Terror Firmer (1999)

75% of users liked it
(4,797 ratings)

Troma Team Pictures, the company that brought you such classics as The Toxic Avenger, When Nature Calls and Class Of Nuke 'Em High, takes a look inside the making of a "typical" Troma release with Terror Firmer, directed and co-written by Troma co-founder Lloyd Kaufman, who also appears as the… More Troma Team Pictures, the company that brought you such classics as The Toxic Avenger, When Nature Calls and Class Of Nuke 'Em High, takes a look inside the making of a "typical" Troma release with Terror Firmer, directed and co-written by Troma co-founder Lloyd Kaufman, who also appears as the director of the film-within-the film. Here, Kaufman (whose character is blind, which would explain a lot about Troma's product) and his crew are making a willfully sleazy horror flick, complete with monsters, gore, gratuitous nudity and loud rock 'n' roll, when a serial killer appears who doesn't happen to be in the script. Terror Firmer is based in part on Kaufman's 1998 book about his career with Troma, All I Need To Know About Filmmaking I Learned From The Toxic Avenger, and includes a plug for the upcoming Jane Austen's Schlock and Schlockability (possibly a follow-up to 1996's Shakespeare variant Tromeo and Juliet). ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 54 min.
Directed By: Lloyd Kaufman
Written By: Patrick Cassidy, Douglas Buck, Lloyd Kaufman
Genres: Horror, Comedy

In Theaters: Oct 29, 1999 Wide
On DVD: Jan 23, 2001
Studio: Troma

Critic Reviews

Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
Troma goes Blair Witch, and this movie gets VULGAR!

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Featured Audience Ratings

Cassandra M

Indy directors schooled in shock had two options when Hollywood stepped in and stole their thunder with bad taste comedy hits like THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY and American PIE. 1. Become like John Waters, lose your edge and deliver much tamer (and much more bland) stabs at the… More
Indy directors schooled in shock had two options when Hollywood stepped in and stole their thunder with bad taste comedy hits like THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY and American PIE. 1. Become like John Waters, lose your edge and deliver much tamer (and much more bland) stabs at the establishment or... 2. Up the ante in terms of nihilistic gore, nudity, amorality, cruelty and cheap toilet gags. Lloyd Kaufman has, with this film, undoubtedly established himself as the poster boy for the latter. So possessed is this man to disgust, offend, shock and give viewers an alternative to good, decent, Speilbergian entertainment, he has whipped out a film that includes, but it certainly not limited to, dismemberment, decapitation, impalement, castration, breast mutilation, urination, scat, puking, incest, rape, child molestation, drug use, cheesy sound effects, flatulence, deformed sex organs, full nudity (male and female), a fetus ripped from a womb, soft core sex and gore-dripping overkill in any and every other possible department. I must say, that it's a hectic, erratic, messy film, but I was never once bored while watching it. Since the story takes place around the set of an independent movie (invaded by a hermaphroditic serial killer who hacks his/her way through the cast and crew in an effort to shut down the production) we also get some commentary on how the film industry works (and how it doesn't) and on the comedic virtues found in the lowest of low human behavior. All four of the leads (Will Keenan, Alyce LaTourelle, Trent Haaga and Debbie Rochon) are great. Kaufman himself also shows considerable on-screen appeal as Larry Benjamin, the aloof director of the film in question, who also happens to be blind, an idea copied by Woody Allen for his acclaimed (but apparently not all that original) film Hollywood ENDING in 2001! Fair enough to say that not everyone will be able to endure TERROR FIRMER, but be grateful someone has the audacity to slap Tinseltown in the face by beating them at their own game. The video and DVD both contain deleted scenes and outtakes and are available in uncut or R-rated versions. Watch for a cameo by SOUTH PARK creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Motorhead's Lemmy during an amusing end credit sequence.
_kelly .

Beyond Tromafare for Citizens Toxie, Terror Firmer actually offers some interesting points about film-making and certainly Troma is better at satirizing themselves than the mainstream fair a la "Scary Movie", "Epic Movie", etc. Hilarious but perhaps far too silly… More
Beyond Tromafare for Citizens Toxie, Terror Firmer actually offers some interesting points about film-making and certainly Troma is better at satirizing themselves than the mainstream fair a la "Scary Movie", "Epic Movie", etc. Hilarious but perhaps far too silly (and unfamiliar) for those unacquainted with the truly trash crap independent film and their rare glory. Does this movie dare to try to be "art"? Yes, and it succeeds better than a B movie should, proving that Troma is one cut above themselves. "Dig a hole and call the New York Post!" Troma's biggest problem is that any upcoming film-makers who may want to work for them *ahem* will expect a certain on set vibe because of this movie, and we're also plain aware that Troma is not as "no budget" as they claim and for the most part, just underpays the young and willing.
A.D. V

Troma's best stuff.
Luke B

I love it. Disgusting. Sickening. Even made me feel like throwing up at times. Pure Troma gorgeousness. Twisted independent cinema. Cool.
Christopher B

My favourite Troma film, as much for the documentary included as the film itself. Sums up perfectly what Troma fans like about the company's movies: an all around lack of taste on any subject.
Wu C

Decent Troma movie. Same elements as in every production by this team. It's playful and has the over the top gore. One of the better films in the Troma catalog.