Bloodsucking Freaks (1976)

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Having acquired this on Blu-ray, I was most surprised to discover that I had never seen it. I certainly saw plenty of its ilk back in the video collecting days. It has to be said, however, that like the old sex film posters, there was a considerable gap between what was offered and what was provided. Imagine my surprise then to find not only had I never seen it but that it was as described complete with a cage of 'bloodsucking freaks', well naked ladies who eat chunks of human flesh. At the start we cut from an on stage atrocity to an audience shot where some 'complain' that it is all a sham, 'just acting'and the impresario informs us not so. As a film audience, of course, when we see the body parts cut off and eyeballs removed know well that this is acting and effects but it becomes clear that within the film these activities are real Its all very silly and over the top but the effects aren't bad, the humour is amusing and the low budget not as obvious in some. Trouble has been taken with the set design too and most scenes actually look good as opposed to ill lit basement sequences badly put together. Hardly something to recommend to just anyone but if the title appeals, give it a go.

I just got done watching this vile, disgusting, utterly repulsive piece of cinema............and I loved it!!!!!! This MUST be the inspiration for Eli Roth's Hostel. There are MANY OMG moments in this "movie" but my favorites were the "doctor" drinking the brains and blood out of a woman's skull with a straw, the midget getting "head" from a decapitated body and the "ass" dartboard. Listen for the sound effects when the midget pulls the darts out. UGH!!!!! The makers of this movie are not what we call normal. They set out to make a nauseating, sick, perverted movie and they succeeded on doing just that. I like my horror movies off-the-wall and that describes this one to a tee. If that is your type of horror film, then this is for you. The Jason, Freddy and Michael Myers type need not apply.

This movie makes some powerful statements and anyone that calls it "misogynistic" doesn't even know the first thing about this movie. When Sardu speaks about his theater, its the director speaking about the state of cinema. Equating Sardu to the director gives the director some serious commentary regarding his perception of women in Hollywood, how they're treated and, ultimately, how they react by comparing them to Sardu's "actresses". All the while, the director provides an interesting narrative while simultaneously addressing the increasingly explicit desire to view nudity and violence on screen.All in all, I loved this movie!

First of all, if you can't see at least a little humor in a dismal B-Horror flick which includes home-style brain surgery, unnecessary amounts of torture, and eyeball soup being prepared by an overly-enthusiastic midget named Ralphus, then now would be the time to stop reading, and to go check out something a little tamer like California Axe Massacre. Anyone who is familiar with the Troma catalog knows that Blood Sucking Freaks is by far, the most vile, most disgusting, most evil, and the most flat-out repulsive thing those guys have to offer. A film that shows us exactly how rotten this world we live in can be. Oh, and did I mention how hilarious this movie is?Of course it was filmed New York City, where else could something this hateful, and mean-spirited possibly take place? Our story is about a New Yorker named Sardu. Sardu is the most sadistic, power-hungry individual you will ever come across. This guy runs his "Theater of the Macabre", where he and his eager assistant, Ralphus torture naked women in front of audiences, except the unsuspecting (and extremely gullible) audience thinks the torture isn't real, and that it's all just a show, and that all these women won't be slaughtered or sold. But the unfortunate truth is, yes, these women will most certainly be slaughtered or sold... but more than likely slaughtered, possibly as an example to those who disobey Sardu, or for Ralphus's amusement. These guys ain't no amateurs, Sardu and Ralphus realize women can be used for more than just torture. There's also tables, dart-boards, toilet's, mindless slaves, well, you get the idea. Clever, eh? No!!? Well, maybe not, but Blood Sucking Freaks is what it is. True Horror for the true Horror fan only. Anyone else just wouldn't understand.Some people seem to think that Blood Sucking Freaks is a bit uncalled for. Something about promoting, and possibly even making light of cruelty towards women. I'd love nothing more than to come up with some ironic argument, disproving this theory, but I strongly suspect there isn't one. Sardu and Ralphus ain't nice to the ladies, and that's just the way it is. In a strange way, Blood Sucking Freaks was ahead of it's time. You just didn't see such harsh Horror mixed with humor. Humor or no humor, this film should make just about anybody feel the need to take a shower, to try in vain to rid yourself of some of that filth and grime. The DVD includes commentary by Eli (Hostel) Roth. I suppose good 'ol Eli considers his work in the same league as this pitch-black nightmare. Well, Mr. Roth...No... just no. That's basically it. As I was listening to Mr. Roth's commentary, I couldn't help notice how deeply this guy was reading into every little thing that occurred. I'm going to just go ahead and assume he was pulling our legs. If not, then this guy knows waaaay too much about Blood Sucking Freaks, which I can understand, I mean, this is a really good movie. For more in insane midgets who fancy torture, or similar tomfoolery, The Sinful Dwarf is a must-see. As for torture, if you seriously want something more extreme than this, then you might be barking up the wrong tree, as snuff films might be what you're looking for, because Blood Sucking Freaks is about as extreme as a B-cinema gets. Total cruelty, pure sadism, 100% Horror, and 0% taste. Yay for Blood Sucking Freaks. 10/10