User reviews

Genuinely unique and creepy, Homebodies tells the depressing story of what life is like after society has discarded you. A group of elderly people have had their apartment building, home for much of their lives, condemned, and they have been asked to move to a new residence. When they realize they don't want to move, they take business into their own hands. They stab, sabotage, drown a man in cement, and kill in numerous other ways to keep home, sweet home. While director Larry Yust doesn't have a huge budget at his disposal, it clearly is not needed given the subject matter and the tenements of Cinncinatti serving as a backdrop. This film has a seedy, dark, futile feel to it, and underlying its sick,twisted plot - the deaths are executed with little remorse or feeling. The elderly, who at first illicit pity, soon turn into cold killing machines - very much like what they attack - a huge conglomerate business and "progress." Homebodies is a bona fide horror film and a black comedy as well. The humour is subtle but definitely there. I particularly liked the ending and thought that was a very clever bit to end such a film with. Solid direction and a perverse yet fresh and interesting script aside, the acting for me is what carried this film. The elderly inhabitants are all equally played with polish and pathos by a crew of geriatric character talents - all unfortunately no longer with us - that bring their characters alive - foibles, fears, and all. Paula Trueman plays the biggest role as Mattie. She is sort of a Ruth Gordon type. She is also the personification of evil in the group. She shows us what the elderly are able to get away with because everyone discounts them and their worth. Trueman does an able job creating a woman who is selfish, willful, and downright bad. Ian Wolfe and Ruth McDevitt play the couple that ran the building for so long. Both do very good jobs and create possibly more than anyone else the compassionate side of being old and "left out." Peter Brocco does a wonderful job as an elderly blind man - who has powers that probably any realistic elderly blind man would not possess. Brocco does an incredible job. The last two members are played by William Hansen and Frances Fuller. Fuller plays a woman that has not left her room for twenty years and speaks to her dead father at the dinner table. Hansen plays a man consumed with writing his memoirs of his marriage of 55 years. All of these actors did a marvelous job with their characters. Homebodies is a good film. It is a scary picture, subtly humorous, and thought provoking. The scenes of these tenants being moved to a soul-less huge apartment complex where every room is the same and people just sit on benches waiting to die struck me as particularly horrific. Or the scene with an elderly blind man being shoved into a room - not having learned the dimensions of the room at all. Or maybe the scene of a man pleading with a socially progressive woman about how moving his things, which had taken him a lifetime to sort, would never be able to be put together in the same fashion. He said he literally did not have the time left. These images and many more in Homebodies frightened me more than anything else. Because the sad truth is we offer little time and reflection to those concerns unless we are directly affected as a society. That is the real horror in Homebodies! A wonderfully old-fashioned song begins and ends the film. It reminisces about the joys of a day gone by.

This one is truly original. A Cult film for the Geriatric crowd. It is good to see that I am not the only one who was impressed with this obscure film from when HBO was in its infancy (channel 6 anyone?) There are some very good actors associated with this project for anyone who was conscious in the 60's and 70's. From Ruth McDevitt to Ian Wolfe you have seen them before in many supporting roles, here you get to see them lead. The film almost has a strange aura similar to The Sentinel (1977) although without the supernatural aspects. Here we have a social satire which focuses on the geriatric crowd affirming their rights in the face of oppression. Coming out of the era of civil rights don't think this subject matter wasn't a projection of society in which many sub-cultures where finding ways to be empowered. This film takes that premise and twists it into some very humorous and macabre situations. The cement pouring scene is a memorable one which stands alongside any early giallo for inventiveness. Dated but still worth it if you can find it if cult is your thing.

Grim, sad, nihilistic drama about abandoned elderly people who pull together to preserve their home and dignity. That's the soft sell. The hard sell? After uncaring developers condemn a building and threaten to toss the aged residents onto the street, the residents retaliate with murder.

For a drama, there's plenty of horror here, and there's much food for thought, too. The harsh way we treat our elderly citizens is directly addressed, as is the issue of the limted tenure we all have on this planet. An interesting message buried here-in is that the young underestimate the old at their peril because the old are smarter, more sly, more patient and more experienced.

The performances are excellent, as is the direction, photography and music. The murders are cleverly conceived and executed with grim resolve, and one scene involving permanent incarceraton in concrete is a showstopper.

