Motel Hell (1980)

Director:

Kevin Connor

Writers:

Robert Jaffe (writer)
Steven-Charles Jaffe (writer)

Release Date:

18 October 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror

Tagline:

You might just die...laughing!

Plot:

Farmer Vincent kidnaps unsuspecting travellers and is burying them in his garden. Unfortunately for his victims...

Plot Keywords:

Farmer | Slasher | Chainsaw | Black Humor | Cult

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Rory Calhoun	...	Vincent Smith
Paul Linke	...	Sheriff Bruce Smith
Nancy Parsons	...	Ida Smith
Nina Axelrod	...	Terry
Wolfman Jack	...	Reverend Billy
Elaine Joyce	...	Edith Olson
Monique St. Pierre	...	Debbie
Rosanne Katon	...	Suzi
E. Hampton Beagle	...	Bob Anderson
Everett Creach	...	Boris 'Bo' Tulinski
Michael Melvin	...	Ivan
John Ratzenberger	...	Drummer
Marc Silver	...	Guitarist
Victoria Hartman	...	Female Terrible
Gwil Richards	...	Mr. Owens

Also Known As:

Hotel zur Hölle (Austria) (West Germany) [de]
Granja macabra (Argentina) [es]
Helvetes motellet (Sweden) [sv]
Hotel Hell (Denmark) (video title) [da]
Motel 'I Kolasi' (Greece) [el]
Nuits de cauchemar (France) [fr]

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Iceland:16 | Argentina:18 (re-rating) | Argentina:X (original rating) | New Zealand:R18 | Australia:R | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | France:-16 | Germany:18 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Golden Oak Ranch - 19802 Placerita Canyon Road, Newhall, California, USA

Company:

Camp Hill

Trivia:

Universal Studios was originally approached with the film, but the studio disliked the film's bizarre nature so it was rejected. United Artists ultimately picked it up for release.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Reflection of crew/equipment can be seen in the Sheriff's glasses when he is first shown.

Quotes:

Vincent Smith: I'm the biggest hypocrite of them all. My meats... I used preservatives.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Devil's Rejects (2005)

Well made horror

I love this movie! Nothing beats a deranged hillbilly farmer who wears a severed hog's head to terrorize people.

Rory Calhoun and Paul Linke are wonderful in their roles. Rory effectively pulls off the mild-mannered farmer with a dark secret routine, while Paul Linke handles the role of jealous cop perfectly.

Nina Axelrod supplies the sex appeal, and capably I might add. Though her penchant for much older men is a little disturbing.

This film has gained a solid cult following thanks to end showdown of good vs. evil, with Rory wearing that hog's head and chasing after Paul Linke with a chainsaw.