The Mangler (1995)

A laundry folding machine is possessed by a demon from Hell.

Director:

Tobe Hooper

Writers:

Stephen King (short story), Tobe Hooper (screenplay),

Stars:

Robert Englund, Ted Levine, Daniel Matmor

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Englund	...	William 'Bill' Gartley
Ted Levine	...	Officer John Hunton
Daniel Matmor	...	Mark Jackson
Jeremy Crutchley	...	J.J.J. Pictureman / Mortician
Vanessa Pike	...	Sherry Ouelette
Demetre Phillips	...	George Stanner
Lisa Morris	...	Lin Sue
Vera Blacker	...	Mrs. Adelle Frawley
Ashley Hayden	...	Annette Gillian
Danny Keogh	...	Herb Diment
Ted Le Plat	...	Doctor Ramos
Todd Jensen	...	Roger Martin
Sean Taylor	...	Derrick Gates
Gerrit Schoonhoven	...	Aaron Rodriguez
Nan Hamilton	...	Mrs. Ellenshaw

Storyline

Detective John Hunton is investigating an iron folding machine that has found a taste for eating people. While he tries to solve the mystery, Bill Gartley, the owner, wants to find new victims for his machine.

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Plot Keywords:

supernatural | crushed to death | severed arm | severed finger | cult film | 

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Taglines:

The ultimate tale of terror is about to begin

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Genres:

Comedy | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA Australia South Africa

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 March 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Máquina Mortífera

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Box Office

Gross:

$1,781,383 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Allied Film Production, Distant Horizons, Filmex Pty. Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tobe Hooper filmed a large chunk of the film but left and was replaced by Avant Singh.

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Quotes

[first lines]
George Stanner: What are you doing? Not up here. Get back down there. Jesus. Morons.

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Connections

Featured in The Adventures of Sebastian Cole (1998)

User Reviews

If this is the best he can do, Hooper should retire.

THE MANGLER is further proof that some of the "top" names in horror can make 'em as bad as they come.

This one concerns a possessed laundry press (getting kind of desperate for new ideas, aren't they?) that is turned into a killing machine by a splash of virgin's blood (!) It grinds, smashes and burns workers in a small, grimy New England factory. Robert Englund does some heavy duty hamming as the cruel, greedy owner with white hair, an eye patch and leg braces, who lurches around on crutches, degrades (and has offscreen sex with) his female employees and screams nearly every line of his terrible dialogue.

Even his fans, and fans of Hooper (if he has any left) and Stephen King (whose short story in "Night Shift" this is based upon) will want to steer clear of this dreary, senseless, humorless gorefest with a handful of decent FX. The screenplay (by Hooper and Stephen Brooks) and supporting acting (especially Daniel Matmor as an occult expert) are both terrible.

I've read that this film (produced in 1993) was initially targeted for a wide theatrical release, but only got a limited one before heading off to video world in 1995. Avoid the sequel, too.

I gave it a 2 out of 10 only because it's slightly better than Part 2.