The Mutilator (1985)

Director:

Buddy Cooper

Writer:

Buddy Cooper (written by)

Release Date:

January 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Their horrifying vacation was no day at the beach!

Plot:

A teenager who accidentally committed matricide finds himself being hunted together with his girlfriend and mates by his now crazed father.

Plot Keywords:

Teenager | Beach | Virgin | Jokster | Murder

Cast

Matt Mitler	...	Ed Jr.
Ruth Martinez	...	Pam
Bill Hitchcock	...	Ralph
Connie Rogers	...	Sue
Frances Raines	...	Linda
Morey Lampley	...	Mike
Jack Chatham	...	Jack Sr.
Ben Moore	...	Cop
Trace Cooper	...	Younger Ed Jr.
Pamela Weddle Cooper	...	Mother
Jimmy Guthrie	...	Bartender
George Sutton	...	Gentleman At Bar
Steve Davis	...	Student In Bar
Tom Outlaw	...	Student In Bar
Pat Jordon	...	Student In Bar
Hallock Cooper	...	Cheerleader
Michelle Bach	...	Cheerleader
Miriam Mason	...	Cheerleader
Jennifer Price	...	Cheerleader
A.B. Cooper Sr.	...	Professor At Dorm
Jan Case	...	Student At Dorm
David Bell	...	Student At Dorm
Phil Collins	...	Student At Dorm
Chris Sarosy	...	Student At Dorm
Dee Clodfelter	...	Student At Dorm
David Sledge	...	Student At Dorm
Fred Tillery	...	Storekeeper
Jenny Grice	...	Storekeeper's Wife
Kay Case	...	Woman At Store
Wendy Case	...	Girl At Store
John Bode	...	Deputy At Wall
Bruce Taylor	...	Deputy Driver
Darryl Case	...	Doctor
Andrea McLean	...	Nurse With Doctor
Dail Lowery	...	Nurse With Tray
Greta Groves	...	Nurse At Door

Directed by
Buddy Cooper

Writing credits
Buddy Cooper		(written by)

Produced by
Buddy Cooper	....	producer

Original Music by
Michael Minard

Cinematography by
Peter Schnall		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Stephen Mack

Set Decoration by
Steve Davis

Makeup Department
Mark Shostrom	....	special makeup effects
Anthony Showe	....	special makeup effects

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Garber	....	first assistant director

Stunts
John C. Kearns Sr.	....	stunt driver

Distributors

• Ocean King Releasing (1985) (USA) (theatrical)
• Vestron Video (1985) (USA) (VHS)
• Code Red DVD (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Video Instant Picture Company (VIPCO) (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• Video for Pleasure (VFP) (198?) (Netherlands) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-18 | Australia:R (cut) | Sweden:15 (heavily cut) | UK:18 (cut) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, USA

Trivia:

The movie's original title was "Fall Break", but it was changed to "The Mutilator" for its video release for marketing reasons.

Quotes:

Ed Jr.:I've got a bad feeling about this!

Movie Connections:

References Madman (1982)

It's aptly titled, at the least.

(** out of *****)

The goofy opening credits sequence (and the cheesy `Fall Break' theme song that plays over this sequence) almost tricks you into thinking this is just another one of those cheapo ‘80s teen comedies where a bunch of dumb kids go to the beach and screw around. But don't be fooled -- this is actually just another one of those cheapo ‘80s teen slashers where a bunch of dumb kids go to the beach and screw around and get brutally slaughtered by a homicidal maniac. You see, one of the dumb kids (Matt Mitler) accidentally shot his mother in the back with a shotgun when he was a little boy and his alcoholic, big-game hunter father (John Chatham) never forgave him for it. So, ten or so years later, the dysfunctional old man asks his son to lock up the beach condo for the winter, but only so he can take out his revenge on his son and his son's friends with antique battle axes, big fishing gaffs, chainsaws, butcher knives, etc. (talk about holding a grudge!) There is some mild suspense here and there, but the only things that really distinguish this overly familiar killer thriller are some pretty graphic gore effects. Otherwise, the directing and editing are poorer than usual, and the acting is not quite on the same level as, say, `Glengarry Glen Ross' (but, I suppose that's to be expected, right?) It starts to pick up quite a bit in the climax, with the mad dad still chopping away at state troopers with his ax -- even with the lower half of his body missing! They actually have a bloopers reel running during the end credits (like in the "Cannonball Run" movies).

Lowlight: In one scene of such artistic beauty and vivid cinematography that it rivals anything by Bertolucci or Herzog, a female victim is hoisted up by a steel hook through her crotch and savagely beheaded.