I saw this when it was being screened at film festivals, and me being a super fan of Rochon at the time, I was all about it. Until the movie started. The movie itself is very poorly shot, lit and acted (except for Lowry, who shined in her role). Lowry's performance alone was not enough to save this movie. People were falling asleep in the theater, and endlessly checking their watches. After the show was over, there was a Q&A with Debbie, and it was pretty much crickets. No one really had anything to say. She knew I was probably her biggest fan in the audience, so she asked me if I had any questions, and I just drew a blank. I felt like a jerk for not liking the movie, but I'm not going to pretend I did just because I was a fan of the director. Perhaps Debbie would have done a better job directing her own screenplay/story. But after this movie, I'm not really in too big of a hurry to find out.
11 Reviews
Bitter Revenge
shawnblackman15 October 2016
A woman who was once a desired model has been long since forgotten and lives by herself. She has a habit of taking young girls into her house and ends up eating them or serving them in dishes to the neighbours. A couple move in next door and right away the wife wonders what is going on in that house.
Lynn Lowry plays the older lady. I met her and she is the nicest person you could ever meet so that personality is how she coaxes her prey into the house and then she does a 180 and starts cutting off your genitalia. She does an amazing job in this one. Tiffany Shepis plays the detective neighbour who has a few issues of her own. I enjoyed this one and liked the way it tells people to be yourself.
Lynn Lowry plays the older lady. I met her and she is the nicest person you could ever meet so that personality is how she coaxes her prey into the house and then she does a 180 and starts cutting off your genitalia. She does an amazing job in this one. Tiffany Shepis plays the detective neighbour who has a few issues of her own. I enjoyed this one and liked the way it tells people to be yourself.
Sizi Secret's Sunday Specials
nogodnomasters4 July 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Ginny (Lynn Lowry) is a former model who retired because she got old and the world loves young women. So Ginny, in her bitterness kills and eats young girls. Tiffany Shepis plays a crazy lady that moved in next door.
This isn't the first horror film to rant about the facts of the industry. Linnea Quigley was in one a few years back, but didn't prattle on the entire film about it. She made her comment and moved on. The fact is this whole film was in praise of obese women and got really tiresome. It has cult appeal, but seriously, how long can one joke stretch? A lot of people loved the film because it was scream queen Debbie Rochon's directing debut. Started out good, got stuck in neutral. Not much character build-up. Hopefully she will have a better script to direct next time.
This film won numerous horror fest awards.
Guide: F-word. No sex. brief nudity (Kaylee Williams)
This isn't the first horror film to rant about the facts of the industry. Linnea Quigley was in one a few years back, but didn't prattle on the entire film about it. She made her comment and moved on. The fact is this whole film was in praise of obese women and got really tiresome. It has cult appeal, but seriously, how long can one joke stretch? A lot of people loved the film because it was scream queen Debbie Rochon's directing debut. Started out good, got stuck in neutral. Not much character build-up. Hopefully she will have a better script to direct next time.
This film won numerous horror fest awards.
Guide: F-word. No sex. brief nudity (Kaylee Williams)
Comments from people involved in the making of the movie.
Patient4446 June 2019
I just watched this. I just finished this. Model Hunger is the worst movie I've seen all year. I like to try out a lot of the indie horrors, so trust me when I say, this movie has no comparison in 2019.
The plot is somewhat of a used idea, as seen in The Neon Demon, but with 0 execution, 0 camera work, no special effects, no logic and an abysmal ending. I rated it 1 cause there is nowhere lower to go. Stay away from it, but if you decide to perhaps give it a try, watch the trailer instead. You'll get your money's worth right there, paid in time of course.
Model Hunger 1/10, long time since I've rated a movie so low. Stay away, look away, run don't walk away.
Cheers!
The plot is somewhat of a used idea, as seen in The Neon Demon, but with 0 execution, 0 camera work, no special effects, no logic and an abysmal ending. I rated it 1 cause there is nowhere lower to go. Stay away from it, but if you decide to perhaps give it a try, watch the trailer instead. You'll get your money's worth right there, paid in time of course.
