The Love Butcher [Blu-ray]

Overview

A string of murders in a posh neighborhood has the police department stumped and the local press is breathing down their necks. Strangely, nobody notices that several victims share the same gardener, a bent, elderly man with a crippled arm named Caleb. Even though all of the murder weapons are lawn care tools, Caleb remains above suspicion. Of course, it isn't Caleb doing the killing, but rather his second personality, a confident, handsome younger brother named Lester who Caleb turns into when he dons a toupee. That's when he seduces and then slashes his employers, most of whom heap insults and derision upon Caleb as he works. Lester dons a variety of disguises to "gain entry," employing false accents and charming patter to bed down his victims. The two personalities battle when alone, though, and one of them will eventually have to overcome the other.

Product Details

Release Date:	06/01/2021
UPC:	0738329252687
Original Release:	1982
Rating:	R
Source:	Code Red
Language:	English
Time:	1:25:00
Sales rank:	24,995

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Erik Stern	Caleb/Lester
Kay Neer	Florence
Jeremiah Beecher	Russell
Edward Roehm	Capt. Stark
Robin Sherwood	Sheila
Richard Hieronymus	Composer

Technical Credits

Don Jones

Mikel Angel	Director
Don Jones	Director,Screenwriter
Gary Williams	Producer

Editorial Reviews

Made in the mid-'70s but not released until 1982 (when a glut of slasher films ensured its obscurity), The Love Butcher has elements of broad black comedy that are integrated far more smoothly than similar features. It's a reasonably well-made, if simple-minded horror story that will provide more than a few laughs for trash cinema fans. Erik Stern is great in a dual role, bouncing between crude but funny stereotypes and genuine psychotic menace as he handles the ridiculous dialogue with aplomb ("I am the great male Adonis of the universe! Fill me with nymphoid satisfaction!"). The murders are depicted in a disturbing, ultra-violent fashion, making up for a lack of fancy special effects with Stern's acting skills providing the savagery. He also makes the broadly drawn character of Caleb sympathetic enough to get the viewer on his side as he fights his murdering alter ego, leading to some extremely bizarre moments in this seldom seen but interesting psycho-killer comedy.