Eaten Alive

The Tragedy of Tobe Hooper, Part II

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.

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Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.

This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop, and Todd A. Davis.