Folks at Red Wolf Inn, The / Terror Inn (1972)

Folks at Red Wolf Inn, The / Terror Inn (1972)

“A butcher’s work is never done…”

Synopsis:
A naive co-ed (Linda Gillen) wins a vacation to Red Wolf Inn, where the elderly proprietors (Mary Jackson and Arthur Space) and their dim-witted grandson (John Neilson) make delicious, meat-heavy meals for their female guests. But when one girl after the other starts disappearing, Regina (Gillen) — who has fallen for Neilson — begins to wonder exactly what (or who) her hosts are cooking up.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

  • Black Comedy
  • Cannibalism
  • Horror
  • Vacation

Response to Peary’s Review:
Peary is overly generous in his assessment of this “oddball” indie film, arguing that its liberal black humor “gives it the distinction of being the most charming of the horror film’s cannibalism subgenre”. In truth, it’s a rather tedious, poorly made exploitation flick with countless logistical loopholes and (mostly) amateurish acting. Gillin’s performance may be “winning”, but her character — despite being a college student — is hopelessly stupid, and her enthusiastic reaction upon receiving an anonymous invitation to a strange hotel borders on imbecility.

The initial meat-eating dinner scene — which goes on for nearly 10 minutes — presupposes that viewers will giggle in delight simply over watching Gillin and her equally clueless fellow guests eating human flesh without knowing it; why is this funny?


The best aspect of the film by far is the sly performance by Mary Jackson, playing a deluded old woman who would give any grandchild the willies.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

  • Mary Jackson as Evelyn Smith

Must See?
No; this one is strictly for fans of cannibalism flicks.

Links:

2 thoughts on “Folks at Red Wolf Inn, The / Terror Inn (1972)

  1. Can’t say I agree here, but I can’t say I disagree either. I’ve tried to write a review for this one for ages, but it never comes out. I think it’s probably because all of your points but I just don’t care. I love this movie. I don’t even remember where the hell I picked it up — some VHS closeout at a dying Mom & Pop store, maybe. I keep the cassette around even though I can buy a copy of comparable quality in one of those 50-DVD mega-packs. I think this and Island of Lost Souls are the two reasons I still own a VCR.

  2. Fugeddabout it.

    This is a bad, bad, bad, and boring movie that doesn’t work on any level at all and is best forgotten.

    Seriously.

    Nothin’ happenin’ here, folks, move on, move on…

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