Overview
“Motel Hell” is a 1980 American comedy horror film that incorporates the parody of some horror films, such as Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” (1960), Wes Craven’s “The Last House on the Left” (1972), and Tobe Hooper’s “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” (1974).
Directed by Kevin Connor. 102 minutes.
Plot
Farmer Vincent Smith (Rory Calhoun) and his younger sister Ida (Nancy Parsons) run a farm with an attached motel named “Motel Hello”.
Vincent also manufactures and sells homemade smoked meats with Ida. They have a good reputation for their delicious smoked meats, but their smoked meats are actually made by using human flesh.
Vincent sets the traps on nearby roads to catch victims. He buries the victims up to their necks in his “secret garden”, then cuts their vocal cords to prevent them from screaming. When they are ready for “harvest”, he minces them and makes them into smoked meats.
One day, Vincent shoots out the front tire of a couple’s motorcycle, and he catches the male named Bo and the female named Terry (Nina Axelrod).
Vincent buries Bo in his “secret garden”, and brings Terry to the motel. Vincent tells Terry her boyfriend died in the accident and was buried.
Terry is seriously injured by the accident. Vincent puts Terry up in the motel. Vincent and Ida nurse Terry.
Vincent and Terry gradually become attracted to each other. They start thinking about marriage.
Commentary
Though the film is a low-budget B-movie, it is known as a cult classic. It is enjoyable as a humorous black comedy film for horror film fans.
There is a chainsaw battle scene in the last part.
Disc jockey Wolfman Jack played the role of a reverend.
