150 Movies You Should Die Before You See - Miller Steve [40]
Answer: B. Although the greatest risk to humans who are bitten by leeches is an infection to the bite area, bacteria, viruses and parasites left over from previous meals can exist in the leech for months.
ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES!
Four Squares Productions, 1978
PRODUCERS John De Bello, Steve Peace, and Mark L. Rosen
WRITERS John De Bello, Costa Dillon, Steve Peace, and Rick Rockwell
DIRECTOR John De Bello
STARS David Miller (Mason Dixon), George Wilson (Jim Richardson), Sharon Taylor (Lois Fairchild), Rock Peace (Lt. Wilbur Finletter), and Gary Smith (Sam Smith)
When killer tomatoes rampage through America, government beauracrats try to cover it up by putting their worst agents on the job of stopping the deadly veggies/fruits, including researcher Mason Dixon (Miller). Will the bungling agents rise above them-selves to save the day, or are we all doomed?
Why It Sucks
Well, you can't say they didn't try. Attack of the Killer Tomatoes is a great title and the movie has an even better theme song and a hilarious concept. Where it all went to pieces was in the less-than-stellar execution. Low-budget doesn't even do justice to the movie's effects. How about no budget? To make up for this, the director padded the running time, which squashes the comedy more solidy than a stepped-on overripe tomato. (Sorry about that. But you knew there was going to be a tomato joke in this entry.)
Thumbs Down Rating:
The Crappies
The Special Hope and Change Award goes to … John De Bello, Costa Dillon, Steve Peace, and Rick Rockwell for writing a running gag in the film about Congress being a do-nothing bunch of nitwits and the president not being any better.
And the Worst Director Award goes to … John De Bello for trying for sight gags that are beyond his budget and technical capabilities.
They Really Said It!
Dr. Nokitofa: Technically sir, tomatoes are fags.
Dr. Morrison: He means fruits.
Betcha Didn't Know
The helicopter crash that marks the arrival of two of the films main characters was genuine; the helicopter was just supposed to land but the pilot clipped the stabilizer on a small rise and then lost control. The actors ad-libbed lines about the crash after they were pulled from the wreck.
The key to defeating the tomatoes was “borrowed” in its entirety for the Tim Burton-directed sci-fi comedy Mars Attacks as the method for defeating the Martian invaders. In Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, the frightful fruits are destroyed when the song “Puberty Love” is played. In Mars Attacks, the Martians' heads explode when they hear Slim Whitman's “Indian Love Call.”
Trivia Quiz
What is Matt Cameron, the performer of “Puberty Love,” better known for?
A: Being the face of Heinz Ketchup during the 1980s
B: Being the former drummer of Soundgarden, and the current drummer of Pearl Jam
C: Being the original lead singer for pioneering grunge rock band Nirvana
D: Playing Johnny Cash in Johnny Cash Battles the Martians
Answer: B. Former drummer of Soundgarden, current drummer of Pearl Jam. Cameron was 16 when he recorded the song, singing in a high-pitched falsetto voice. “Puberty Love” is an awful song that kills Killer Tomatoes.
BITE ME!
E.I. Independent Cinema, 2004
PRODUCER Michael Raso
WRITER Brett Piper
DIRECTOR Brett Piper
STARS Misty Mundae (Crystal), Michael R. Thomas (Ralph Vivino), Sylvianne Chebance (Gina), Julian Wells (Teresa), Caitlin Ross (Amber), Rob Monkiewicz (Terrence “Buzz” O'Reilly), Erika Smith (Trix), and John Fedele (Myles McCarthy)
A failing strip club is invaded by monstrous spiders whose venom either brings out repressed sides of a victim's personality or turns them into hideous mutants.
Why It Sucks
The director manages to nicely spoof monster movies from the 1950s as well as soft-core porn films. But no matter how good a job the sexy actresses do — and they do better than their resumes might make you think — they can't overcome the unfocused script and its irrelevant subplots.
Thumbs Down Rating:
The Crappies
The Worst Director