ViewGuide

Created Jan 07, 2008 05:53PM PST • Edited Jan 07, 2008 05:53PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   OK 2.5

   Tobe Hooper’s second film after the classic THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE, EATEN ALIVE is about a motel manager named Judd (Neville Brand) who uses his trusty scythe to murder people who stay at the motel to feed to his pet crocodile. Hooper tries to recreate the magic of TCM in vain, because this film doesn’t live up to that. Weird characters, weird situations, and a fake crocodile make this a cult film and nothing else. Only for Tobe Hooper fans or people who love weird exploitation films.

4. Acting

   Barely OK 2.0

5. Male Stars Good 3.0

   Neville Brand is quite excellent as the deranged Judd, who murders people while rambling to himself about things no one understands but himself. Robert Englund [in an early role] plays Buck, a guy who loves to f*ck. A very charismatic performance for the future Freddy Kruger. William Finley as Roy gives a very weird performance. I had no idea what his character was about. And Mel Ferrer gives a wasted performance as a grieving father of Judd’s first victim in the film. Robotic and uncaring is the best way to describe it.

6. Female Stars Barely OK 2.0

   Kyle Richards [Lindsay from HALLOWEEN] gives a very good performance of a little girl who gets terrorized by Judd. Marilyn Burns screams and cries, so I guess she does an okay job. Carolyn Jones [Morticia Addams] gives a wasted performance as a whorehouse madame. All the other ladies were there just to be victimized.

7. Female Costars Barely OK 2.0

8. Male Costars Barely OK 2.0

10. Film

    Good 3.0

11. Direction Great 4.0

    Tobe Hooper directs a fine film. Not as raw as THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE, but well shot and well paced for a horror film. Judd’s killing spree is done with a bit of shaky cam and the lighting creates a surreal environment that creeps you out. Overall, a very nice job.

12. Play Barely OK 2.0

    Only real memorable line is “I’m Buck and I love to f*ck!” from Robert Englund. Apparently this inspired Quentin Tarantino to use it in KILL BILL VOL. 1. Brand’s ramblings as Judd doesn’t make a lick of sense but it’s memorable enough to create a creepy character.

13. Music Great 4.0

    Nice set of country tunes, Tex-Mex, and a really weird score by Hooper and Wayne Bell. Helps create the setting quite well.

14. Visuals Good 3.0

    Nothing visually impressive but a good looking film that does what it needs to do to get the message across. Can’t complain.

15. Content

16. Edge

    Horrid 4.1

17. Sex Lewd 3.8

    Boobies and buns appear from time to time. Buck likes to have anal sex with his women. Not a totally erotic film but the sex factor is definitely in effect.

18. Violence Savage 4.5

    Kyle Richards as a little girl getting “abused” by hiding underneath a motel with rats while she sleeps on dirt, wood, and rocks as she’s being chased by Judd. We see a scythe cut someone’s throat. Marilyn Burns tied up and gagged to a bed. Plus a crocodile eats people. Pretty violent film.

19. Rudeness Nasty 4.0

21. Reality

    Glib 1.5

    It’s based on true events but exaggerated some.

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.5

23. Biological Glib 1.5

24. Physical Glib 1.5