The Meateater (1979)

Psycopathic killer stalks teens at a run down, abandoned movie theatre.

Director:

Derek Savage

Writers:

Derek Savage, George Caldwell (story),

Stars:

Arch Joboulian, Dianne Davis, Peter Spitzer

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Arch Joboulian	...	The Meateater / Noah Webster
Dianne Davis	...	Jan Webster
Peter Spitzer	...	Mitford Webster (as Peter M. Spitzer)
Emily Spindler	...	Jeannie Webster
Gary Dean	...	Ricky Webster
Joe Marmo	...	Lt. Wombat
Tony Anthony	...	Mr. Knuckle
Frank Montiforte	...	Frankie (as Frankie Montiforte)
Richard Nathan	...	Raymond
Debbie Alsbury	...	Necking Girl
Dorothy Bartlett	...	Talkative Lady
Dorothy Francavilla	...	Plump Lady
Joe Goossen	...	Floyd Thaxton
Lynn Harris	...	Talkative Mother
Fran Kay	...	Ma

Storyline

Psycopathic killer stalks teens at a run down, abandoned movie theatre.

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Plot Keywords:

teen | cannibal | murder | actor | revenge | 

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Taglines:

A Tasty Horror Film!

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Genres:

Horror

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Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Also Known As:

Blood Theatre

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hollyco

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

BETTER THAN YOU THINK!

The Meateater is one of those rare underground flicks that is actually INTERESTING. Think Ed Wood meets Stephen King. Bad technical stuff, but great characters.

The characters are unexpectedly and instantly likeable. Mitford, Raymond and the sheriff are the sort of mid-western anti-heroes that make one laugh out loud more than once. Mitford, the dad/main character, is dumbfoundedly fascinating - he's whiney, hokey, freaky and very funny. We want to hate him but CAN'T, because we can identify with his dissatisfaction in life and desire to live out a dream. And viewers will relate to how Raymond tries B.S.'ing his Projectionist experience (NONE) to Mitford in an interview. The son, Ricky - looks cool, exactly like a kid in the late 70's stoner-era wanted to look. Kind of like a teenage Mini-Me to Edgar Winter. The wife's subtle but obvious interest in meat products is highly amusing. Savage should have worked that nugget further into the plot somehow. It could have worked, considering the title of the movie.

Plot: It's there, albeit loose at times. Due to Mitford's drive to break out of shoe sales and live out a dream, the family buys the Crest theater (Mitford pronounces it "thee-ATE-er"). Unbeknownst to Mitford & The Gang, there's an old psychotic guy living there who used to have a thing with Jean Harlow. After being badly scarred by a fire, the geriatric looney toon starts killing people at the thee-ATE-er. And here's the cornstarch to thicken it all up: Mitford's daughter is a blonde bombshell named - you guessed it - Jeanie. Like Harlow. Good idea, but the Jean Harlow connection is so thin that it's almost non-existent.

There is a great deal of humor in this baby. Most of it is in the dialogue, but it's elsewhere as well. Innuendos are everywhere, from the Grizzy Safari movie to the numerous references to hot dogs. Freud would have a ball with this flick.

The actors are VERY seventies and Savage was an OK director.

If you have interest in cheesy 70's horror, then you'll know what to expect. This isn't the Exorcist, people, nor does it try to be. But in the category of Clever, Low-Budget Velveeta-Caked Horrors, this is a gem.