Billy Ray McQuade, Deborah Luce, Frederick Coffin

Three women who were friends in college get together for a ten year reunion and decide to go camping in the woods. Unknown to them, two boys and thier mother who happen to live in those very same wood...( read more  read more... )s, like to abduct people, who happen to wander in thier neck of the woods, and torture them, just like they see on TV!

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54% liked it

1,813 ratings

Critics

43% liked it

7 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Charles Kaufman

Release Date: September 1, 1980

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DVD Release Date: October 31, 2000

Stats: 113 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (113)


  • February 10, 2009
    This early directing credit for Charles Kaufman, the brother of Troma boss Lloyd Kaufman, has three young ladies getting together for their annual dose of female bonding. This time, they're going camping, but they get abducted and brutalized by two demented hillbilly sickies and ...( read more)their loving mama. But that sure ain't the end of the story. Two of the ladies decide they're not going to stand for this sort of treatment, and hit back hard.

    This movie was a true family affair with sister Susan Kaufman serving as the production designer, and father Stanley making a brief appearance on-screen. Most of the minuscule budget looks like it went towards art direction, which pays off pretty well since the back-of-the-beyond abode is a real study in disarray. Makeup effects aren't nearly as impressive, with the opening decapitation scene hysterically unconvincing.

    The film is divided into three parts; the first half hour introduces us to the ladies, gives them a bit of back story, and had me liking them enough to care what happened to them. It's a study in female friendships, and it's really kind of affecting. The second part has the creeps descending on them, and is the most depraved part of the film. In the final act, it turns into a gleefully outrageous revenge saga. If the film-makers have done their job, you'll be rooting for the ladies as they slaughter the three yokels using some interesting methods.

    However, it isn't just a sleazy little exploitation horror picture. Satirical elements blend with some actual character arcs on the part of the ladies, as the two survivors temporarily switch personalities as the tougher one starts breaking down and the weaker one gains resolve.

    The acting is definitely amateurish for the most part, but the three female leads are likable enough, and the three actors playing the antagonists (all acting under pseudonyms, incidentally) attack their roles (and victims) with relish.

    Overall, its sillier, cruder, and sleazier moments balance with its more intriguing aspects to result in a real hoot of a film; it's outrageous, nasty low-budget fun.

    On a final note, there's some amazing bits of trivia associated with this film!
  • July 14, 2007
    One of my 80's horror favorites, which seems to have an anti-female theme throughout; therefore the title fits. Clockwork Orange in some parts, Texas Chainsaw Massacre in other parts. A group of girls have a friendship reunion campout in the deep woods, but are soon dragged to an...( read more) old house of horrrors by a freaky old lady and her two dimwitted freaky sons. There is violence, torture and rape involved, which crossed the line of decency. I liked the characterization and dialogue of the maniacs; but was disturbed by some of their behaviour. Nice 80's synth soundtrack. There's a very memorable rope-burn scene, and a Shirley Temple scene I'd like to forget. The legend of Mother's deformed sister "Queenie" hiding in the woods, was as awesome as the Jason Voorhees legend. The ending was funny; I would've welcomed a sequel.
  • September 15, 2006
    This film tries to work as a social commentary but it's not much different than any other women-hating splatter movie of the period.
  • October 16, 2007
    Excellent backwoods horror. Quite comedic, but the ending scared the daylights out of me when I was a kid. Too bad Troma has the rights to it, that means we'll never see a decent DVD of it.
  • October 25, 2009
    A completely unrated gem of a horror flick written and directed by Charles Kaufman (brother of Troma founder and creator of the Toxic Avenger Lloyd Kaufman). An insane domineering mother and her two hillbilly sons Ike and Addley live in psychotic bliss in the backwoods where they...( read more) commit acts of rape and murder to please their momma. Very sleazy, lots of tar black humor, but one hell of a fun time.
  • October 24, 2009
    Usually Im NOT into Troma Films but this was kinda good
  • August 1, 2009
    The remake is confirmed. Cool. I like this movie a lot. It is low-budget and due to that a bigger budget remake would do this justice. There are incredibly creepy scenes in this. Namely the escaping from the house and the stalking in the woods. The script isn't the strongest due ...( read more)to the whacky redneck dialogue given to the brothers. It doesn't exactly make them menacing. The three girlfriends who are on their annual vacation keep you glued to the screen though. You really do care for them. And they are sexy too. This isn't your typical Troma release and they haven't really done the film justice IMO. It is due for a worldwide dvd release with some bonus goodies as it should be seen by all genre fans. I'm sure they will release it when the remake is due for screening.
  • February 15, 2009
    Cut school in the early 80's to see this ,very weird
  • February 15, 2009
    Vicious rape, grisly murder. It's a good beer and pizza flick.
  • January 6, 2009
    This one came off more as satire than horror to me. I really got into it though, maybe because it was so violent. Fans of 80's horror flicks will love this one.

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Mother's Day Trivia


  • "One day some of the kids from the neighbourhood carried my mothers groceries all the way home! U know why? It was out of respect!"  Answer »
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