Saturday, March 08, 2014

Fest #8: Eating Raoul

The first of the two Fest films that I've seen this year, "Eating Raoul" was one of those low-budget films that hit it big on the art circuit back in 1982 or so, and found an even bigger following on home video. The story of a couple (Paul Bartel, who also directs, and Mary Woronov) who want to open their own restaurant but are desperately short of cash. So desperate that they begin killing swingers by advertising in a local adult newspaper and stealing the money. Raoul sells them new locks for their apartment and then breaks in, where he discovers their scheme and muscles in on it. But the last laugh, or last serving, will be on him. The movie bears all the hallmarks of low-budget 1980s Hollywood, with cheesy production quality and exploitation elements. However, the performance of the two main leads, as well as Bartel's inspired lunatic direction and the witty script, which he co-wrote, made this one a classic, and it looks great in a new Blu-Ray version.

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