Model Hunger 1/10, long time since I've rated a movie so low. Stay away, look away, run don't walk away.
Cheers!
Argh
gavin694219 August 2016
Former pin-up model and actress Ginny (Lynn Lowry) had been cast aside by the heartless and exploitative modeling industry when she was a young woman due to her body type. Ginny didn't take rejection well and over the years developed into a revenge seeking, blood thirsty, broken woman.
Scott Hallam praises star Lynn Lowry, noting that she "literally has to serve up equal parts frail old woman, sexy temptress, good Samaritan, and bat-(expletive) crazy killer all while offering some really thought-provoking dialogue about what true beauty is and what type of beauty is valued by society. Lowry absolutely crushes it in every aspect of her character." Hallam is right, and those who are saying that Lowry has given one of the best performances of her career are correct.
Dave Dubrow, usually a champion of independent film, describes this one as "Muddy in theme, terrible in script, and inconsistent in performance, the movie failed to rise above the shoestring production quality." He also (correctly) points out the excessive profanity, shaky camera and often out-of-focus scenes. (By no means am I anti-profanity, but there were far more f-bombs than anyone could ever naturally use in one sentence.) I have to say that the camera was really what killed this film. The casting is great, the acting ranges between adequate and excellent (some actors were more invested than others), and the concept is clever. But everything just looks horrible – too bright, too dark, too jittery. When you have one of the goddesses of the silver screen, Tiffany Shepis, and you find a way to make her look unflattering, you know your camera is garbage.
Despite its shortcomings, the disc may be worth picking up if you're a fan of any of those involved. The special features alone are a good draw. The DVD from Wild Eye Releasing includes a feature-length commentary with director Debbie Rochon, deleted scenes, a Babette Bombshell short, Voltaire interview and much more.
Scott Hallam praises star Lynn Lowry, noting that she "literally has to serve up equal parts frail old woman, sexy temptress, good Samaritan, and bat-(expletive) crazy killer all while offering some really thought-provoking dialogue about what true beauty is and what type of beauty is valued by society. Lowry absolutely crushes it in every aspect of her character." Hallam is right, and those who are saying that Lowry has given one of the best performances of her career are correct.
Dave Dubrow, usually a champion of independent film, describes this one as "Muddy in theme, terrible in script, and inconsistent in performance, the movie failed to rise above the shoestring production quality." He also (correctly) points out the excessive profanity, shaky camera and often out-of-focus scenes. (By no means am I anti-profanity, but there were far more f-bombs than anyone could ever naturally use in one sentence.) I have to say that the camera was really what killed this film. The casting is great, the acting ranges between adequate and excellent (some actors were more invested than others), and the concept is clever. But everything just looks horrible – too bright, too dark, too jittery. When you have one of the goddesses of the silver screen, Tiffany Shepis, and you find a way to make her look unflattering, you know your camera is garbage.
Despite its shortcomings, the disc may be worth picking up if you're a fan of any of those involved. The special features alone are a good draw. The DVD from Wild Eye Releasing includes a feature-length commentary with director Debbie Rochon, deleted scenes, a Babette Bombshell short, Voltaire interview and much more.
Model Hunger
a_baron26 May 2023
A former model who has spent decades musing on what might have been loses the plot and becomes a serial killer in her old age. Although she rails at men, she directs her anger at women too, murdering both with impunity. True, this is a fairly original idea, but so is gravy mixed with ice cream; you wouldn't want to consume that either. "Model Hunger" is overacted, certainly by the lead, and somewhat underacted by other characters.
These low budget horror films were once a novelty, but that novelty has long since worn off. It's difficult to believe this was even nominated for a prize except perhaps in jest, much less that it won any.
These low budget horror films were once a novelty, but that novelty has long since worn off. It's difficult to believe this was even nominated for a prize except perhaps in jest, much less that it won any.
