Watch Blood Diner

In the horror-comedy genre, Blood Diner from 1987 is an over-the-top cult classic that has kept its fans entertained for over three decades. Directed by Jackie Kong and written by Michael Sonye, the film stars Rick Burks, Carl Crew, and Roger Dauer. The movie starts with a scene from 1963, where two brothers, Georgie and Little Mike, are panicked and terrified after witnessing a gruesome killing by their serial killer uncle Anwar. In the next scene, some twenty years later, the adult Georgie (Burks) is summoned back to his uncle's abandoned restaurant by Anwar's brain, which he had preserved in a jar. His mission is to open a new restaurant from where he can invoke the goddess She-Tar by serving some requested exotic and blood-drenched dishes.

With the help of his brother, George steals body parts from womanizing bodybuilder brain Anwar, and other female victims, for the dishes on the menu of the opening night of their restaurant. The duo is also aided by two beautiful women, one a psychic, and the other a rival restaurant employee. The psychic's help is in inducing an ancient Egyptian spirit, who would be instrumental in resurrecting the demon She-Tar, while the other woman helps George and Mike take on rival restaurant owner and the health inspector.

As the opening night approaches, things start going wrong, and besides a rival restaurant chain, the duo also has to fight off their customers who begin attacking each other as their pasta dish is spiked with human remains. However, the finale sees George, and Mike successfully resurrect the goddess with the help of an Egyptian ritual, and she punishes the corrupt and power-hungry health department officer.

Although the storyline is bizarre, the film's visual style and humor set it apart. Blood Diner's over-the-top gore and splatter effects are cartoonish, and the absurdity of the premise and dialogues make it an entertaining watch. The characters are all outlandish caricatures, but that just makes it more fun to see how they play off each other. Fans of campy horror films from the 80s will appreciate the absurdity of Blood Diner and the plethora of nods to horror and grindhouse classics.

The soundtrack features classic 80s synth tracks and sets the mood for each scene. The production design is impressive too, as the film showcases many surreal set-pieces featuring Egyptian gods, monster-demons, neon-lit diners, and vile brains in a jar.

The film definitely deserves its reputation as a cult classic, and it has inspired and influenced many horror-comedy films since its release. Blood Diner has some of the most unforgettable moments in horror-comedy, ranging from two inept cannibal-cooks trying to dispose of a young woman's head by tossing it in a garbage bin with other odd objects, the cartoonish blood-splattering battles between customers, hood-wearing psychics spinning around surrounded by tiki torches, and an almost naked She-Tar rampaging through a restaurant.

One of the other elements that make Blood Diner interesting is that it is an early example of a genre that has since become quite popular - the horror-comedy. It is a great example of how horror can be mixed with humor in a way that doesn't cheapen the scares. The film is more focused on the comedy aspect, but it still delivers some tantalizing scares that will surely make audiences jump out of their seats.

In summary, Blood Diner is a wacky and wild ride that is not for everyone, but it is a must-watch for fans of 80s horror and comedy. With its over-the-top gore, comedic elements, and surreal sets, the film definitely packs a punch. Even after thirty years, it remains a fun and outrageous cult classic that deserves to be watched and enjoyed by horror fans worldwide.

Blood Diner is a 1987 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 28 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.3.