When I first saw this film, I was struck by its cold, depressing tone and I admired it for its recognition of real problems associated with aging. The idea of the old killing the young is a novel one and employed to great effect in "Homebodies".

It's a silver-haired classic.

I saw this movie when I was about 8 and it gave me a serious case of the heebeejeebies. So much so that here, over 20 years later, I still remember it. Its horror value isn't based on a lot of gore, or startles, but just plain creepy situations. It's worth renting, although it will probably seem pretty tame by today's standards.

Well meaning, but an unusual, gloomy and comedic dark horror drama with a wicked sense of humour and stinging view of the mistreatment of the elderly as time isn't on their side. While it doesn't always come together (with an ambiguous ending that doesn't know how to tie it up), it remains an interesting parable and compelling at that with it's uniquely original premise.

Six elderly tenants are handed eviction notices, as their apartment is to be torn down and turned into new skyscrapers. However they won't have anything off it and decide the only way they can stay put is to murder those who get in their way or have some sort of control over the development to only slow down the inevitable.

The movie tagline "A Murder a Day Keeps the Landlord Away!" sums it up perfectly.

"Homebodies" tries to mix social commentary with creepy chills and cartoon-like humour… while at times eerie and thoughtful in its context I didn't find it particularly humorous. The tone would get goofy in those moments aiming for a laugh, which didn't complement its sombre air. When the script was trying to be sly with its humour, it fitted better. The slow-burn plot really does strike up a moving chemistry between these convincingly quirky characters, as there's heart and personality given out by the performances. They stick together, kill together to keep their familiar lifestyles they hold so close. But then in a twist of events they start to turn on each other with no second thoughts. There's an odd chase sequence as well… where it crafts a dreamy sort of atmosphere around it and the death traps/or deaths are effectively moulded to get under your skin with the blank, cold expressions of their faces watching those die around them. The performances are solid, led by Paula Trueman's neurotic turn and with the likes of Ruth McDevitt, Ian Wolfe and Peter Brocco.

Director Larry Yust does a durable job and makes good use of the authentic location work to illustrate the urban plight. The camera sprightly frames the activities and the music playfully turn it up.

A worthwhile forgotten 70s offbeat low-budget black comedy shocker.

Are you a "grumpy old man" or a "sweet old lady"? Yeah? Then chances are good that you will empathisize with the characters in this film. Are they sinister, misguided or simply nostalgic - perhaps desperately so? Watch and find out for yourself!

This is a macabre story about good people doing bad things. Well, mostly they're good. But they are certainly all old and dedicated to the status quo of their sunset lifestyle. And their apartment building.

Desperate circumstance often calls for desperate action. This is just such a film. An action film, albeit of a geriatric quality.

Will you have fun watching? You betcha. Will you be gruesomely inspired? Perhaps. Say... is that the sound of a wrecking ball working nearby?

Neighbor be warned. Neighbor beware.

I watched this movie with my grandmother when I was about 6 years old. The movie was PG, so I could get away with watching it then. What a hoot! We managed to watch that movie every time we could catch it on and the last line in the movie kept us laughing for the longest: It's me, Mattie.

I know that a movie about old folks killing to keep their homes may be totally horrific to today's society that salivates over brutality performed on perky-breast blonds, pencil-waist brunettes, and their associated blockhead boyfriends. The irony of "Homebodies" is that you're force to have to acknowledge those old folks for what they were doing -- whether you liked it or not. They refused to be pushed around and their tactics were crude, yet effective.

Having said that, I watched it again recently and I found it just as funny, but with a better understanding. While I could say that the murders were truly without warrant, they were in better context than what you see in most slasher flicks nowadays, where the killings are for shock value and good measure.

When a group of pensioners living in an apartment building are served with eviction notices, the property to be demolished to make way for a new development, they take matters into their own hands. They begin by sabotaging the construction site of an existing development to halt progress, causing several deaths in doing so, and then turn to murdering the corporate bigwigs who are trying to turf them out of their homes. However, not all of the oldies are happy with the extreme measures being taken, and eventually they turn on each other.

Homebodies is a bit like Spielberg produced dud *batteries not included, but without the stupid teeny-tiny flying saucers and a whole lot darker, this film's OAPs committing acts of extreme violence when threatened with relocation. There's a wide streak of black humour running through the film that makes it a whole lot of ghoulish fun, starting off on the right foot with potty pensioner Mattie happily popping prunes while watching a macho construction worker fall to his death. As daft as the film is at times, it's not without its shocking moments: the stabbing of heartless Miss Pollack (Linda Marsh) is a well-executed jolt, while the drowning of construction boss Mr. Crawford in cement is genuinely disturbing. Even a very silly chase scene involving pedalos manages to be strangely unsettling.

