A psychotic redneck (Neville Brand) who owns a dilapidated hotel in the backwater swamps of Louisiana kills various people who upset him or his business, and he feeds their bodies to a large crocodile that he keeps as a pet in the swamp beside his hotel.
This film is very loosely based on the story of 1930s serial killer Joe Ball from Elmendorf, Texas. He owned a bar with an alligator pit serving as an entertainment attraction. Several murders of women ensued, and flesh was later found in the pit.
According to makeup artist Craig Reardon, cinematographer Robert Caramico directed several scenes due to creative differences between Tobe Hooper and the films' producers. I would love to have this confirmed by anyone else associated with the film. Hooper mixes sex and violence like few others and for that reason I would still have to say this is ultimately his vision... but this is not the only film where Hooper's direction came under question (Poltergeist).
The cast is excellent, with Mel Ferrer, Robert Englund as an anal rapist, and Hooper veteran Marilyn Burns. Englund's line, "Name's Buck..." became inspiration for Tarantino's "Kill Bill"... William Finley ("Phantom of the Paradise") is here. And Kyle Richards ("Halloween"). And, of course, we have World War II hero Neville Brand...
Roberta Collins plays a good lead, and she proudly acknowledges this is the only horror film she had done (apparently not counting "Saturday the 14th"). Despite being in some other cult films (like "The Big Birdcage" with Pam Grier and "Death Race 2000"), she may not be well-known to horror fans, which is a shame. Take in her performance and her very odd character, as she is sadly no longer with us.
Sure, this movie has cheesy alligator effects, and the sets look like the Third World, but everything is still somehow effective and it is an enjoyable flick for horror buffs. If you are a fan of Hooper and have not seen this one, see it. You just cannot top the classics. I recommend picking up the Dark Sky version. While the film is still gritty, they did a fine job of cleaning it up -- other companies have put an almost unwatchable VHS transfer on DVD.
This film is very loosely based on the story of 1930s serial killer Joe Ball from Elmendorf, Texas. He owned a bar with an alligator pit serving as an entertainment attraction. Several murders of women ensued, and flesh was later found in the pit.
According to makeup artist Craig Reardon, cinematographer Robert Caramico directed several scenes due to creative differences between Tobe Hooper and the films' producers. I would love to have this confirmed by anyone else associated with the film. Hooper mixes sex and violence like few others and for that reason I would still have to say this is ultimately his vision... but this is not the only film where Hooper's direction came under question (Poltergeist).
The cast is excellent, with Mel Ferrer, Robert Englund as an anal rapist, and Hooper veteran Marilyn Burns. Englund's line, "Name's Buck..." became inspiration for Tarantino's "Kill Bill"... William Finley ("Phantom of the Paradise") is here. And Kyle Richards ("Halloween"). And, of course, we have World War II hero Neville Brand...
Roberta Collins plays a good lead, and she proudly acknowledges this is the only horror film she had done (apparently not counting "Saturday the 14th"). Despite being in some other cult films (like "The Big Birdcage" with Pam Grier and "Death Race 2000"), she may not be well-known to horror fans, which is a shame. Take in her performance and her very odd character, as she is sadly no longer with us.
Sure, this movie has cheesy alligator effects, and the sets look like the Third World, but everything is still somehow effective and it is an enjoyable flick for horror buffs. If you are a fan of Hooper and have not seen this one, see it. You just cannot top the classics. I recommend picking up the Dark Sky version. While the film is still gritty, they did a fine job of cleaning it up -- other companies have put an almost unwatchable VHS transfer on DVD.