MovieChat Forums > Splatter Farm (1987) Discussion > Anybody know anything about this film?

Anybody know anything about this film?


I got in touch with one of the Polonia Brothers a few months ago and told him how great I thought this movie was. He thanked me for my kind words, but said very little about Splatter Farm and instead told me about the latest projects he was working on. The way he avoided talking about it gave me the impression that he was ashamed or embarassed of this hidden gem.

So my question is this: does anybody know anything about this movie? It's really fascinating to me on various levels, from its bizarre subject matter to its place in the video market. And, there doesn't seem to be any information about this film anywhere, sans brief reviews or synopses by fellow tapeheads like myself. Does anybody know anybody who was involved in making or distributing this movie, or have any information on them? I would love to find out all I can about this shocking little film and the geniuses behind it.

Matt Huls
(SPLATTER FARM's biggest fan)

reply

I've actually spoken to one of the Polonia brothers in person (he's an A-V guy at the college I graduated from) and asked him if there was any way I could get a copy. He said he himself doesn't even have a copy anymore and that he isn't really all that proud of the film. I've been to a screening of some of his films at a professor's house at the university (Mansfield University of Pennsylvania). If you liked this, definitely give Feeders, Peter Rottentail, and the other Polonia Brothers movies a chance.

The film was shot in or around Wellsboro, Pennsylvania (the town I grew up in). I rememeber when this film came out that our local paper ran a front page article about the movie and it was for rental in all the local movie shops. The copies slowly ended up missing, though, as the film was by then out of print and I'm guessing people just kept it and paid the fee for not returning.

Reagardless, Splatter Farm is pretty fantastic for a film shot on a camcorder by some kids who, in Mr. Polonia's words, "were just messing around." This movie always makes me think about high school, hanging out with friends, and having a good laugh. It's still a huge in-joke quoted by a few of us to this day.

reply

Thanks a lot for the information, Mike! After seeing Splatter Farm I did indeed seek out the Polonia Brothers' other movies. I've seen all but a couple of them by now (Peter Rottentail is another favorite).

Do you remember what the name of the newspaper that ran the article was? I'd love to try dredge up a copy somewhere -- if one still exists.

reply

I too have met and talked to Mark Palonia. Some friends and I made a special trip to meet him a good handful of years back. He was really nice and appreciated our interest in Splatter Farm, but said we were crazy for liking it. He told us a few stories and "behind the scenes" type stuff.

The scene where he craps out the knife was from a film called "Hallucinations" that they never released. My friend wrote him a few times to see if he'd send him a copy, but it never happened.

Like for you, he seemed kind of embarrassed by Splatter Farm. Who knows maybe since it was so "out there" with taboo material and such, maybe it's caused them some grief in their hometown and such. None of their other films have broken any major taboos since.

Sure the movie's badly made, but what do you expect from two amateur kids with a video camera. The thing that makes Splatter Farm special is how far they went with it. They should embrace it and be proud of pushing people’s buttons.

As for the video, I forget who put it out. They should release it on DVD. Officially I mean, because they guy who played Jeremy, was selling a homemade copy on DVD. I ordered a copy, but it didn't work right. There were errors on the disc. I never asked for another one, because quite frankly, my VHS copy I made from my friends video from way back when, was of better quality.

reply

Look up REGAL STUDIOS and you'll be able to order an Aniversary DVD

reply

Like for you, he seemed kind of embarrassed by Splatter Farm. Who knows maybe since it was so "out there" with taboo material and such, maybe it's caused them some grief in their hometown and such. None of their other films have broken any major taboos since.


That's a great point that I never really considered. I have heard that this movie caused quite a stir in the local communities where it was made. Maybe they felt their hometown was disgusted with them, and are ashamed and regretful of their involvement in it. And, as you said, every subsequent film of theirs (that I know of) was pretty tame, at least in terms of shock value.

reply

They have a copy of this movie to rent on DVD at my local hastings.

reply

Got it coming from Netflix. Been wanting to see it for years... Such a promising title!

reply