Meet the Hollowheads – aka Life on the Edge – is a 1989 American science fiction black comedy directed by special-effects makeup artist Tom Burman (Cat People; Prophecy; The Manitou; et al) from a screenplay co-written with Lisa Morton.
The film stars John Glover (In the Mouth of Madness; Robocop 2; Gremlins 2), Juliette Lewis (Cape Fear; Natural Born Killers; From Dusk Till Dawn), Richard Portnow, and Joshua John Miller.
A satire of 1950s sitcoms set in a dystopian future, the film is populated by bizarre, tentacled creatures that function dually as household appliances and food.
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Reviews:
“A movie made by a make-up and set design artist and it shows […] The atmosphere and dialogue is silly, cheesy, 50s-sitcom, cheery simplicity but the entertainment is in watching all the inventive eye-candy and quirks. Cult material.” The Last Exit
“In its more successful moments, the film teeters on the cartoonishly surreal but mostly the only tone it achieves is low pantomime farce. At its best, the film makes one scratch their heads and wonder what is going on; at its worst, it is infuriating.” Richard Scheib, Moria
” …the script by Lisa Morton and Thomas Burman full of rich and clever dialogue, the film’s production design by Edward Eyth and the art direction by Michael Stuart was mind-blowing (the amount work that went into the design of the Hollowhead kitchen alone must have been exhaustive)…” House of Self Indulgence
“In terms of gorgeously offbeat production design, this comes off like Pee Wee Herman’s Blade Runner. Unfortunately, although it’s unquestionable outrageous, little of it is funny. A weird and wonderful cinematic misfire, alternately repulsive and ridiculous…” Steven Puchalski, Shock Cinema
Cast and characters:
- John Glover as Henry Hollowhead
- Nancy Mette as Miriam Hollowhead
- Richard Portnow as Mr. Crabneck
- Juliette Lewis as Cindy Hollowhead
- Matt Shakman as Billy Hollowhead
- Joshua John Miller as Joey
- Shnutz Burman as Spike
- Lightfield Lewis as Bud Hollowhead
- Lee Arenberg as Ream Instructor
- Barney Burman as Young Reamer
- Anne Ramsey as Babbleaxe
- Bobcat Goldthwait as Cop #1
- Donovan Scott as Cop #2
