Drive-In Massacre (1976)

Drive In Massacre is the tale of a police investigation into a series of slayings taking place at a local Drive-In theater. Although this film may be billed as a horror film, I'd say this is more of a crime film, as about 3/4ths of the movie is focused on the police investigation. There are a couple of gory scenes, especially the first two killings, but the movie is rather tame overall.The two cops (played by John Goff and Bruce Kimball) stumble through the investigation to the point where you wonder whether or not these guys could catch a cold, much less a mass murderer. The main suspects are a pair of employees at the theater, the manager (Newton Naushaus), who hates, well everything, and a janitor named Germy (Douglas Gudbye), a dim former sword swallower who is pleasant enough, but seems a little off. With the possible exception of Gudbye, the acting in this film is either phoned-in, or in the case of Naushaus, way too over the top.The sound is horrible, as there are many points where you can't make out the dialog, and the soundtrack is subpar at best, as some of the songs sound as if it were composed with a Casio keyboard. There's a couple of scenes in this movie that have hardly any connection to the plot and seemed to be tacked on just to fill out the movie. The ending is different, at least, but I wouldn't say it was very good either.Overall, if you're a fan of 'So Bad It's Good' movies, then Drive-In Massacre could provide a few laughs. If you're a fan of horror movies, well I'd recommend you stay away from this one.

"Drive-In Massacre" tells the story of a serial killer who walks around a drive-in at night with a long sword killing teenagers. Sounds like a typical slasher flick, right? Wrong. The violence is not plentiful, but spread out through the movie between cheesy dialogue and horrible acting. This film is just so boring, I cannot believe I sat through the whole thing!! And it's only 74 minutes!! None of the characters in this film are likable, and you really can't wait for them to die. However, there are several entertaining scenes, such as one of the chubby male police officers dressing as a woman to disguise himself during a stake out! The script is just horrible and so is the picture and sound quality of the movie. There are also at least three scenes that last for five minutes that is nothing but a guy driving around a parking lot looking for a place to park!! Please, stay away from this one!!R for Violence and Brief NudityGrade: F

Drive In Massacre opens with a juicy double murder which suggests that the film might be something of a treat for lovers of outrageous 70s gore flicks: a sabre wielding maniac graphically kills a couple at the drive in, decapitating the guy whilst he is adjusting the loudspeakers next to his car, and then skewering the screaming girlfriend through the neck.But don't be fooled by this delightfully trashy and bloody beginning, for what follows is some of the most tedious garbage to ever grace a slasher film, as a pair of bumbling detectives (John F. Goff and Steve Vincent) struggle to uncover the identify of the killer and the body count steadily rises.With dreadful production values, acting to match, several interminably dull scenes of inane dialogue between the law and a variety of viable suspects, some equally inane chit-chat from the stupid couples who visit the drive-in (they keep on coming, despite the presence of a maniac), a totally incongruous scene where a machete wielding loon is pursued through a warehouse by the cops, an ending that fails to resolve matters (preferring instead to rely on the old 'the killer might be amongst you' gimmick), and very little in the way of gore after the first few minutes, Drive In Massacre will test the patience of even the most avid fan of grade-Z horror.In desperation, director Stu Segall attempts to inject a little sleaze into proceedings with the inclusion of a pervy peeping tom and a brief bit of nudity from a good looking bird with a nasty perm, but a masturbating voyeur and a nice pair of tits are not nearly enough to save this film from being a total yawn.2.5 out of 10, rounded up to 3 for the bearded cue-ball drive-in boss's tasty line in suits.

A psychopath is slicing the heads off of victims in cars with a sword at a local drive-in and it's up to Detectives Larry and Mike(Bruce Kimball and Steve Vincent)to find out who it is. The drive-in theater was once a carnival and many of those who worked in it are employed. It could very well be the incredibly cranky, ornery, and all-around rude theater manager, Austin Johnson(Newton Naushaus)whose foul attitude stinks something rotten;once the barker, he has been left to take care of the entire business while his former employer sold the farm and ran off to Hawaii or some place. Another suspect is the "half-wit" janitor, Germy(Douglas Gudbye)who is an admitted former sword swallower, but seems too mild-mannered and simple-minded to be a killer. The main suspect is Orville(Norman Sherlock), a creepy peeping tom, spotted by Germy hanging around cars, spying on certain couples making out. The detectives attempt woefully to solve the case but their methods are a bit suspect(..why would you associate yourself with Germy, a possible suspect, no matter how nice and hospitable he might be?)..I mean two victims are killed in cars not feet from where they were staking out! The major problem established by a host of other users is the languid pace of the entire film. Some interrogation sequences are stretched too long and we witness the uncomfortable cast languishing with rather dire material. I did find the foul character of Johnson rather amusing in how he describes everyone he comes in contact with..never a kind word for anyone, he's quite the misanthrope. Johnson is the kind of character you yearn to see get stabbed in the throat with a sword. I also enjoyed the opening beheading..but director Seagall doesn't quite match this with the subsequent killings(..one victim's head falls off and a couple is skewered by the dreaded sword while hugging). There's a bizarre red herring set-up featuring the great Buck Flower chasing after a female victim(..actually played by his real daughter Verkina!) inside a warehouse with a machete(..he's considered a suspect, but anyone in their right mind knows that the film will ultimately end at the drive-in). The truly horrible climax at the end punctuates a rather ineptly made film..attempting to leave open the killer's identity, it only has you scratching your head. A plausible climax determining who between two obvious suspects might in fact be the real killer would've at least provided a satisfying conclusion to a rather poorly conceived horror film. The really oddball sequence where Larry and Mike are questioning Orville in his home(..with nude posters of models pinned all over his living room walls)really has to be seen to be believed..seeing Orville squirming and wallowing in misery over his sexual appetites(..he even admits out loud to "beating his meat" while at the drive-in, completely overwhelmed in embarrassment!)while the detectives appear quite appalled. A film like Drive-in Massacre only proved that in the 70's almost anyone could make a movie.