NAI Entertainment released Attack of the Killer Tomatoes on 4 October 1978 in the United States.
When I was in high school, this film was iconic. But no one I knew had seen it. It just had a very memorable title. I assumed it was a cheeky parody of a 1950s science fiction monster movie. And it is. But I was surprised when I finally saw it. It’s much closer to The Kentucky Fried Movie and the later Airplane! than it is The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes will do anything for a laugh. And this gets in the way. It especially gets in the way when the humor is more obscure. And it is often very obscure. But the film keeps its momentum throughout.
But Killer Tomatoes is amazing in one way especially. They made it for $100,000 — maybe less. Some of it shows. The sets are hotel rooms and college multipurpose rooms. But it features amazing crowd scenes. It also features a great scene when the army is attacking the tomatoes.
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes features a mostly amateur cast. There are exceptions. Jack Riley has a small role in the film. You will remember him as Elliot Carlin on The Bob Newhart Show. But he was already a very successful TV actor at that time. Eric Christmas is also in the film.
Most of the less experienced actors are fine. And even when the acting is sketchy, it still works. Sharon Taylor is especially weak. Yet she works for the role.
“Critics” didn’t like the film at the time. Even Michael Weldon said that although parts were funny, “it doesn’t really make it as a midnight cult film.” And he was right. It never did become the kind of cult film you would expect. And that probably explains why “critics” today also don’t like it.
But I don’t think there is any doubt. It’s a fun film as long as you get past your predetermined idea of what it ought to be. So let’s watch Attack of the Killer Tomatoes to celebrate its 47th birthday!
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes poster via Wikipedia under Fair Use.
