There seems to be a lot of filmmakers these days making “throwback” films or movies that have nods to popular cult films from the 1980s and 1970s. The slasher sub-genre has seen many attempts to capture the greatness of many 70’s 80’s favorites. There are some solid ones that I’ve enjoyed, in particular –
High Tension, Laid to Rest, and
Hatchet. All three of the directors of those films had a firm grasp on what made nasty 80’s horror great, because they lived it like I did - perusing video stores for the goriest film they could find. The writing and directing team of Evan Makrogiannis and Brian Weaver aren’t much different; they just did the same thing successfully on a much smaller budget with their shocker
The Turnpike Killer.
The Turnpike Killer doesn’t waste any time attempting to pull the audience in. Even if it’s dragging you as your nails snap off. If you happen make it past the grueling and outrageously bloody opening sequence in psycho-killer John Beest’s (Bill McLaughlin) basement, plenty more atrocities await you during The Turnpike Killers run-time. One thing that really stood out early on to compliment the savagery was the interior of his vile lair of horrors .You could practically smell the pungent oder of shit, puke and dry blood left from his victims coating the walls. If you like it splattery, The Turnpike Killer delivers very often.
Jeff and Kevin speak to The Turnpike Killer director Evan Makrogiannis about filming in New York, getting back to classic horror, the most horrifying movie he's ever seen and the joy of working with his son.
