Review of Motel Hell (1980) by Janick L — 01 Nov 2008

A noteworthy midnight movie from 1980 which definitely gives a nod to "Texas Chainsaw Massacre". While nowhere near as relentlessly paced or 'verite' as TCM, this movie finds its own groove by steering a bit closer to comedy.

I'd always thought 'The Evil Dead' began the horror/comedy boom, but this movie predates Evil Dead by a year or two. Farmer Vincent uses humans to make his famous meat -- that part is recycled from TCM -- but what is distinct about this movie is how Farmer Vincent raises the meat.

He severs the vocal cords of his victims and plants them in the ground. The disturbing yet comical sight of several lolling heads gargling in the dirt is probably what this movie is best known for. The climax sees a chainsaw duel, before Leatherface would get his turn in 1986's TCM2.

It's not a great movie by any means. It's a little slow at the beginning, and I found myself wishing Rory Calhoun and Nancy Parsons ("Porky's" Miss Balbricker) would 'cut loose' and give us more colorful performances, but I guess that might have encouraged yet more TCM comparisons.

If you enjoy horror movies, I think this one is worth a look, not only for its modest entertainment value, but for the interesting, transitional place it holds in the genre's history.