Thirst (1979 film)

Thirst
Theatrical film poster
Directed byRod Hardy
Screenplay byJohn Pinkney
Produced byAntony I. Ginnane
Starring
CinematographyVince Monton
Edited byPhilip Reid
Music byBrian May
Production
companies
Distributed byGUO Film Distributors
Release date
  • 28 September 1979 (1979-09-28)
Running time
93 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
Budget$750,000

Thirst is a 1979 Australian horror film directed by Rod Hardy and starring Chantal Contouri, Max Phipps, and David Hemmings. It follows a woman who is kidnapped by a blood-drinking cult of modern vampires who believe her to be an ancestor of Elizabeth Báthory. It has been described as a blend of vampire and science fiction genres, influenced by the 1973 film Soylent Green as well as drawing on the folklore of Elizabeth Báthory – one of several vampire films in the 1970s to do so.

The film was released in Australia in September 1979, and later was distributed in the United States by New Line Cinema in 1980.