Great performances from the seasoned cast and a sharp script that drives home how our elderly are often treated as an inconvenience rather than given the respect they deserve all adds up to a thought provoking, perverse and wonderfully unique cult horror.

Simply put, there's nothing to be gained from watching "Homebodies". It's not funny, it's not believable for a minute, it's not entertaining, and it moves (fittingly perhaps?) at the pace of a funeral. The blind guy is creepy, though. (*1/2)

I recently watched Homebodies (1974) on Prime. The storyline revolves around a group of elderly individuals facing eviction for a new housing development. Despite their pleas, the construction proceeds, leading them to take matters into their own hands, resulting in mysterious deaths around the construction site.

This picture is directed by Larry Yust (Trick Baby) and stars Peter Brocco (Spartacus), Frances Fuller (One Sunday Afternoon), William Hansen (1776), Ruth McDevitt (The Birds), Paula Trueman (The Outlaw Josey Wales) and Ian Wolfe (THX 1138).

Homebodies stands out in the horror genre with its unique premise and endearing characters. While the acting and dialogue show some inconsistency, the facial expressions and mannerisms of the older characters are noteworthy. The horror elements may be lacking, but the "fall scene" adds a hilarious touch that brings a smile. The film concludes with a fun twist, making the overall journey worthwhile.

In summary, Homebodies is a distinctive addition to the horror genre, especially for genre enthusiasts. I would give it a 5.5/10 and recommend viewing it once.

Senior citizens can be shrill, depressing, and very boring, so you might think a movie that casts old people as 'hit men' would be good for a few laughs. "Homebodies" tries but fails. It's just a silly film about greedy land developers trying to knock down the house of some stubborn old people, who in turn start picking off the workers in an attempt to stop construction. All the characters are annoying caricatures that'll be grating on your nerves after the first 15 minutes. Save yourself the trouble of searching out this movie and just go volunteer at a nursing home.

3/10

I saw this on HBO back when they were only on from 5P to 2A (This is 1976 for those of you too young to remember). It has some bad acting, and the content was dark, to say the least, but it had some really good points. Firstly the soundtrack was great, featuring the tile song "In Sachet" and secondly, a wonderful actor by the name of Ian Wolfe, who if you ever saw him, you would remember him from one of his umpteen TV appearances. (He started acting in his mid-50's and continued until he was 94 years old in the Warren Beatty powered 'Dick Tracy') The cement-pouring scene is worth the price of renting it, if you can find it. I could not locate it to rent on the major internet DVD rental site. (Don't want to break any IMDB rules). If you do find it, check it out. You'll think twice about sticking your aged loved ones in a retirement home.... I guarantee it... :)

The concept of Homebodies is a good one and an amusing, darkly comic one at that. It features a mostly elderly cast and gives them interesting material to chew on. Of course, interesting doesn't always mean it's without flaws.

Homebodies pits senior citizens against uncaring social workers who want to move them out of the apartment complex they've been in for 30 to 50 years and into nursing homes so a construction company can bulldoze it and use the land for something more productive. As the stakes begin to escalate, the elderly residents team up to stop anyone from taking them or their property anywhere and, sometimes, that means murder.

It's fairly amusing for its first half, but it struggles as to which direction it should go in its second half. This might be a good candidate for a modern remake with a more refined script.

A tight-knit sextet of senior citizens resort to desperate (I. E. homicidal) measures when the building that they've lived in for so long is scheduled to be torn down. The ringleader is the coldly determined Mattie (Paula Trueman, "The Outlaw Josey Wales") who is first to take action. Others in the group include blind man Mr. Blakely (Peter Brocco, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"), writer Mr. Sandy (William Hansen, "Fail Safe"), the dotty Miss Emily (Frances Fuller, "One Sunday Afternoon"), and building superintendent Mr. Loomis (Ian Wolfe, "Witness for the Prosecution") and his wife (Ruth McDevitt, 'Kolchak: The Night Stalker').

