A psychotic redneck, who owns a dilapidated hotel in rural East Texas, kills various people who upset him or his business, and he feeds their bodies to a large crocodile that he keeps as a pet in the swamp beside his hotel.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- 2 nominations.
- See more »
Reviews:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Neville Brand | ... |
Judd
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| Mel Ferrer | ... |
Harvey Wood
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| Carolyn Jones | ... |
Miss Hattie
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| Marilyn Burns | ... |
Faye
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| William Finley | ... |
Roy
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| Stuart Whitman | ... |
Sheriff Martin
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| Roberta Collins | ... |
Clara
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| Kyle Richards | ... |
Angie
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| Robert Englund | ... |
Buck
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Crystin Sinclaire | ... |
Libby Wood
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| Janus Blythe | ... |
Lynette
(as Janus Blyth)
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Betty Cole | ... |
Ruby
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Sig Sakowicz | ... |
Deputy Girth
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Ronald W. Davis | ... |
Country Boy
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Christine Schneider | ... |
Waitress
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| David Hayward | ... |
The Cowboy
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David Carson | ... |
Marlo
(as David 'Goat' Carson)
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Lincoln Kibbee | ... |
First Guy in Bar
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James Galanis | ... |
Second Guy in Bar
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Tarja Leena Halinen | ... |
Miss Hattie's Girl
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Caren White | ... |
Miss Hattie's Girl
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Valerie Lukecart | ... |
Miss Hattie's Girl
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Jeanne Reichert | ... |
Miss Hattie's Girl
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Scuffy | ... |
Dog
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Directed by
| Tobe Hooper | ||
Written by
| Alvin L. Fast | ... | (written by) and |
| Mardi Rustam | ... | (written by) |
| Kim Henkel | ... | (adapted for the screen by) |
Produced by
| Alvin L. Fast | ... | co-producer (co-produced by) |
| Larry Huly | ... | associate producer |
| Robert A. Kanto | ... | associate producer (as Robert Kantor) |
| Mardi Rustam | ... | producer (produced by) |
| Mohammed Rustam | ... | executive producer |
| Samir Rustam | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| Wayne Bell | ||
| Tobe Hooper | ||
Cinematography by
| Robert Caramico | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Michael Brown | ||
Editorial Department
| Andy Ruben | ... | assistant editor |
Casting By
| Edward R. Morse | ... | (as Eddie Morse) |
Art Direction by
| Marshall Reed | ||
Set Decoration by
| Michael Wiegand | ... | (as Mike Wiegand) |
Makeup Department
| Craig Reardon | ... | hair stylist / makeup artist |
| Beth Rogers | ... | hair stylist / makeup artist |
Production Management
| Sheldon Lee | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Jefferson Kibbee | ... | second assistant director (as Jeff Kibbee) |
| Louie Lawless | ... | second assistant director |
| Ron Smith | ... | first assistant director |
Art Department
| Richard Gillis | ... | assistant property master |
| Marshall Reed | ... | set designer |
Sound Department
| Lowell Brown | ... | boom operator |
| Jean Clark | ... | boom operator |
| Bob Dietz | ... | production sound mixer |
| Jay M. Harding | ... | re-recording mixer (as Jay Harding) |
| William L. Manger | ... | sound effects (as Bill Manger) |
Special Effects by
| Robert A. Mattey | ... | special effects: crocodiles (as Rob Mattey) |
| Ken Speed | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Paula Crist | ... | stunt double |
| Norman Deming | ... | stunt coordinator (as Von Deming) |
| Andy Epper | ... | stunt double |
| Gary Epper | ... | stunt double |
| Jeannie Epper | ... | stunt double (as Jeanie Epper) |
| Donna Garrett | ... | stunt double |
| Minor Mustain | ... | stunt double |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Vic Alexander | ... | second assistant camera (as Victor Alexander) |
| Jack Beckett | ... | camera operator: second unit |
| Jim Bowie | ... | best boy |
| Hedy Dietz | ... | still photographer (as Heddy Dietz) |
| Rich Foster | ... | gaffer |
| Rick Foster | ... | gaffer |
| Dennis Glas | ... | grip (as Dennis Glass) |
| Lee Heckler | ... | gaffer |
| Ken Kerr | ... | grip |
| Robert McClure | ... | grip (as Robbie McClure) |
| Ann McDonald | ... | assistant photographer |
| Michael Donovan O'Donnell | ... | key grip (as Michael Donavan O'Donnell) |
