Was this really considered scary in 1980?

I was gonna ask same question..I was born in '79 so too young to remember this when it came out. I remember watching it as a kid and it scared me. now I watch it cuz it's hilarious. They call it a black comedy/horror now, but back then I think it was intended to be straightforward grind house style horror.

While the film wasn't designed as a scarefest, it was marketed that way and this may have deceived some. It is definitely a black comedy\horror; but I don't think that aspect would have connected with many at the time. Films were still breaking taboos, defining genres and still had shock value to them when this was made. It was an instant cult film and not for all tastes, even for horror fans and it is not exceptionally bloody or graphic. It was more the macabre sense of humor and cannibalism theme that would have been seen as more shocking than anything.

I saw it twice as a double bill—my friend I went with on the 2nd occasion hated it—around 82' and 83' and the film was already about 3yrs old and I was disappointed with the low gore quotient, however there was something about it that stayed with me. It was rated R18 where I was living and NO one under 18 to be admitted—I was only 15\16 at the time—and I felt it didn't deliver the goods in terms of the rating applied. It was later lowered to R16 on vhs release. When I did see it again on vhs in the mid 80's, it finally clicked with me and I decided I loved the atmosphere and sense of humor of it all.

It's movies like this that make me appreciate film and the horror genre especially, and what clever things can be done with it with the right skill, craft and talent applied.



Exorcist: Christ's power compels you. Cast out, unclean spirit.
Destinata:💩

Yes, as a kid I was horrified of this when seeing it advertise, or seeing the pig-headed guy with a chainsaw on Fangoria Magazine's cover.  I had nightmares about it. I thought the chainsaw guy with the pig head was knocking down motel room doors and getting the people who stayed in the rooms! I did not actually see this until many MANY years later when it was on TV. I loved it. It is just the right amount of camp and actually a lot of fun.

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I am not a fan. I just happen to enjoy movies. Fans are embarrassing.

It's a black comedy poking fun at horror films.


Life can be arbitrary and comes without a warranty.

I remember thinking the commercial/trailer made it pretty obvious it was a parody and somewhat silly. And I was only 11.