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Blood Sucking Freaks

Original title: The Incredible Torture Show
  • 1976
  • Unrated
  • 1h 24m
IMDb RATING
4.7/10
6.6K
YOUR RATING
Blood Sucking Freaks (1976)
Dark ComedySatireComedyHorror

In the Theatre of the Macabre in New York, Sardu and his assistants present a show involving the torture and mutilation of young women. The audience assumes it is just an act, but the tortur... Read allIn the Theatre of the Macabre in New York, Sardu and his assistants present a show involving the torture and mutilation of young women. The audience assumes it is just an act, but the torture is real, as are the deaths.In the Theatre of the Macabre in New York, Sardu and his assistants present a show involving the torture and mutilation of young women. The audience assumes it is just an act, but the torture is real, as are the deaths.

  • Director
    • Joel M. Reed
  • Writer
    • Joel M. Reed
  • Stars
    • Seamus O'Brien
    • Viju Krem
    • Niles McMaster
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    4.7/10
    6.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Joel M. Reed
    • Writer
      • Joel M. Reed
    • Stars
      • Seamus O'Brien
      • Viju Krem
      • Niles McMaster
    • 173User reviews
    • 86Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Bloodsucking Freaks
    Trailer 2:00
    Bloodsucking Freaks

    Photos44

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    Top Cast32

    Edit
    Seamus O'Brien
    Seamus O'Brien
    • Sardu
    Viju Krem
    Viju Krem
    • Natasha Di Natalie
    Niles McMaster
    Niles McMaster
    • Tom Maverick
    Dan Fauci
    • Police Sgt. John Tucci
    Alan Dellay
    Alan Dellay
    • Creasy Silo
    Ernie Pysher
    • Doctor
    Luis De Jesus
    Luis De Jesus
    • Ralphus
    • (as Louie de Jesus)
    Helen Thompson
    Helen Thompson
    • Sardu's Assistant - Curled Hair
    Ellen Faison
    • Sardu's Assistant - Straight Hair
    • (as Saiyanidi)
    Carol Mara
    Linda Small
    Alphonso DeNoble
    • Middle Eastern White Slaver
    • (as Alphonso)
    Illa Howe
    • Girl on Guillotine
    Lynette Sheldon
    • Doctor's Compensation
    Jenny Baxter
    • Electrically Shocked Girl
    • (as Janis Beaver)
    Karen Fraser
    Michelle Craig
    Crystal Sync
    • Caged Girl - Light Brown Hair
    • (as Erica Wolfe)
    • Director
      • Joel M. Reed
    • Writer
      • Joel M. Reed
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews173

    4.76.6K
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    Featured reviews

    TheVampyreSyndicateCom

    Sick Gross And Absolutly Revolting I Love It!

    If you enjoy a movie full of weird, sick and revolting content this is the one to watch! I absolutly love this movie. No their isnt any vampires in it (Although it does have similarities) but it is filled with sadistic, gross, torturistic images sure to satisfy any vampiristic desires..

    Think of it as a sideshow of the grotesque for that is how I view it. If I had to point out the shortfalls in the movie I would say the ending although ok, could have been better and at times the content moves along rather slow but once it gets going you will love it..

    In a strange way it reminds me of the "suicide club" segment in the "Nighttrain To Terror" movie.. You find yourself anticipating the next scene. Is this movie sick? Depends on the viewer and their outlook. I would say it was great grotesque entertainment..
    Lirazel

    Evil sadism wins again!

    This is easily one of the most subversive, sick and demented films ever made..and badly made at that. A few of the scenes are stolen from early 1970's porno comics from Europe..as in the beheading/oral sex shot, scavenged from a really nasty little 8-pager called, "Nazi Sex." (!) If 1963 H.G.Lewis style gore and filmed-on-velveeta style direction are your joys, this is the film to seek out above all others..it's as bad as they come, and will get even jaded viewers to feel uncomfortable. I still regret renting this one, although it's good to know that any thought that is human is still available at the local video store...
    4jpilkonis

    There's something wrong here, even for an exploitation film

    Anyone whose tastes run towards exploitation films kind of knows "the drill," the recurring themes, methodology, and clichés of the genre. We embrace them, and an exploitation film which effectively "plays the game" can get away with a multitude of since which would be unforgivable in mainstream cinema (bad acting, bad writing, bad production values, etc.).

