Blood Sucking Freaks (originally released as The Incredible Torture Show) is a 1976 American exploitation splatter film directed by Joel M. Reed and starring Seamus O'Brien, Luis De Jesus, Viju Krem, Niles McMaster, Dan Fauci, Alan Dellay, and Ernie Pysher. Set in New York City, the film follows a human trafficking ring masquerading as an experimental theater group, which stages Grand Guignol-style performances for audiences, who are unaware that actual murders and torture are being enacted onstage.

Filmed under the working title Sardu: Master of the Screaming Virgins, it was originally released as The Incredible Torture Show in November 1976. Film distributor Troma Entertainment retitled the film Blood Sucking Freaks upon their acquisition of it in 1981. Troma initially made cuts in hopes of getting an R-rating from the Motion Picture Association of America, but eventually released the version that had all of the most graphic scenes included and was labeled as an R-rated film despite having no such designation from the MPAA. The ratings group subsequently sued Troma for copyright infringement in applying the R-rating without permission; Troma withdrew the rating label, and to date the MPAA has refused to give Blood Sucking Freaks a review at all.

Blood Sucking Freaks went on to develop a cult following, and has been noted as a dark-comic parody of the New York City theater world. Filmsite.org named it one of the most controversial films of all time.

Depictions of violence

Some of the torture methods depicted fictionally in the film include the use of thumb screws, a skull crushed by a vise, amputation at the wrist by a bone saw, the amputation of fingers by a meat cleaver, electro-shock, suspension, the extraction of teeth, the portrayal of an electric drill through a skull with the brains sucked through a straw, the amputation of feet by a chainsaw, stretching on St. Andrew's Cross, caning and subsequent decapitation by guillotine, as well as brainwashing, whipping, darts, and quartering.

Release

The film premiered under the title The Incredible Torture Show in November 1976, and was later acquired by Troma Entertainment, who re-released it under the title Blood Sucking Freaks in 1981. The film was screened out of competition at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival.

Censorship

Troma executive Lloyd Kaufman submitted the film to the MPAA for American release in 1981, but the organization refused to grant the film an R-rating in its full-length cut. According to Kaufman, the association approved only 54 minutes of the film. Troma proceeded to release the film in its full cut with the R-rating label, which led the MPAA to sue Troma for copyright infringement on the grounds of utilizing the unapproved ratings label. The suit was ultimately settled after Troma was mandated to issue a public apology which was published by The Hollywood Reporter.

Critical response

Blood Sucking Freaks received largely negative reviews from critics, and as of 2023, holds a 29% approval rating on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 7 reviews. It is considered to be one of the most controversial films of all time by Filmsite.org.

TV Guide panned the film, awarding it 0/4 stars calling the plot "flimsy" and "[an] exercise in total gross-out".

Rob Wrigley from Classic Horror.com stated in his review on the film, "If anything makes it tolerable, it is that it is presented as comedy rather than tragedy. Unfortunately, it falls flat far more than it amuses. One could complain about the misogyny of it all. Or its willingness to offend everyone possible. Or even the vibrant, sardonic performances of the principals. But that is giving the film more credit than it deserves". Wrigley also criticized the film's acting.

Scott Weinberg from eFilmCritic.com panned the film stating in his review, "When people use the term 'bottom of the barrel', they often forget about the UNDERSIDE of the barrel, which is where poorly-made dreck like this belongs. It offers absolutely NOTHING in the way of entertainment, and I think you're a cruel little nutcase if you talk someone else into seeing it," also calling it "The nastiest, filthiest and just about WORST thing you will EVER SEE".

The Encyclopedia of Horror says "the film is deliberately tacky and tongue-in-cheek (but distasteful enough nonetheless), in the spirit of Herschell Gordon Lewis." The book reports the film was the subject of a campaign by Women Against Pornography.

Home media

Troma Entertainment released the film on DVD in 1998, and in a special edition Blu-ray on August 21, 2014.

In the intro to De La Soul's debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising, Plug One cites Blood Sucking Freaks as his "favorite drama movie". Producer Prince Paul sampled Ralphus's line "open your mouth, I’m going to put something nice into it" for the track Open Your Mouth (Hypothalamus) from his debut album Psychoanalysis: What Is It?.

Professional wrestler Chris Jericho borrowed the assistant's name for his own use, naming his bodyguard Ralphus during his time in World Championship Wrestling (WCW).

Legacy

Joe Bob Briggs opened his second season of The Last Drive-In on Shudder with Chopping Mall and Blood Sucking Freaks.

Notes

References

Sources

  • Blood Sucking Freaks at the Troma Entertainment movie database