Forgotten Horror Classic Even Quentin Tarantino Praised is Now Free to Watch

Summary

• Quentin Tarantino loves horror movies from the '70s and '80s.
• One of them is a forgotten film directed by Toby Hooper.
• The movie is available for free streaming.

Quentin Tarantino may not be a filmmaker accustomed to working with the horror genre, but his films are undoubtedly inspired by many horror examples from the last century. The best proof of this is his collaboration with Robert Rodriguez, Grindhouse, which consists of Rodriguez's horror comedy Planet Terror and Tarantino's revisionist slasher film Death Proof.

So it's no surprise that Tarantino, who appreciates top-notch craftsmanship and unconventional approaches to directing, also appreciates the work of eccentric filmmaker Toby Hooper. In one of the interviews, he mentioned an obscure film in Hooper's career that he even alluded to in Kill Bill. Let's find out what that movie is.

Quentin Tarantino on a Half-Forgotten Horror Film

When Tarantino spoke with Entertainment Weekly about the release of Grindhouse, he also revealed which movies inspired his own half of the project.

'The genre I wanted to tackle was slasher films, because I'm a big fan of late-'70s, early-'80s slasher films. The only thing was, what makes them so good is the genre is so rigid,' he shared.

Later, during a conversation on Jimmy Kimmel Live, he mentioned that one of those movies was the 1986's Eaten Alive, directed by Tobe Hooper. He even made a reference to a character named Buck (played by Robert Englund) in his Kill Bill, introducing a character of the same name with the catchphrase 'My name's Buck, and I'm here to f--k.'

What Is This Movie All About?

Before the release of The Funhouse in 1981, produced under Universal Pictures, and the iconic Poltergeist a year later, co-written and produced by Steven Spielberg, Tobe Hooper had no regard for Hollywood standards, screen censorship, or the entertainment value that drew people to the theaters.

Hooper's unconventional directorial style is still evident in his later works, but his first steps into the world of horror filmmaking were incredibly iconoclastic, shocking, and gritty, and therefore not always, as Roger Ebert once put it, designed to make the viewing experience enjoyable. Consider that even the now iconic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre received very mixed reviews from critics upon its release due to its graphic nature.

And in 1976, two years after the movie about the cannibalistic Texas rednecks, Hooper's new low-budget film, Eaten Alive, co-written by him and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre co-writer Kim Henkel, was released.

This time the action takes place somewhere deep in the Texas bayous. Somewhere in the backwoods, in the middle of nowhere, is a rundown hotel owned by a man named Judd (Neville Brand). However, behind the hotel is a swamp with a cannibal alligator that Judd regularly feeds with customers he doesn't like.

Where to Watch a Horror Movie Praised by Quentin Tarantino?

As we mentioned, Eaten Alive is now available to stream for free! However, we've prepared a list of all the options available to you as of May 2024, including streaming, purchasing, and renting the movie.

Streaming

• Tubi — The main platform for watching one of Toby Hooper's most underrated horror films in 2024 is tubi, a free ad-supported streaming service.
• Fandango at Home — This service usually only offers paid options, but Eaten Alive is also available for free streaming.
• Other Platforms — The movie is also available on other streaming services, so if you have a subscription to AMC+, Peacock, Night Flight Plus, Arrow Player, or the Prime Video with Screambox bundle, we recommend going there. At least these options will give you uninterrupted viewing!

Rent/Buy

Eaten Alive is also available for rent and purchase on Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Amazon, YouTube and Google Play. Rentals start at $2.99 and purchases start at $3.99.

Source: Entertainment Weekly, Far Out Magazine (per Jimmy Kimmel Live).