Best Indie Horror Movie of 2016
loonurgoose3 May 2017
Debbie Rochon's directorial debut is a hilarious and thought-provoking horror movie with a stellar cast that reveals more with each viewing. The script by James Mogart not only had me laughing throughout, but it is also a great social commentary on how society views women as they age. Ginny (played by the incredible Lynn Lowry) lures young women into her home and cannibalizes them in many unforgettable scenes that manage to be horrifying as well as funny. Tiffany Shepis plays a new neighbor dealing with mental issues who becomes obsessed with her new neighbor eventually leading to a showdown. I especially loved the TV show the whole town couldn't stop watching, Suzi's Secrets, where Babette Bombshell is featured as lingerie model encouraging women to love their bodies. Lastly, I was very impressed by how talented Debbie Rochon is behind the camera. Please direct more, Debbie! With 9 wins and 18 nominations, it's obvious that many others loved this film as much as me. A must see for any true horror fan!
Enjoyable if somewhat flawed genre effort
kannibalcorpsegrinder12 February 2020
Moving into a new home, a married couple thinks their neighbors' odd behaviors are just weird quirks for an older woman, but once a series of strange disappearances strike the local girls his wife believes her instincts to suspect the neighbor was killing everyone all along and tries to stop her from continuing.
This one was a pretty enjoyable effort overall. One of the strongest elements to this one is the endearingly goofy charm centered around the main killer at the center of the events. That the entirety of everyone who goes to visit her ends up unable to believe she's capable of being the psychotic, sadistic killer that enjoys eating her victims means so much to how she can get away with everything. The inner monologues she has about the different people in her life, from letting the cheerleader yammer on about their fundraiser, the hitchhiker talking about her upbringing or the extremely sexual nature of her targets creates a deep, dark trip into her psychological state to deal with the victims. The constant infomercials on TV showing the plus-size presenter discussing all manner of deviant, sexual perversions in a trashy, enjoyable manner add to this one quite nicely. That factor goes hand-in-hand with the over-the-top scenes of her carving up and tormenting her victims. From the wholesale carving up of the cheerleaders' best friend to the dismembering of the hitchhiker due to the comments made in the car-ride earlier and the special show she performs for a tied-up victim before completely cutting them to pieces play nicely off the mindset we've been given about her earlier. The sexually-charged scenes, centered around targeting her victims for perceived or implied sexual transgressions in her snapped mind, is a fine motivator for what the fun and deranged torture scenes all about where the nice gore and brutal kills come together in a fine exploitation-style mash-up. Combined with the frantic finale that has some solid action involved, these aspects are what manages to hold the film up overall. There are some flaws present. The most glaring issue here is the nearly nonexistent storyline where things just tend to happen simply to move the story along. The initial stages where she comes to believe the suspicions of the neighbor come off with no real motivation or impetus to believe she's doing anything wrong after just moving in the night before, and how the missing person's cases come about to bring the officers into the picture don't serve any logical sense here. As well, the finale comes off incredibly confusing where the jerking camera makes it difficult to determine anything, the ambiguity is quite prominent is not being entirely positive about the true nature of everyone's outcomes and a few characters tend to pop back-and-forth between being obvious about what's going on and not obvious about what's going on and not which all come together into not making any sense. These are what knock this one down the most.
Rated R: Extreme Graphic and Sexual Language, Nudity and Graphic Violence.
