The Corpse Grinders
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''The Corpse Grinders'' is a 1971 American
comedy horror film Comedy horror (also called horror comedy) is a literary, television and film genre that combines elements of comedy and horror fiction. Comedy horror has been described as having three types: "black comedy, parody and spoof." Comedy horror can a ...
directed by Ted V. Mikels. In the film, a
cat food Cat food is food specifically formulated and designed for consumption by cats. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, cats in London were often fed horse meat sold by traders known as Cats’ Meat Men or Women, who traveled designated routes ...
company uses human corpses as ingredients for their products. The result is that pet cats acquire a taste for human flesh, and start attacking humans who are still alive.


Plot

When the Lotus Cat Food Company finds itself in financial trouble, the owners stumble upon a new, cheap source of meat—the local graveyard. Only one problem—the cats develop a taste for human flesh, and the pets have turned viciously against their owners all over town. Veterinary doctor Howard Glass (Sean Kenney) and his nurse Angie Robinson (Monika Kelly) become suspicious and begin to investigate. "It’s a silly little gore comedy that stars Sanford Mitchell and J. Byron Foster as the owners of a cat food firm who find their sales booming when they accidentally turn a sleeping partner into cat food."


Cast

* Sean Kenney as Dr. Howard Glass * Monika Kelly as Angie Robinson * Sanford Mitchell as Landau * J. Byron Foster as Maltby * Warren Ball as Caleb * Ann Noble as Cleo * Vince Barbi as Monk * Harry Lovejoy as The Neighbor * Earl Burnam as Mr. De Sisto * Zena Foster as Mrs. Babcock * Ray Dannis as Mr. Babcock * Drucilla Hoy as Tessie * Charles Fox as Willie (as Charles 'Foxy' Fox)


Production

The film was based on a script by Arch Hall who Mikels called "such a nice, nice man. This was the only time in my life where somebody brought in a full script. It wasn’t called THE CORPSE GRINDERS. I started to read it and I was enthralled and right while Arch was sitting there, I said ‘How much do you want for this?’ And he told me. I said, ‘Let’s go across the street to my bank.’ I liked the whole concept, but of course, it changed a great deal. I bought the property right then and there.” "The Corpse Grinders is the giddy centerpiece of a four year homemade-horror phase in the life of Mikels. It’s also a defining moment in off-the-cuff, vintage drive-in comfort."


Reception

Mikels said later "it made its own name all over the world. No matter where I go, people talk about CORPSE GRINDERS. Boomers, if you want to call them that, said they saw that when they were kids and have never forgotten it, it’s the most memorable picture they ever saw. It set box office records, when the tickets were 25 and 50 cents, that, even to this day, surpassed even the big pictures today. It made a lot of money. It’s the only picture where I made some money." In its review of the film, ''
Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' wrote that it "carries enough blood to satisfy any cravings for this type of divertissement, but it's a cheapie in every respect." Conversely, Eric Henderson of ''
Slant Magazine ''Slant Magazine'' is an American online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New Yor ...
'' stated: "Make no mistake, there is nothing in Ted V. Mikels' infamous grindhouse cheapie ''The Corpse Grinders'' even a fraction as disturbing as the graphic art of its promotional one-sheet."


References


External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Corpse Grinders, The 1971 films 1971 comedy horror films 1971 independent films American comedy horror films American independent films Films about cats Films directed by Ted V. Mikels 1970s English-language films 1970s American films 1971 comedy-drama films English-language comedy horror films English-language independent films