Main Street Meats comes off as if it is a great b-movie/cult classic type of movie that is right up my alley, but then ultimately misses the mark in multiple aspects. It seems like at some points it is running fine then all of a sudden tries too hard to either lean into the b-movie idea or try and lean to far in the opposite way. There are multiple times where I loved the movie and its quirky comedy and different take on the barber of Seville type story. But at many other times I was left confused as to why a character would do something, why a scene was even there, or why a plot point was just seemingly wrapped up all of a sudden without any real conclusion. I wanted to like the film, but ultimately I felt like it tried to straddle the line between triple A-movie and B-movie, without sticking to one, or utilizing its strengths, and ultimately coming out just mediocre at best.
10 Reviews
A movie which misses the mark and comes out dreadfully mediocre
jchavero9312 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
If it was supposed to be terrible, it was great.
mellierainyec30 April 2020
But if it was supposed to be good, it was horrible. Kept watching, thinking it might get better... it didn't. I'm probably judging from the wrong perspective, but this was the worst acting I have ever seen. How does this movie have good reviews? The only reason I gave two stars was the creep factors in the last couple minutes... otherwise the rest was so bad I almost cried.
This needs to be a series
grayey111 December 2020
About half way through I felt like I was watching the pilot episode of a TV series. Really, the characters could all be developed in great detail. You have the main star, the girl from out of town. Maybe make her a bit more naïve next door type. They had three siblings all with different characteristics. There was the mayor, lady at the diner, guy with interest in the lead woman and his friends; police officers and more. Then you have the ornery towns people.
Oh and I love the filming in front of an old drive-in, which I did Google to find out was in WI.
There is so much here and these characters can be developed so much more. Think of the intrigue of an ongoing series. Where are these bodies coming from regularly? How is the investigation going? What about the relationships that will develop? Does Cherry (nice looking) continue to work without any knowledge of what is happening?
Come on already sell this to someone before I do- but if you do, I want some credit.
In all, a real fun movie and I liked that it had gore but not to the point of disgusting like the Walking Dead, which goes to the extreme because the writers think that's everyone wants. I digress.
Good stuff here. And no, I am not in the credits. Otherwise I'd give it a 10. I just watch movies on Tubi.
Fun
BandSAboutMovies16 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Made in the dairy state of Wisconsin, this tale of a struggling family-run meat shop - which learns how to cook up human flesh to become a success - is blessed by a vocal cameo from the Godfather of Gore, Herschell Gordon Lewis.
It's the first feature from writer, producer and director Jeff Lyon.
The Lewis cameo makes sense. This movie feels like something he would do, as it's as much concerned with being humorous as it is with being gross. It also looks way better than most streaming features, which is another bonus. I look forward to seeing what the filmmakers do next.
It's the first feature from writer, producer and director Jeff Lyon.
The Lewis cameo makes sense. This movie feels like something he would do, as it's as much concerned with being humorous as it is with being gross. It also looks way better than most streaming features, which is another bonus. I look forward to seeing what the filmmakers do next.
Horrendous acting
zdjxqmyr19 March 2021
The plot is fun enough and I know it's a low budget indie flick but it's just not worth the cringe to me.
Is the acting supposed to be horrible? Am I missing something? Because that's really the only awful thing about this movie. In any case, I have to shut it off. Kinda fun to see the rude customer get what she deserved, though.
Is the acting supposed to be horrible? Am I missing something? Because that's really the only awful thing about this movie. In any case, I have to shut it off. Kinda fun to see the rude customer get what she deserved, though.
So Much Fun & Gave Many Laughs
SinInSanity19 December 2019
This is a comedy, not a horror, not even a horror comedy. It's a darn good comedy at that, even if some select people may think it's a bit twisted but no one will see this as any sort of exploitation thing in any way nor anything horror about this one.
First I must point out that my favorite line in this movie was when it was said, I sure hope there will be enough people left to eat the people. That one line had me rolling. Maybe you will need to see it said in context of why it was said and how it was said to find the humor in it.
Anyway, I had waited to be able to see this movie for literally years and didn't really know what to expect after all this time. While excited for finally getting a chance to watch, was worried too that at best I made it out to be something far more enjoyable than it would turn out to be. Well, turns out that it did not disappoint other than for my personal tastes it would have been nice to see more blood & gore and to have seen more of the violent parts in the killing & butchering scenes as it's rather tame on the violence & blood and IMO, no real gore as I think of gore though in a few brief spots, some people that don't like such at all may claim different.