    By those standards, "Bloodsucking Freaks" should be hailed as a masterpiece of the genre, and, judging by its enduring cult popularity, it is. Still, there's something about this film which limits the viewer's ability to enjoy it for what it is, and, thus, limits itself. At first, it's hard to put one's finger on exactly what it is, but I think I've finally worked it out. Simply put, filmmaker Joel M. Reed made a film whose spirit is as mean-spirited and diabolical as what we see up on the screen.

    "Bloodsucking Freaks," as often as not, plays its numerous horrors for laughs. (Indeed, Sardu and Ralphus occasionally come across as a kind of nightmarish stand-up comedy act.) The trouble is, the intention behind the humor is anything but good-natured. Any viewer with any kind of decency at all can't relate to the motivations behind what they see, and this diminishes the fun of watching this movie to a great degree. For exploitation fans, there is a fine line between brutal and unwatchable, and there are many times during which "Freaks" sinks below that line. And so while this film is an absolute must-see for fans of the genre (although how many such fans have not seen this movie?), it's not going to be one of the films in their collection which can be revisited often.
    6deenariley-49870

    Vile, But Tongue in Cheek

    Bloodsucking Freaks is genuinely disgusting, but it's hard to say it's absolute trash, because it's so obvious that everything is done in a tongue in cheek way. It's as much a satire on the theatre world as it is a grimy, gory exploitation film.

    The premise of the film is that the head of an experimental theatre group named Sardu is miffed that his torture stage show has been panned by a powerful critic so he kidnaps the critic, a ballet dancer, and a few other vixens and tortures them.

    The entire film is absolutely ridiculous, but you'll recognize a few actors from the film Alice, Sweet Alice and the gore effects manage to be both impressive and hokey at the same time. It's not must see entertainment, but there are worse movies out there.
    7Tito-8

    Unforgettable

    It's VERY hard to believe that it has already been four years since I first saw this film. I vividly remember the non-stop tastelessness, the pathetic attempts at humour, the frequent gore, and of course, Ralphus, who is one of the most vile characters that I have ever seen in the movies. Yet, having said all that, I liked this movie. There are some scenes that are as funny as anything that you're ever likely to see...although in a SICK way. It isn't for the squeamish or the easily offended, but if you can appreciate low-budget trash for what it is, then you'll probably find that this movie is well worth your time.

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    Related interests

    Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Sian Clifford in Fleabag (2016)
    Dark Comedy
    Peter Sellers in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
    Satire
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby (1968)
    Horror

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Troma had the film cut to gain an "R" rating, then shipped the unrated print to theaters telling them it was the R rated version. This was discovered when a woman allegedly complained after taking a very young child to see the movie. Eventually the MPAA sued Troma for improper use of the copyrighted "Rated R" logo.
    • Goofs
      When Ralphus begins sawing the girl's hand off in the 'dismemberment' scene, the saw is to the inside of the shackle. When the camera view changes, the saw is to the outside of the shackle.
    • Quotes

      Master Sardu: Her mouth shall make an interesting urinal!

    • Alternate versions
      The R-rated cut runs 84 minutes, the director's cut is also the uncut version and runs 89 minutes. Some DVDs state it is 91 minutes long, but this is an error. There never was a 91-minute version.
    • Connections
      Edited into Dying: Last Seconds of Life, Part II (1988)

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    FAQ14

    • How long is Blood Sucking Freaks?Powered by Alexa
    • What are the differences between the Director's Cut and the Sardu Extended Version?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 3, 1976 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Troma
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Bloodsucking Freaks
    • Filming locations
      • Columbus Circle, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production company
      • Alan C. Margolin - Joel M. Reed Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 24m(84 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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