Homebodies

Well meaning, but an unusual, gloomy and comedic dark horror drama with a wicked sense of humour and stinging view of the mistreatment of the elderly as time isn't on their side. While it doesn't always come together (with an ambiguous ending that doesn't know how to tie it up), it remains an interesting parable and compelling at that with it's uniquely original premise.

Six elderly tenants are handed eviction notices, as their apartment is to be torn down and turned into new skyscrapers. However they won't have anything off it and decide the only way they can stay put is to murder those who get in their way or have some sort of control over the development to only slow down the inevitable.

The movie tagline "A Murder a Day Keeps the Landlord Away!" sums it up perfectly.

"Homebodies" tries to mix social commentary with creepy chills and cartoon-like humour… while at times eerie and thoughtful in its context I didn't find it particularly humorous. The tone would get goofy in those moments aiming for a laugh, which didn't complement its sombre air. When the script was trying to be sly with its humour, it fitted better. The slow-burn plot really does strike up a moving chemistry between these convincingly quirky characters, as there's heart and personality given out by the performances. They stick together, kill together to keep their familiar lifestyles they hold so close. But then in a twist of events they start to turn on each other with no second thoughts. There's an odd chase sequence as well… where it crafts a dreamy sort of atmosphere around it and the death traps/or deaths are effectively moulded to get under your skin with the blank, cold expressions of their faces watching those die around them. The performances are solid, led by Paula Trueman's neurotic turn and with the likes of Ruth McDevitt, Ian Wolfe and Peter Brocco.

Director Larry Yust does a durable job and makes good use of the authentic location work to illustrate the urban plight. The camera sprightly frames the activities and the music playfully turn it up.

A worthwhile forgotten 70s offbeat low-budget black comedy shocker.

This one is truly original. A Cult film for the Geriatric crowd. It is good to see that I am not the only one who was impressed with this obscure film from when HBO was in its infancy (channel 6 anyone?) There are some very good actors associated with this project for anyone who was conscious in the 60's and 70's. From Ruth McDevitt to Ian Wolfe you have seen them before in many supporting roles, here you get to see them lead. The film almost has a strange aura similar to The Sentinel (1977) although without the supernatural aspects. Here we have a social satire which focuses on the geriatric crowd affirming their rights in the face of oppression. Coming out of the era of civil rights don't think this subject matter wasn't a projection of society in which many sub-cultures where finding ways to be empowered. This film takes that premise and twists it into some very humorous and macabre situations. The cement pouring scene is a memorable one which stands alongside any early giallo for inventiveness. Dated but still worth it if you can find it if cult is your thing.

'Homebodies' is a truly unique example of mid-70s weird-beard horror madness, and as far as I'm aware 'Homebodies' still stands righteously tall to this very day as one of the very few octogenarian-powered revenge melodramas. This singularly themed horror film concerns the ignominious plight of rightfully disgruntled wrinkles as they earnestly confront their callous, money grubbing landlords with imaginatively murderous results! The darkly sardonic films glorious strap-line is a neat précis of all this Zimmer-framed lunacy, to whit:"A murder a day keeps the landlord away!" Iconoclastic director Yust manages to fashion a credible schlocker that achieves the impossible; that is, it manages to simultaneously tug at ones calloused heart strings while a doddering old bint hurls some skeevey schmoe estate agent into a cement-y grave! Hats off to thee, Larry Yust, they REALLY don't make 'em like this anymore!

I saw this movie when I was about 8 and it gave me a serious case of the heebeejeebies. So much so that here, over 20 years later, I still remember it. Its horror value isn't based on a lot of gore, or startles, but just plain creepy situations. It's worth renting, although it will probably seem pretty tame by today's standards.

I watched this movie with my grandmother when I was about 6 years old. The movie was PG, so I could get away with watching it then. What a hoot! We managed to watch that movie every time we could catch it on and the last line in the movie kept us laughing for the longest: It's me, Mattie.

I know that a movie about old folks killing to keep their homes may be totally horrific to today's society that salivates over brutality performed on perky-breast blonds, pencil-waist brunettes, and their associated blockhead boyfriends. The irony of "Homebodies" is that you're force to have to acknowledge those old folks for what they were doing -- whether you liked it or not. They refused to be pushed around and their tactics were crude, yet effective.

Having said that, I watched it again recently and I found it just as funny, but with a better understanding. While I could say that the murders were truly without warrant, they were in better context than what you see in most slasher flicks nowadays, where the killings are for shock value and good measure.