The many ingredients which make up this film (including those few I just mentioned I wished showed more) were mixed in nicely, at amounts only needed to make the film be a nice one piece whole of something special and not another clone of what you have seen dozens of times from other movies. There was nothing just shoved in like many film makers do in a movie like this would be tempted to do nor anything done in excess. This kept the movie being it's own thing that felt unique in a sea of clones that are often overall boring or you feel you have seen such like them too many times now. It also never felt like it was trying to be one thing, with at times, parts of it being something else as many other movies turn out being (big and small movies).
The movie has plenty of violent scenes but it's in a way that doesn't come off as feeling as such and it's delivered/shown in a tongue & cheek way (for lack of better way to describe it), nothing dark or scary about it. It doesn't try to scare you or make you squeamish, actually seems to make sure to avoid being scary and is obvious it's not trying to be a squeamish film to watch. It tries to make such things just fun & even humorous at times to behold. Do know though that there is a decent amount of violence that takes place even though it is in a fun filled way. If you are used to brutal & violent films, this will seem like just a great fun time that's full of humor only and if you are not used to such, you will still think of it as merely comedy though maybe a twisted one. Much of what happens here would sound as if it was a sick, brutal scary film if I told spoilers of many things instead of just letting you see it yourself to realize that is far from reality.
In case you couldn't tell, this is not a big budget film, not even close and I see they used this to it's advantage in many aspects and it never tries to take it'self serious nor try to do what would be come across as awkward, cheap in a bad way or just flat out fail on such a budget. It knows it's a campy film that meant for silly fun on a budget and plays into that to for a strength, making it even more unlike so many other movies and just flat out fun from start to finish.
The look of the movie right away will have you thinking it's showing footage from long ago on old film that's a flashback (not that faux grindhouse look either). It keeps this look to the end and the film they made followed this look, made sure things on screen shown & heard matched that old look, which does a lot to make this film much more attention grabbing & holding it and overall being a big part of this movie's charm. Oh and I can't forget the soundtrack, it's great and fits perfectly in every place it plays. Some of the music I would even enjoy just playing on my stereo.
Run time may seem a little long but I was so drawn in that it felt like the time had flew by when it was over and these days, that's less often how it goes when I put in a movie. I also didn't want it to end yet but it did end properly and put in two little things at the end to show that they want to make a sequel, if they haven't already started on it.
So with all that above said, do realize this isn't a great movie by any stretch nor anything ground breaking but they sure made it a heck of a lot of fun, a really good time here in my opinion and it seems that was the aim, to focus more on making sure you had a lot of fun. That seemed to be more the goal than doing anything else with it. In this way and a few other ways, I could see the people that made this film know well what they wanted to make and how to achieve what they wanted to do well. Love it or hate it, most will be hard pressed to say they've seen many just like it or maybe, any just like it and that alone makes it worth checking out in my opinion.
First I must point out that my favorite line in this movie was when it was said, I sure hope there will be enough people left to eat the people. That one line had me rolling. Maybe you will need to see it said in context of why it was said and how it was said to find the humor in it.
Anyway, I had waited to be able to see this movie for literally years and didn't really know what to expect after all this time. While excited for finally getting a chance to watch, was worried too that at best I made it out to be something far more enjoyable than it would turn out to be. Well, turns out that it did not disappoint other than for my personal tastes it would have been nice to see more blood & gore and to have seen more of the violent parts in the killing & butchering scenes as it's rather tame on the violence & blood and IMO, no real gore as I think of gore though in a few brief spots, some people that don't like such at all may claim different.
The many ingredients which make up this film (including those few I just mentioned I wished showed more) were mixed in nicely, at amounts only needed to make the film be a nice one piece whole of something special and not another clone of what you have seen dozens of times from other movies. There was nothing just shoved in like many film makers do in a movie like this would be tempted to do nor anything done in excess. This kept the movie being it's own thing that felt unique in a sea of clones that are often overall boring or you feel you have seen such like them too many times now. It also never felt like it was trying to be one thing, with at times, parts of it being something else as many other movies turn out being (big and small movies).
The movie has plenty of violent scenes but it's in a way that doesn't come off as feeling as such and it's delivered/shown in a tongue & cheek way (for lack of better way to describe it), nothing dark or scary about it. It doesn't try to scare you or make you squeamish, actually seems to make sure to avoid being scary and is obvious it's not trying to be a squeamish film to watch. It tries to make such things just fun & even humorous at times to behold. Do know though that there is a decent amount of violence that takes place even though it is in a fun filled way. If you are used to brutal & violent films, this will seem like just a great fun time that's full of humor only and if you are not used to such, you will still think of it as merely comedy though maybe a twisted one. Much of what happens here would sound as if it was a sick, brutal scary film if I told spoilers of many things instead of just letting you see it yourself to realize that is far from reality.
