Cult Candy cum Caveats
Movies that require a bit of explanation before you recommend them to friends
Spider Baby (1967) d: Jack Hill
Basket Case* (1982) d: Frank Henenlotter
Sleepaway Camp (1983) d: Robert Hiltzik
Tokyo Gore Police (2008) d: Yoshihiro Nishimura
Blood Diner (1987) d: Jackie Kong
Spider Baby
The caveat: ableism, general lack of aging well
The weird and wonderful movie that spearheaded the bumpkin/family trend epitomized in classics like The Hills Have Eyes and ol’ Chain Saw Massacre. Starring Lon Chaney Jr. (son of The Man With a Thousand Faces) and introducing the world to Sid Haig, this gem was thankfully rediscovered in the 90s and has earned some proper recognition. It’s predominantly comedic (it starts with a wacky theme song that includes the lyrics, “Boys and ghouls having a ball/ Frankenstein, Dracula and even the Mummy/ Are sure to end up in someone's tummy”), but damn if I didn’t actually tear up a bit at Chaney’s impressive depth of feeling. Now, like all the deranged-family movies that it spawned, this comes with a heaping helping of old school ableism - the “children” all have (the fictitious) “Merrye’s Syndrome” which causes them to mentally regress as they age. But it’s a top notch, deeply funny, deeply felt camp feature that deserves its cult status.
Basket Case*
The caveat: weird ableism and rape
Somehow, this weird, grimy little movie casts quite the shadow. Its plot was basically plucked wholesale for an X-Files and a Simpsons episode, and even last year’s amazing Malignant owes inspiration to this gem. It’s not exactly a spoiler to tell you this is about a boy and his mutant conjoined (but detachable) twin, Belial. The movie leans into the weirdness, its budget constraints leading to some hilarious stop motion sequences. The movie starts out with a great deal of sympathy for Belial and there’s an unexpected heart underneath the story….until there isn’t. I shouldn’t be surprised given the schlocky nature of the thing that the plot devolves into a gross-out rape scene, but I was, and the ending really sours the experience. That being said, it’s a cult classic for a reason, and ultimately I think its many positives outweigh its exploitation trappings.
Sleepaway Camp
The caveat: transphobia, sort of? You’ll know it when you see it.
I didn’t see Sleepaway Camp until I was in my 30s - I had inexplicably never even heard of it. While I was watching it, I couldn’t believe it wasn’t considered a staple on the same level as Friday the 13th. The kills are gnarly and creative. The acting is bonkers in the best possible way. The mystery is intriguing. Then, the ending. *That* reveal. And my jaw dropped. It handles issues of gender with an Acme sledgehammer. It would NEVER get made today (at least not the way it is), but I’m glad it exists? The How Did This Get Made episode on this movie is a wild ride.
Tokyo Gore Police
The caveat: inexplicable and completely random black face, general misogyny
The plot: Tokyo Police Corporation is locked in a bloody war with “engineers” - genetically modified cyborgs whose self-inflicted open wounds morph into weapons (weapons in the broadest sense possible). This movie is incredible. It’s like someone said yes to every single wacko gory idea that was presented, literally nothing was off the table. Femme fatale with alligator jaws as legs? Check. Machine gun titties? Of course. Rocket dong? You know it. Cutting someone’s legs off and the blood sprays out with so much force that he can literally fly? That sounds like a Cards Against Humanity card, and yes, it’s in here. There are a lot of provocative elements in here (especially regarding self-harm) that are intentionally provocative and fit the film’s themes (such as they are). Thennnnn they have a random man in black face. There’s genuinely no excuse for it and it is wildly out of place. Disappointing in such an otherwise enjoyable splatter outing.
Blood Diner
The caveat: um, everything?
This movie wants to antagonize you. It even gives the audience a kind of dare at the beginning, recommending via title card to leave if you’re likely to get offended. And while it’s far from the most offensive movie I’ve seen, yeah, there are moments of racism and homophobia that feel jarring (there’s also, uh, some weird Hitler stuff….). So why am I recommending it? It’s straight up hilarious. There’s a frenetic and self-aware irony to most of the cringe, particularly its misogyny (for a horror movie in the 1980s, it had a refreshing number of women behind the scenes). It’s a masterclass in slapstick comic violence that embraces chaos and surprise at every turn.