‘ …Your nightmares are about to come true!!’
Drive In Massacre – aka Drive-In Massacre – is a 1976 American horror film produced, written and directed by porn specialist Stu Segall from a screenplay by John F. Goff (The Night Stalker; Deadly Intent) and actor George Buck Flower, based on Godfrey Daniel’s storyline.
On March 14, 2016, Drive-In Massacre is released on Blu-ray in the UK by 88 Films with an interview with director Stu Segall.
Cast:
Jake Barnes, Adam Lawrence, Douglas Gudbye, Verkina Flowers, Newton Naushaus, Catherine Barkeley, Norman Sherlock, Frank Hollowell, Valdesta, Michael Alden, Marty Gatsby.
Plot:
A couple go to a drive-in cinema in a rural California town, and are butchered by an unseen assailant, who uses a sword to decapitate the man, and skewer the woman through the neck.
Investigating this dual homicide are police detectives Mike Leary and John Koch, who interview the drive-in’s boorish manager, Austin Johnson, and the odd custodian, Germy. Germy mentions that a peeping tom likes to cruise the area to watch couples and lone girls, and he is told to try and write down the voyeur’s license plate number the next time he sees him.
That night, the killer strikes again, impaling two lovers while they are making out in their vehicle…
Reviews:
Obviously inspired by Peter Bogdanovich’s masterful Targets (1968), Drive-In Massacre has none of its predecessor’s insight, intelligence, or craft. Instead, it’s an ultra cheap slice-and-dice effort that even boasts the tired “They’re coming to get you!” ending designed to make drive-in audiences uncomfortable.” TV Guide
“Aside from a great opening double death sequence, there really isn’t enough happening in the film to recommend it. It’s an oddity, but one not worth much more than a single curious glance. In the right mood and with the right group of friends, it might prove to be a bit of fun…” Wes R., Oh, the Horror!
“The only things that really make this flick (and how appropriate is it that its acronym would be DIM?) stand out are the cultural kitsch value of the drive-in setting and the hilariously cheesy gimmick ending.” Balladeer’s Blog
Buy: Amazon.co.uk
“There’s a background story about the land the drive-in is on having formerly been a carnival, and the current workers at the drive-in are ex-carnies. This almost gives a few of the interviewees enough to chew on to project interesting characters, but they go nowhere because there’s just nothing to be done with the combination bad writing and bad acting.” Weird Wild Realm
Cast and characters:
- John F. Goff as Police Detective Mike Leary
- Steve Vincent as Police Psychologist
- Douglas Gudbye as Charlie “Germy” Garmey
- Verkina Flower as Girl in Warehouse
- Robert E. Pearson as Austin Johnson
- Catherine Barkley as Kathy
- Norman Sheridan as Orville Ingleson
- John Alderman as Jim
- Jacqueline Giroux as Arlene
- Bruce Kimball as Police Detective John Koch
- Marty Gatsby as David
- Sandy Carey as Lori
- Tiffany Jones [Janus Blythe] as Alan’s Date
- Myron Griffith as Alan
- George Buck Flower as Guy with Machete
Choice dialogue:
“You really wanna talk to that piece if puke?”
Trailer (with Massacre as Masacre!):
Wikipedia | IMDb | Image thanks: Critical Condition