This one was a pretty enjoyable effort overall. One of the strongest elements to this one is the endearingly goofy charm centered around the main killer at the center of the events. That the entirety of everyone who goes to visit her ends up unable to believe she's capable of being the psychotic, sadistic killer that enjoys eating her victims means so much to how she can get away with everything. The inner monologues she has about the different people in her life, from letting the cheerleader yammer on about their fundraiser, the hitchhiker talking about her upbringing or the extremely sexual nature of her targets creates a deep, dark trip into her psychological state to deal with the victims. The constant infomercials on TV showing the plus-size presenter discussing all manner of deviant, sexual perversions in a trashy, enjoyable manner add to this one quite nicely. That factor goes hand-in-hand with the over-the-top scenes of her carving up and tormenting her victims. From the wholesale carving up of the cheerleaders' best friend to the dismembering of the hitchhiker due to the comments made in the car-ride earlier and the special show she performs for a tied-up victim before completely cutting them to pieces play nicely off the mindset we've been given about her earlier. The sexually-charged scenes, centered around targeting her victims for perceived or implied sexual transgressions in her snapped mind, is a fine motivator for what the fun and deranged torture scenes all about where the nice gore and brutal kills come together in a fine exploitation-style mash-up. Combined with the frantic finale that has some solid action involved, these aspects are what manages to hold the film up overall. There are some flaws present. The most glaring issue here is the nearly nonexistent storyline where things just tend to happen simply to move the story along. The initial stages where she comes to believe the suspicions of the neighbor come off with no real motivation or impetus to believe she's doing anything wrong after just moving in the night before, and how the missing person's cases come about to bring the officers into the picture don't serve any logical sense here. As well, the finale comes off incredibly confusing where the jerking camera makes it difficult to determine anything, the ambiguity is quite prominent is not being entirely positive about the true nature of everyone's outcomes and a few characters tend to pop back-and-forth between being obvious about what's going on and not obvious about what's going on and not which all come together into not making any sense. These are what knock this one down the most.
Rated R: Extreme Graphic and Sexual Language, Nudity and Graphic Violence.
The beauty process
troma_freek2 May 2019
Debbie Rochon's directorial debut is a smart, funny and multi layered horror film. Genre legend Lyn Lowry (I Drink Your Blood, Shivers) has been keeping busy in the past few years appearing in dozens of low budget horror gems and germs. In Model Hunger Lowry stars as Ginny, an aging model up against the heartless and sexist model industry. Ginny career is over and she is forced into retirement due to her age, leading her to exact bloody revenge on young and beautiful women. The film offers thought-provoking social commentary on how society treats women as they age while simultaneously being extremely funny and witty. Debbie Rochon feels right at home behind the camera and this film is testament to her talent and craft.
Brutally Funny and Disturbing
TomsTwin_original19 November 2023
I first saw this when it premiered at Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival. It was quite the surprise! Since then, I have watched it several times, and each time I see more and more of the through its layers. This film has heart and works on so many levels. Debbie Rochon truly puts her experience as a horror icon and her love for the genre into every frame, making a true homage, both visually and thematically, to films from the grindhouse to Scorcese. It is a dark comedy worth getting immersed in. There is a reason that Lynn Lowry is so fond of it and views Ginny Reilly as one of her best roles. Ms. Lowry is a powerhouse here! And Tiffany Shepis is amazing as she weaves through an intense and emotional role towards the final confrontation. See this film!
Bravo, Debbie Rochon
authorwilliampattison23 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Model Hunger a is a quirky horror film that takes on the subject of the prejudice in the modeling and entertainment industry in general about female age and body size.
Model Hunger tells the story of Ginny (played to perfection by veteran actress Lynn Lowry), an elderly former model and actress who was cast aside as a young woman due to her body type. Ginny is now a broken woman who has over the years garnered a hatred and need for revenge on the thin young women who cost her her career. So, now when she encounters young pretty women she lures them into her house, kills them, and eats them. Now, come on the scene Ginny's new neighbor Debbie (played by scream queen Tiffany Shepis). Debbie is a disturbed woman who starts to wonder about her neighbor's activities. Debbie's husband Sal, disregards her suspicions and ends up losing his life over it when Ginny sends over a little drugged treat for Debbie and Sal ends up eating it. After that things build to a final confrontation that pits Ginny and Debbie in a life and death battle.
I have to say this film sold me. It takes place in a twisted world that only a former Tromet could come up with. Mainly the stage of this twisted morality play takes place in three houses, Ginny's, Debbie's, and the neighbor on the other side of Ginny who is basically an old man with two hobbies, collecting windmills and peeping on the neighborhood. Then the film goes that much further for psychological affect by going into both women's minds through voiceovers and creepy flashbacks.