| Anthony R. Palmieri | ... | first assistant camera (as Tony Palmieri) |
| Raman Rao | ... | grip (as Romy Rao) |
| Jonathan West | ... | second assistant camera (as a different name) |
| Bobby Westwater | ... | grip |
| Gary Zietlow | ... | best boy |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| J. Mancbach-Fletcher | ... | wardrobe (as Jane Mancbach) |
| Greg Tittinger | ... | wardrobe |
Music Department
| Wayne Bell | ... | conductor / music arranger |
| Tobe Hooper | ... | conductor / music arranger |
| Juan Navarrete Curiel | ... | Song: Despreciado me voy |
| Lee Osborne | ... | music editor |
Script and Continuity Department
| John D'Amato | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Lou Schumacher | ... | dog owner / dog trainer |
| Gloria Gunn | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
Thanks
| Mac Adams | ... | special thanks |
| Hal Freeman | ... | special thanks |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Nippon Herald Films (1976) (Japan) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- Saguenay Films (1977) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Virgo International Pictures (1977) (United States) (theatrical)
- Empire Distribution (1978) (France) (theatrical)
- Video Media (Netherlands) (VHS)
- Cinema 3 S.A. (1978) (Spain) (theatrical)
- M & M (1978) (United States) (theatrical) (retitled re-release)
- Postels (1980) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Motion Picture Marketing (MPM) (1984) (United States) (theatrical) (retitled re-release)
- Roadshow Home Video (1989) (Australia) (video) (under "Applause Home Video" label - as 'Death Trap')
- MCA TV (1996) (United States) (tv) (syndication)
- Universal Television (2000) (United States) (tv) (syndication)
- Research Entertainment (2002) (Spain) (video)
- Universal Domestic Television (2002) (United States) (tv) (syndication)
- Vértice 360 (2002) (Spain) (DVD)
- Vértice 360 (2002) (Spain) (DVD) (video)
- Elite Entertainment (2003) (United States) (DVD)
- Future Film (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
- DMEG (2004) (Sweden) (video)
- NBC Universal Television Distribution (2004) (United States) (tv) (syndication)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD) (as "Eaten Alive")
- Atlantic Film (2005) (Sweden) (DVD)
- Sunrise Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
- Dark Sky Films (2007) (United States) (DVD) (2 disc Special Edition)
- EastWest Entertainment (2007) (United States) (DVD)
- Alive Vertrieb und Marketing (2012) (Germany) (DVD)
- Arrow Films (2015) (United Kingdom) (Blu-ray) (Blu-ray/DVD combo)
- Glass Doll Films (2015) (Australia) (Blu-ray)
- La Casa del Cine para Todos (2015) (Spain) (DVD)
- Topanga Canyon Films (2018) (Spain)
- FIDA International Films (1977) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Beam Entertainment (Japan) (DVD producer)
- Creative Axa Co. Ltd. (Japan) (DVD)
- ITT Contrast (West Germany) (VHS)
- Moin Films (2023) (Germany)
- Prism Entertainment Corporation (video)
- Video Instant Picture Company (VIPCO) (United Kingdom) (video)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Echo Film Services (sound effects)
- Glen Glenn Sound Company (recorded by)
- Screen Time Images (film restoration)
- Total Optical Productions (titles and opticals)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Judd runs the Starlight Hotel out in some sort of swampy place and is unfortunately a few slices short of a loaf. He has a crocodile conveniently placed on the other side of the hotel's front porch railing. The croc will eat just about anything, as the hapless guests of the hotel find out soon enough. A reformed hooker, an unlucky family, and the father and sister of the hooker all suffer various rates of attrition as Judd tries to implement damage control.
Written by Ed Sutton |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | its BEDS become blood BATHS! ("Horror Hotel" release) See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $520,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Adapted for the screen by Texas Chainsaw Massacre co-writer Kim Henkel, the plot was very loosely based on the story of Joe Ball (also known as the Bluebeard from South Texas or the Alligator Man) who owned a bar with a live alligator attraction during the 1930s in Elmendorf, Texas. During this time, several murders of women were committed by Ball, and the legend is that he would dispose of his victims' bodies by feeding them to his pet alligators, but it was never proven that the flesh found in the pit was human. However, Joe Ball committed suicide at his bar on September 24, 1938, when he was about to be arrested by the police in connection with the murders. See more » |
| Goofs | Several times, when Neville Brand wield his scythe, you can clearly see the blade is made of rubber as it shakes and wobbles when he moves. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Stephen King's World of Horror (1986). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Despreciado me voy See more » |
| Quotes |
[first lines]
Buck: Name's Buck... and I'm rarin' to fuck. See more » |