This very dark comedy is quite entertaining for a while, with our principal cast of elderly actors & actresses making the most out of some meaty roles. They're all fun to watch, especially Trueman, who stops at nothing to ensure success. (Being pretty much blind by this point, she had to drive a towed car for the memorably funny scene where Mattie goes driving for the first time in 40 years.) Still, even with the various assorted murders goings on, and the macabre humor to be found, the seriousness of the theme still resonates, as the viewer is forced to actually think about the problems, and the rights, of the elderly in situations such as this. Packing up and leaving a longtime residence would *never* be easy at their advanced age, no matter if outside forces have condemned their building, all in the name of progress.

This first-rate cast is rounded out by a huffy Linda Marsh ("Freebie and the Bean") as Miss Pollack, the "girl from the city" who serves relocation notices to our antagonists, Douglas Fowley ("Singin' in the Rain") as the builder, Kenneth Tobey ("The Thing from Another World") as the construction boss, and Wesley Lau ("I Want to Live!") as the construction foreman. William "Billy" Benedict ("Docks of New York") has a bit as a watchman.

Filmed in five weeks in both Cincinnati and Los Angeles, this was directed by an unsung filmmaker named Larry Yust, whose other credits include the blaxploitation picture "Trick Baby". (He also co-wrote the sharp, savvy script.) Featuring excellent music (composed by Bernardo Segall) and effective cinematography by Isidore Mankofsky, "Homebodies" does lose some steam in its final third, but overall does a solid job of both entertaining the viewer and giving them plenty to think about.

Seven out of 10.

I was surprised at how clever and darkly humorous this film actually was. It's wonderfully cast, beautifully acted, and totally different from most movies out there. A group of ederly people find that they will go to any extreme to keep their apartment building from being torn down. Led by a their motivated, stop at nothing, leader Maddie they take out any obstacle that gets in their way. It has a surprise ending that I was shocked to see. A really great movie. If you want a strange, witty, twisted and funny movie definitly rent this. Unless you can find a resonably priced used copy, then you should definitly buy it!

I saw this about 15 years ago when my mother rented it. Why Blockbusters had this in the comedy section, I'll never know. Seniors defending their block of flats against developers at *any* cost. Really creepy, or just bad acting? If you're looking for some _Exorcist_-era horror, it might be worth a look, but only if you've already seen everything else on the shelf.

The premise of "Homebodies" is certainly unique:a bunch of old people don't want to leave their apartment complex so they start murdering anyone who tries to force them to leave.This weird little shocker is one of the most underrated horror movies of early 70's.The main characters are well-played and very believable and the murders are quite shocking in its viciousness.The cast includes veteran character actors including Ian Wolfe and Ruth McDevitt from "The Night Stalker" and "The Birds".The killings include stabbing to death with a butcher knife and encasing one victim in cement.Construction workers are also mysteriously dying on a construction site.One of old ladies named Mrs. Loomis resolves to tell the police everything,but Mattie kills her by bashing an urn containing the ashes of Miss Emily deceased husband over her head.Very grim and darkly funny "Homebodies" is a must-see for fans of 70's American horror.

'Homebodies' is a truly unique example of mid-70s weird-beard horror madness, and as far as I'm aware 'Homebodies' still stands righteously tall to this very day as one of the very few octogenarian-powered revenge melodramas. This singularly themed horror film concerns the ignominious plight of rightfully disgruntled wrinkles as they earnestly confront their callous, money grubbing landlords with imaginatively murderous results! The darkly sardonic films glorious strap-line is a neat précis of all this Zimmer-framed lunacy, to whit:"A murder a day keeps the landlord away!" Iconoclastic director Yust manages to fashion a credible schlocker that achieves the impossible; that is, it manages to simultaneously tug at ones calloused heart strings while a doddering old bint hurls some skeevey schmoe estate agent into a cement-y grave! Hats off to thee, Larry Yust, they REALLY don't make 'em like this anymore!

Rewarding dose of moribund drollery has unscrupulous property developers evicting the elderly tenants of an apartment building, soon to be razed and replaced by more financially viable structures. When attempts to halt the project are met with staunch indifference, individuals involved with the building's imminent demolition are brutally murdered one-by-one in a variety of grisly ways.

Good performances from a likable cast, and an off-kilter, deliciously morbid premise make HOMEBODIES a natural-born cult gem which should be an especially pleasant diversion for fans of HAROLD AND MAUDE, EATING RAOUL, and similar titles culled from the strange realm of diabolically humorous cinema.

6.5/10