. This novel was adapted in 1978 for the film The Manitou...
, Gemma Files
Gemma Files
Gemma Files is a Canadian horror writer, journalist, and film critic. Her short story, "The Emperor's Old Bones", won the International Horror Guild Award for Best Short Story of 1999. Five of her short stories were adapted for the television series The Hunger.- Biography :Gemma Files was born in...
, Poppy Z. Brite
Poppy Z. Brite
Poppy Z. Brite is an American author. Brite initially achieved notoriety in the gothic horror genre of literature in the early 1990s after publishing a string of successful novels and short story collections...
and Harlan Ellison
Harlan Ellison
Harlan Jay Ellison is an American writer. His principal genre is speculative fiction.His published works include over 1,700 short stories, novellas, screenplays, teleplays, essays, a wide range of criticism covering literature, film, television, and print media...
among others), The Hunger did not receive great critical acclaim. Many of the criticisms directed against the series had to do with the limitations of the broadcast medium; unlike later series such as Showtime's Masters of Horror
Masters of Horror
Masters of Horror is an informal social group of international film writers and directors specializing in horror movies and an American television series created by director Mick Garris for the Showtime cable network.- Origin :...
, the largely Canadian-based production was restricted in terms of the imagery and language permissible by broadcast standards, and by the budget and production values typically available to small-screen productions. Often broadcast late at night in keeping with requirements for adult material, The Hunger never accumulated a significant audience . However, in later years the show obtained a small cult following .
In 2011, episodes began airing in the US on the horror-centric Chiller
Chiller
A chiller is a machine that removes heat from a liquid via a vapor-compression or absorption refrigeration cycle. This liquid can then be circulated through a heat exchanger to cool air or equipment as required.-Use in air conditioning:...
cable channel.
Season 1 (1997-1998)
| Series # |
Season # |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original airdate | Production Code |
|---|
Season 2 (1999-2000)
| Series # |
Season # |
Title | Director | Writer | Original airdate | Production Code |
|---|
DVD releases
Region 1Entertainment One
Entertainment One
Entertainment One Ltd is a leading international entertainment business operating in the United States, Canada, the UK, Ireland, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia and New Zealand...
released both seasons on DVD in the US in 2009. Season 1 was released on June 2, 2009 and Season 2 on October 13, 2009.
Alliance Home Entertainment
Alliance Films
Alliance Films is a major Canadian motion picture distribution/production company, which serves Canada, the United Kingdom, and Spain.-History:It was formed in 1984 by Stephen Roth, Denis Heroux, John Kemeny, Robert Lantos and Jay...
has released the entire series on DVD in Canada for the very first time.
Region 2
Infinity Video released both seasons on DVD in the UK for the very first time on October 31, 2005 as Amazon exclusives. Season 1 and 2 were re-released as full retail releases in 2007.
| DVD Name | Ep# | Release Dates | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region 1 (US) | Region 1 (CAN) | Region 2 | ||
| Season 1 | 22 | June 2, 2009 | June 8, 2010 | July 23, 2007 |
| Season 2 | 22 | October 13, 2009 | June 8, 2010 | July 23, 2007 |
See also
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by Lisa TuttleLisa TuttleLisa Tuttle is an American-born science fiction, fantasy, and horror author. She has published over a dozen novels, five short story collections, and several non-fiction titles, including a reference book on feminism. She has also edited several anthologies and reviewed books for various...
Season 2, Episode 12 - Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond
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- Masters of HorrorMasters of HorrorMasters of Horror is an informal social group of international film writers and directors specializing in horror movies and an American television series created by director Mick Garris for the Showtime cable network.- Origin :...
- Masters of Science FictionMasters of Science FictionMasters of Science Fiction is an American television anthology series by the same creators as Masters of Horror. The show debuted on ABC on August 4, 2007 at 10PM for a run of four episodes...
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