In case you couldn't tell, this is not a big budget film, not even close and I see they used this to it's advantage in many aspects and it never tries to take it'self serious nor try to do what would be come across as awkward, cheap in a bad way or just flat out fail on such a budget. It knows it's a campy film that meant for silly fun on a budget and plays into that to for a strength, making it even more unlike so many other movies and just flat out fun from start to finish.
The look of the movie right away will have you thinking it's showing footage from long ago on old film that's a flashback (not that faux grindhouse look either). It keeps this look to the end and the film they made followed this look, made sure things on screen shown & heard matched that old look, which does a lot to make this film much more attention grabbing & holding it and overall being a big part of this movie's charm. Oh and I can't forget the soundtrack, it's great and fits perfectly in every place it plays. Some of the music I would even enjoy just playing on my stereo.
Run time may seem a little long but I was so drawn in that it felt like the time had flew by when it was over and these days, that's less often how it goes when I put in a movie. I also didn't want it to end yet but it did end properly and put in two little things at the end to show that they want to make a sequel, if they haven't already started on it.
So with all that above said, do realize this isn't a great movie by any stretch nor anything ground breaking but they sure made it a heck of a lot of fun, a really good time here in my opinion and it seems that was the aim, to focus more on making sure you had a lot of fun. That seemed to be more the goal than doing anything else with it. In this way and a few other ways, I could see the people that made this film know well what they wanted to make and how to achieve what they wanted to do well. Love it or hate it, most will be hard pressed to say they've seen many just like it or maybe, any just like it and that alone makes it worth checking out in my opinion.
Great movie
deadbull-9517120 May 2021
Presented as horror but way too deliberately comical to belong in that genre. Sort of like Toxic Avenger and films like that. Low budget, no big name stars, and this is all good . Movies like this are the one's that take chances and play with ideas. It is serious film making that does not take itself too seriously.
It absolutely holds up to criticism but to attack it on almost any level misses the point. It is a very entertaining flick for what it is. It is guileless and unpretentious and works at the limits of its resources and is a total success.
I went through a phase back in the VHS video store days where for a few years I devoured every film I could get like this. So John Waters and the Troma Team stuff and any and everything cause there was always some great ideas or lines and occasionally like with Combat Shock something that had a very intense vibe to it that effectively could be taken seriously.
If I had 1000 dollars to make a movie and had a great idea then that is what I would try and do.
Anyway, this one stands on its own feet. It isn't boring at all. Ultimately, less then literature, movies are meant to entertain. Sometimes they can teach but even then, if they don't entertain they won't pull an audience. On that basis alone, again, I think this movie accomplishes everything it sets out to do and is a big success.
It absolutely holds up to criticism but to attack it on almost any level misses the point. It is a very entertaining flick for what it is. It is guileless and unpretentious and works at the limits of its resources and is a total success.
I went through a phase back in the VHS video store days where for a few years I devoured every film I could get like this. So John Waters and the Troma Team stuff and any and everything cause there was always some great ideas or lines and occasionally like with Combat Shock something that had a very intense vibe to it that effectively could be taken seriously.
If I had 1000 dollars to make a movie and had a great idea then that is what I would try and do.
Anyway, this one stands on its own feet. It isn't boring at all. Ultimately, less then literature, movies are meant to entertain. Sometimes they can teach but even then, if they don't entertain they won't pull an audience. On that basis alone, again, I think this movie accomplishes everything it sets out to do and is a big success.
It all grinds the same
hockeyfan-170265 January 2020
What a fun movie
kim-8957 February 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed Main Street Meats. It is a great Indie Horror Film.
The acting was spot on. I loved the low budget throw back feel this movie had. The characters were funny and odd. It reminded me a bit of Rob Zombie's HOTC. The murders themselves had me laughing at the screen. My favorite character was Cherry. She was great!
One of my favorite things about this movie was the sketchiness of the film in the beginning. It really gave me that feel of an older movie. It was little things like that in Main Street Meats that set it apart from others I have seen.
The plot came together well and it was just an all around fun movie. I highly recommend it. The music soundtrack for Main Street Meats is FANTASTIC.
Also, I will never look at a simple volleyball game the same again. Check it out. You will enjoy the campiness of this one!
The acting was spot on. I loved the low budget throw back feel this movie had. The characters were funny and odd. It reminded me a bit of Rob Zombie's HOTC. The murders themselves had me laughing at the screen. My favorite character was Cherry. She was great!
One of my favorite things about this movie was the sketchiness of the film in the beginning. It really gave me that feel of an older movie. It was little things like that in Main Street Meats that set it apart from others I have seen.
The plot came together well and it was just an all around fun movie. I highly recommend it. The music soundtrack for Main Street Meats is FANTASTIC.
Also, I will never look at a simple volleyball game the same again. Check it out. You will enjoy the campiness of this one!
See also
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