Review of Motel Hell

Motel Hell (1980)
5/10
Good but a bit tiring
10 July 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Let me start by saying this film has atmosphere which is always good in a horror film. The film takes place on a beautiful, enchanting, bucolic farm with a hotel. A charming place with rounded wooden planked doors, beads hanging everywhere, very cozy. At night, there is fog, crickets chirping and shadows from the large trees. During the day the sky is clear, the birds are singing and everything is pretty.

The acting is good. The production and photography are good. The story is fine however, some of it seems a bit tiresome and some of it seems twisted and cruel. There are scenes that show how farmer Vincent prep's his "animals" for slaughter to make the best smoked meat within 100 miles. It really isn't funny but it's not supposed to be taken seriously.

We also have some madcap acting that offers some relief which isn't bad but it does seem a bit goofy. Also, the lead blond had some dialogue that just rubbed me wrong. She almost played her role too straight.

Not bad at all. If you like horror films with some black humor you'll like this. But, not an excellent film either. There are scenes that just seem incongruous and make you wonder how they actually got added here.
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