Eaten Alive
(1977), dir. Tobe Hooper, Mars Production Company
Where does on go after making the Texas Chainsaw Massacre? For Tobe Hooper, another Southern
fired slice of terror seemed like the ideal thing to do.
Clara Wood (Roberta Collins) works in a brothel in a small
swampy area. Refusing a request from regular costumer Buck (Robert Englund)
gets her kicked out by owner Miss Hattie (Carolyn Jones). Leaving with the
clothes on her back and not much else, Clara heads out of town. She doesn’t get too
far before stopping at a remote hotel located almost inside the swamp. The
place is a dump, but it’s cheap. Clara tries to settle in, but the hotel’s
owner, Judd (Neville Brand) seems intent on pestering her. Tragically for her,
Judd discovers Clara’s former occupation and makes his objections known, i.e.
feeds her to the massive crocodile he keeps out back.
Not long after that, a family arrives and demands rooms for
the night. Father Roy (William Finley) is a jackass of the highest order.
Mother Faye (Marilyn Burns) is long suffering, mostly for the sake of their
daughter Angie (Kyle Richards). The family isn’t there long before their
beloved family dog escapes their car and is promptly eaten by Judd’s own
beloved pet. Angie doesn’t take this very well.
And not long after that another car of people show up; this
time the guests are Harvey Wood (Mel Ferrer) and his other daughter Libby
(Crystin Sinclaire). Yes, other daughter, as it seems Harvey is on a quest of
sorts for his missing older daughter Clara. Judd swears he’s never seen anyone
named Clara and tells them to go searching in town. Roy, in his own misguided
asshole-ish way, decides to make his daughter stop crying by shooting the
crocodile that ate her dog. Judd isn’t having that and feeds Roy to the
crocodile. Angie seems happier. Judd decides that paying customers aren’t worth
the hassle so he roughs up Faye and chases Angie outside. The child manages to
escape him by crawling under the hotel, but Judd isn’t worried. With his pet
around it’s pretty darn unlikely that she’ll be running away.
Back in town, and now working with Sheriff Martin (Stuart
Whitman), the Woods investigate Miss Hattie’s place of business, who swears
she’s never even seen or heard of anyone named Clara. Harvey heads back to the
hotel while Libby stays in town. Harvey
hears some cries coming under the hotel, but Judd hears them too. One scythe
stab later, the crocodile has another meal.
Inside the only diner, Libby witnesses the sheriff kicking
Buck and his girlfriend Lynette (Janus Blythe) out for disturbing the peace.
Since Buck and Lynette are still in the loving mood, they head over to Judd’s place
for a few hours. While consummating their passion amid the slightly moldy
surroundings, they both hear Angie’s crying again. One investigation later,
Buck is croc feed and Lynette nearly avoids the same fate herself. She doesn’t
bother to inform anyone though.
Libby is dropped off at the hotel and wants nothing more
than to sleep. She is a bit put out when she finds Faye tied up next door. Can
the women escape before the crocodile’s next feeding time?
Hooper is a fair director, so the film looks nice, but good
grief why does every character insist on staying at Judd’s hotel? The place
looks condemned and Judd can’t seem to go five seconds without being skin
crawling creepy. It seems if they just went to a Super 8 they could have saved themselves a lot of trouble.
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