So this tale is about a couple who have a struggling restaurant that sells nothing but squid-related food, and how it gets a huge boost in popularity and sales after a mysterious drifter introduces a new 'barbecue' recipe to the menu that is the answer to their prayers, only it's soon revealed to be human flesh! But with their business finally hitting it big will the couple and one cop do the right thing? It's a Tales From the Crypt episode, so why do you think? I don't feel I'm really spoiling anything, given the nature of the show I'm sure anyone could guess the angle of the story just by the title. It seems to be something of a fan favourite this one, well I find it good but I never really loved it, I find it a bit overrated.. It is a solid effort though and has a nice subtle sense of the grotesque that makes great use of the seldom used cannibalism theme in the series. I always loved seeing Meat Loaf in anything, he was a natural actor I thought, especially at playing creeps, he played General Custer once, they cast Meat Loaf as dinner this time though! A scene that really grabs you is when the partially chopped up corpse of his character, Chunley, is revealed in the freezer. Excellent gross and grisly practical effect work as Gaston hacks right into the rump for some fresh steaks, to me the effect is so convincing it's pretty nauseating to watch! I really like Judd Nelson in this, looking rather sexy and vaguely sinister as a killer who seems to understand the madness that his special brand of meat tends to bring out in people, but not enough to get out of dodge and prevent his own undoing as he is cooked alive after he crosses the line! And of course there was the sadly late Christopher Reeve who doesn't really do all that much but his character does undergo a convincing transformation as he first struggles to deal with the cooking and the serving of the people Gaston has murdered, but gradually gives in to the creepy love of the meat himself, all very well conveyed by a talented actor... In closing not a personal favourite but not bad at all to watch and I definitely had fun while I did, it's a good episode, best not watch it while too hungry though, might give you some ideas! X.
Review of What's Cookin'
