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Wayne Berwick’s Microwave Massacre isn’t a good movie. It’s just not. There’s just not a lot that it does well. The script is pretty thin, the acting is so-so at best and the jokes often miss the mark. With that all being said, there is something charming to it and there is some fun to be had as long […]...

Reviewed by Kevin Scott, MoreHorror.com

Microwave Massacre (1983)

Written by: Thomas Singer and Craig Muckler

Directed by: Wayne Berwick

Cast: Jackie Vernon (Donald), Claire Ginsberg (May), Loren Schein (Roosevelt), Al Troupe (Philip), Lou Anne Webber (Dee Dee Dee), Ed Thomas (Dr. Von Der Fool)

There were two significant inventions that shaped suburbia, and the lives of regular people in general in the 1980’s Those boons to domestic life would be the video cassette recorder and the microwave oven. More often than not, they were used in conjunction with one another to create a defining social moment for me. I ate microwave popcorn for the very first time while I watched “Footloose” on our brand new Vcr. Over the next couple of years, the movies varied from comedy to horror, and Hollywood big budget all the way down to video nasties. The microwave food varied from popcorn to nachos, brownies, and TV dinners.

As a kid perusing the shelves of my local mom-and-pop video store every weekend, there were two VHS covers that scared me every time I looked at them. I made sure to avoid the box art for Neil Jordan’s horror fantasy film The Company of Wolves; something about the wolf’s snout protruding from a person’s mouth was too disturbing for my eight-year-old brain to comprehend. The second box, however, was one that I always made a point to walk past because while I found it gross and scary, I was weirdly drawn to it. I had no real desire to see the movie—if the cover was that nasty, the film itself had to be ten times more sick—but I was forever daring myself to sneak one more look at the video box. That movie was the 1983 horror comedy Microwave Massacre.

It wasn’t until Arrow Video...

Glurg garrgle gurgle raaaaw!  It's the razor-clawed reptile-man that scared the bejesus out of little kids, way back when. Jack Kevan's basic monster mash drags its feet a bit, but technically it's as slick as they come. Plus, the encoding is perfect. And did I mention the scary parts? This one inspired plenty of gory nightmares. The Monster of Piedras Blancas Blu-ray Olive Films 1959 / B&W / 1:78 widescreen / 71 min. / Street Date September 13, 2016 / available through the Olive Films website / 29.98 Starring Les Tremayne, Forrest Lewis, John Harmon, Frank Arvidson, Jeanne Carmen, Don Sullivan, Pete Dunn, Joseph La Cava, Wayne Berwick. Cinematography Philip Lathrop Film Editor George Gittens Assistant Director Joseph C. Cavalier Written by H. Haile Chace Produced by Jack Kevan Directed by Irvin Berwick

Reviewed by Glenn Erickson

We 'fifties kids love our monster movie memories. I was glued to the set every weekend to see what Science Fiction Theater had to offer,...

'Worst Movie Ever?'   No way. But neither is Wayne Berwick and comic Jackie Vernon's tacky cannibalism tale a piece of art. When I say it's interesting, it's more as a study item than entertainment. Bad movie -- but a terrific restoration! Microwave Massacre Blu-ray + DVD Arrow Video 1983 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 76 min. / Street Date August 16, 2016 / 34.95 Starring Jackie Vernon, Loren Schein, Al Troupe, Claire Ginsberg, Maria Simon, Lou Ann Webber, Anna Marlowe. Cinematography Karen Grossman Makeup Effects Robert A. Burns Original Music Leif Horvath Editor Steve Nielson Written by Thomas Singer, Craig Muckler Produced by Craig Muckler, Thomas Singer Directed by Wayne Berwick

Reviewed by Glenn Erickson

"Well, the only problem is, I can't make love to a woman, unless I eat her." Just as there are celebrities famous simply for being famous, there are movies that are famous for being bad. Last March I took the curiosity plunge and reviewed the notorious Manos,...

Jackie Vernon may be remembered by many for being the voice of Frosty the Snowman, but horror fans know him as Donald, a frustrated husband who develops a taste for fellow humans in Microwave Massacre. In August, Arrow Video will release the cult 1983 horror film on Blu-ray / DVD, and they recently revealed new face-melting cover art for the special release, as well as an updated bonus features list for The Bloodstained Butterfly Blu-ray / DVD:

Press Release: Mvd Entertainment Group furthers the distribution of Arrow Video in the Us with several new titles in August...

Microwave Massacre [Blu-ray + DVD] (August 16th)

They Came For Dinner...To Find They Were It!!

Microwave Massacre stars legendary stand-up comedian and actor Jackie Vernon as Donald, a disgruntled construction worker whose wife's predilection for haute cuisine drives him to cannibalism.

Donald unwittingly stumbles upon a solution to his two major problems in his life - his nagging...

Arrow Video has sent us details on their two upcoming releases in August, the cheesy Microwave Massacre and the giallo film, The Bloodstained Butterfly. As usual, the team at Arrow Video will be packing both releases with all sorts of special features. Read on for all the details.

Microwave Massacre [Blu-ray + DVD] (August 16th)

They Came For Dinner…To Find They Were It!!

Microwave Massacre stars legendary stand-up comedian and actor Jackie Vernon as Donald, a disgruntled construction worker whose wife’s predilection for haute cuisine drives him to cannibalism.

Donald unwittingly stumbles upon a solution to his two major problems in his life – his nagging wife and his lack of decent meals – when, one night, he bludgeons his better half to death with a pepper grinder in a drunken rage. Thinking on his feet, Donald dismembers the body and sets about microwaving the remains, which turn out to be rather delicious.

Mvd Entertainment Group furthers the distribution of "Arrow Video" in the Us with several new home video titles available August 2016, including "Microwave Massacre" on Blu-ray + DVD, August 16, 2016 and "The Bloodstained Butterfly" on Blu-ray + DVD, August 23, 2016:

"Microwave Massacre", (Blu-ray + DVD, August 16, 2016) stars stand-up comedian, actor Jackie Vernon as 'Donald', a disgruntled construction worker whose wife's predilection for 'haute cuisine' drives him insane. 

"Donald unwittingly stumbles upon a solution to his two major problems in his life - his nagging wife and his lack of decent meals.

"Eschewing all notions of good taste, 'Microwave Massacre' is an exercise in political incorrectness that has gone on to gain a cult following thanks to a characteristically deadpan performance from Vernon..."

Director-approved Special Edition Contents Include:

- Brand new 2K restoration from the original camera negative

- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations

- Original mono audio (uncompressed Pcm...

While Jackie Vernon is remembered by many for his stand-up comedy and for being the voice of Frosty the Snowman, cult horror fans know him as Donald, a frustrated husband who develops a taste for human flesh in 1983’s Microwave Massacre. The horror comedy will be released this summer on Blu-ray / DVD in the Us and UK by Arrow Video, who will also release 1971’s The Bloodstained Butterfly on home media with a new 4K restoration.

While the full release details for the Us Blu-ray / DVDs of Microwave Massacre and The Bloodstained Butterfly have yet to be revealed, we do have a look at the lists of special features for the UK editions, which should feature extras similar to what Us fans can enjoy.

In the UK, Arrow Video will release Microwave Massacre on Blu-ray / DVD on August 15th, followed by an August 22nd Blu-ray / DVD release of The Bloodstained Butterfly.