But Rochon isn't done there. After all she mentored with the great Lloyd Kauffman. Rochon hits the viewer with a blatant display of what the moral push of this story is through the vehicle of an infomercial show that plays through the story called Suzie's Secret. Suzie's Secret is a show hosted by Suzie (played in a fat suite by actress Suzi Lorraine) for "regular sized" women in order to sell them sexy clothes to make them feel empowered. The main clothes model in this freak show is none other than drag actor and Troma alumni Babette Bombshell. Babette thrills and shocks the viewer by modeling skanky outfits while rubbing food over his/her body. Scary indeed.
And, don't worry, gore hounds, Debbie Rochon doesn't forget you either. This film features some wonderful gore scenes as Ginny takes out cheerleaders, an aspiring actress, a mechanic, and even a Jehovah's witness (because after all we can't let those skinny Jehovah's witness girls get away). And the best thing of all is not one CGI gore scene in the lot. Debbie Rochon goes for the best, and that is what has always worked, practical FX.
The last few years we've seen a lot of scream queens try the director's chair. For the most part their efforts have been lack luster, and in many cases down right embarrassing. Not so in this case. I look forward to Debbie Rochon's next directoral... So, if you love twisted, gory, psychological, horror that is done with the love and respect of the craft, Model Hunger is the film for you.
I highly recommend you check it out if you get the chance. This will be one you will want to add to your collection.
Model Hunger tells the story of Ginny (played to perfection by veteran actress Lynn Lowry), an elderly former model and actress who was cast aside as a young woman due to her body type. Ginny is now a broken woman who has over the years garnered a hatred and need for revenge on the thin young women who cost her her career. So, now when she encounters young pretty women she lures them into her house, kills them, and eats them. Now, come on the scene Ginny's new neighbor Debbie (played by scream queen Tiffany Shepis). Debbie is a disturbed woman who starts to wonder about her neighbor's activities. Debbie's husband Sal, disregards her suspicions and ends up losing his life over it when Ginny sends over a little drugged treat for Debbie and Sal ends up eating it. After that things build to a final confrontation that pits Ginny and Debbie in a life and death battle.
I have to say this film sold me. It takes place in a twisted world that only a former Tromet could come up with. Mainly the stage of this twisted morality play takes place in three houses, Ginny's, Debbie's, and the neighbor on the other side of Ginny who is basically an old man with two hobbies, collecting windmills and peeping on the neighborhood. Then the film goes that much further for psychological affect by going into both women's minds through voiceovers and creepy flashbacks.
But Rochon isn't done there. After all she mentored with the great Lloyd Kauffman. Rochon hits the viewer with a blatant display of what the moral push of this story is through the vehicle of an infomercial show that plays through the story called Suzie's Secret. Suzie's Secret is a show hosted by Suzie (played in a fat suite by actress Suzi Lorraine) for "regular sized" women in order to sell them sexy clothes to make them feel empowered. The main clothes model in this freak show is none other than drag actor and Troma alumni Babette Bombshell. Babette thrills and shocks the viewer by modeling skanky outfits while rubbing food over his/her body. Scary indeed.
And, don't worry, gore hounds, Debbie Rochon doesn't forget you either. This film features some wonderful gore scenes as Ginny takes out cheerleaders, an aspiring actress, a mechanic, and even a Jehovah's witness (because after all we can't let those skinny Jehovah's witness girls get away). And the best thing of all is not one CGI gore scene in the lot. Debbie Rochon goes for the best, and that is what has always worked, practical FX.
The last few years we've seen a lot of scream queens try the director's chair. For the most part their efforts have been lack luster, and in many cases down right embarrassing. Not so in this case. I look forward to Debbie Rochon's next directoral... So, if you love twisted, gory, psychological, horror that is done with the love and respect of the craft, Model Hunger is the film for you.
I highly recommend you check it out if you get the chance. This will be one you will want to add to your collection.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
