Sunday, April 26, 2009

Horror Movie Review: Attack of the Killer Tomatoes

Starring: David Miller, George Wilson, Al Sklar, Gary Smith, Sharon Taylor, and J. Stephen Peace

Directed by: John de Bello

Written by: John de Bello, Costa Dillon, J. Stephen Peace, and Rick Rockwell

Release Date: October 1978

Production Company: Four Square Productions

Let's face it. You sit down to watch a movie like Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, you know what you're getting into. It's not going to be serious and it's not going to be a bonanza of the best film making practices. The point here is to have fun and if the mic gets in the shot, who cares, that's kind of the point.

What you have here is a spoof of the great sci-fi radioactive monster movies. It directly spoofs The Blob and Jaws, but you can find similarities to such greats as Attack of the Giant Leeches (1959) and Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman.




The government, trying to create a better tomato, accidentally created mutant killer tomatoes. They are predominantly normal sized tomatoes with the ability to kill, but there are also a few giant tomatoes, stronger and deadlier. They are devious, crawling up through plumbing to catch housewives unaware and coming from under the ocean waves to kill unsuspecting swimmers. In response, the government puts together a special force to combat the tomato menace: disguise master Sam Smith, Lt. Wilbur Finletter, and lead by Mason Dixon. Meanwhile, journalist Lois Fairchild tries to get to the bottom of the tomato scourge while Ted Swan tries to spin the chaos for the president.



The jokes are funny and un-PC. "Technically sir, tomatoes are fags."
"He means fruits."

The gags are slapstick and silly, and in the end...it's a great deal of fun. Yes, the effects are cheesey, but they're supposed to be. Sit back and let the tomfoolery...or would that be tomato-foolery...take you away.

Related Videos


Return of the Killer Tomatoes

J. Stephen Peace returned as Lt. Finletter in Return of the Killer Tomatoes!.


The Blob

One of the inspirations for Attack of the Killer Tomatoes...The Blob.



Attack of the 50 ft. Woman

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Attack of the Giant Leeches

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