DVD Review: Motel Hell (B)

Motel Hell (1980)
Directed by Kevin Connor
Starring Rory Calhoun, Monique St. Pierre and Nancy Parsons
MPAA: R
Grade: B

Review by Bobby Nashville

This is a great horrible movie. Or should I say horribly great? I can't decide so I challenge you to decide for yourself. Grab a six pack of cheap beer, and spend an evening with the freaky folks from Motel Hell.

This movie has everything a bad movie needs. It has seriously stupid dialogue, a very, very weird premise and even a Playboy Playmate in the cast. Yes, Playboy's 1979 Playmate of the Year Monique St. Pierre seems very confused in this movie, but who can blame her? There is this weird old man (Farmer Vincent) that sells smoked meat trying to get with her. He is a real piece of work, both grinding meat and trying to run the freaky Motel Hello. Vincent keeps kidnapping and or killing people and then, well, I don't want to give away too much of the story, but lets just say things are getting pretty creepy down at the farm/motel.

In addition to the playmate, there are some other interesting cameos here. John Ratzenberger (Cliff Claven of Cheers) plays a pot smoking drummer in a punk band, and Wolfman Jack plays Reverend Billy, the money chasing preacher that keeps shouting from the motel TV sets.

I remember seeing Motel Hell at a drive in theater when it first came out, and seeing it now on DVD brings back some feelings that frankly I don't understand. Check in to Motel Hell, but only if you can stomach their strange family recipes.

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