EATEN ALIVE: How Hooper Followed a Masterpiece with a Misfire | The Tragedy of Tobe Hooper

2021-03-04

After the breakout success of THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE, Tobe Hooper and co-writer Kim Henkel landed a major three-picture deal with Universal. But before they could cash in on that opportunity, Hooper had to fulfill a prior obligation—one that would derail his momentum almost immediately. That obligation? A commitment to exploitation producer Mardi Rustam to direct a low-budget killer crocodile movie called EATEN ALIVE. In this episode, we dig into the troubled production of Hooper’s grimy sophomore effort, from its artificial soundstage swamp to its over-the-top performances and chaotic behind-the-scenes energy. We explore how the film reflects Hooper’s obsessions while failing to recapture the impact of CHAIN SAW, and how this bizarre detour complicated his transition into mainstream Hollywood

That obligation? A commitment to exploitation producer Mardi Rustam to direct a low-budget killer crocodile movie called EATEN ALIVE.

In this episode, we dig into the troubled production of Hooper’s grimy sophomore effort, from its artificial soundstage swamp to its over-the-top performances and chaotic behind-the-scenes energy. We explore how the film reflects Hooper’s obsessions while failing to recapture the impact of CHAIN SAW, and how this bizarre detour complicated his transition into mainstream Hollywood

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