Saw this in the horror section of video store and it looked worth a rental. It was. A poor young German chick and her newlywed husband go on their honeymoon in New Mexico. The lady innkeeper is way too friendly, so you sort of suspect something is up with her. Later, an ambulance appears out of nowhere and kidnaps the hubby away. The wife pleads to the innkeeper for help, but now the innkeeper claims she doesn't know the wife, even though she just rented her a room! In a bizarre twist (yet it works well), the wife ends up hitching a ride with Sierra Bill, a good ol' boy trucker. So you got this redneck Texan helping a German student who's looking for her Princeton husband. Anyway, they come up with a pretty cool plan. It gets suspenseful and a bit confusing, but all is explained in the end. Jutta Spiedel surprised me as a really good actress, considering I did not know her work before this film. Good stuff
15 Reviews
Cud have been a decent road trip thriller.
Fella_shibby23 September 2021
I saw this for the first time recently n got pleasantly surprised.
It is a good thriller marred by its length.
It has some flaws but since its a low budget made for tv stuff, certain things can b ignored.
The scene where the lead actress runs here n there, boards a train n then stares at the hospital n sits in a corner was uncalled for.
It cud have been a good road trip thriller but the pacing killed it.
Nevertheless, it has a lil bit of suspense n the characters are believable.
The lead actress Jutta Speidel looks like a cross between Sissy Spacek n Aj Applegate.
Her nudity is one of the best part.
It is a good thriller marred by its length.
It has some flaws but since its a low budget made for tv stuff, certain things can b ignored.
The scene where the lead actress runs here n there, boards a train n then stares at the hospital n sits in a corner was uncalled for.
It cud have been a good road trip thriller but the pacing killed it.
Nevertheless, it has a lil bit of suspense n the characters are believable.
The lead actress Jutta Speidel looks like a cross between Sissy Spacek n Aj Applegate.
Her nudity is one of the best part.
Intriguing Little TV Horror-Thriller
Rainey-Dawn28 October 2015
Drive-in 50-pack is where I got this film, under the name "Spare Parts". I didn't think I would like it but the movie actually pulled me in - got me interested fairly fast and held it to the end of the film - I was surprised.
It's a weird film! A couple gets married, goes on honeymoon, stays at the honeymoon motel, here comes the ambulance then complete strangeness of the film begins. The more of the film you watch, the stranger it gets.
The movie will have you asking questions: Why didn't she go to the police right from the start? Why did truck driver Bill help her (he never answered her nor the viewer's question)? Why did the truck drivers help her? When the police did get involved, why didn't she tell them there ARE other witnesses - the truck drivers? What happened to the ambulance drivers at the end of the film - were they caught?
Dr.Jackson is creepy - even when she decides to turn herself into the police and helps the girl she's just plain creepy!
This is not a great film but it is an interesting one. It takes some twists and turns that are unexpected - it's not a slasher film like I thought it was going to be. It's not perfect - it's got it's flaws - but it is worth watching for a 1970s made for TV horror-thriller.
6/10
It's a weird film! A couple gets married, goes on honeymoon, stays at the honeymoon motel, here comes the ambulance then complete strangeness of the film begins. The more of the film you watch, the stranger it gets.
The movie will have you asking questions: Why didn't she go to the police right from the start? Why did truck driver Bill help her (he never answered her nor the viewer's question)? Why did the truck drivers help her? When the police did get involved, why didn't she tell them there ARE other witnesses - the truck drivers? What happened to the ambulance drivers at the end of the film - were they caught?
Dr.Jackson is creepy - even when she decides to turn herself into the police and helps the girl she's just plain creepy!
This is not a great film but it is an interesting one. It takes some twists and turns that are unexpected - it's not a slasher film like I thought it was going to be. It's not perfect - it's got it's flaws - but it is worth watching for a 1970s made for TV horror-thriller.
6/10
Overlooked film is worth seeing.
Cujo1088 January 2009
The opening scenes of this film are pure cheesecake with soul music, people frolicking through the street and dogs trying to grab wedding bouquets. There's some cheesy dubbing as well. It eventually settles down into a more serious affair after a sinister ambulance abducts one half of a honeymooning couple. The girl, Monica, gets away and eventually garners the help of trucker Bill and his trucking buddies in finding out where the ambulance took her husband.
This is a pretty good film which kept me on edge throughout, as the characters were really likable. Good cinematography and a moody score help it along, and the story here is intriguing... certainly a hell of a lot moreso than the somewhat similar 1980 piece of garbage, Cardiac Arrest. If you find a copy, give it a look.
This is a pretty good film which kept me on edge throughout, as the characters were really likable. Good cinematography and a moody score help it along, and the story here is intriguing... certainly a hell of a lot moreso than the somewhat similar 1980 piece of garbage, Cardiac Arrest. If you find a copy, give it a look.
Was skeptical at first...
vonnoosh26 October 2020
The title made me cringe thinking this would be a gory mess of a movie with a gory mess of a plot. I decided to give it a try and was pleasantly surprised by it.
The story is about newlyweds, both grad students so they're broke and end up staying at a cheap motel because they can afford it. Not long after that, the husband is abducted in an ambulance, the wife flees in terror and ends up with a truck driver who picks her up. The two try to find answers.
This is a long movie for the genre but it moves pretty good. The story is entirely from the perspective of Monica, the newlywed wife and we are wondering about the other characters, their motives and who to dare trust under the circumstances.
There are some plot holes like why didn't she go to the police immediately the two times just about anyone else would have. After thinking about it I don't feel like those were major plot holes under the circumstances in the story. No one would believe what she was claiming about people being abducted and the motel owner would just lie about seeing them. The movie flat out acknowledges the plot hole of why Bill, the truck driver does as much as he did when she asks him why he was doing this. He had no reply to her question and we don't know why either.
A good movie. I never saw a good print of it but I enjoy it anyway. You will be disappointed if you expect this to be a gory horror flick. It really isn't a horror movie as much as it is a psychological thriller.
For those that wonder, the longer version of this movie adds one detail which is implied anyway in the shorter version. You get to see Monica and Bill go to New York as part of Bill's initial delivery when they first meet. He picked her up while she was fleeing her captors and he continuesd to do his truck driving job but with her along for the ride. The shorter version omits just that one trip so you don't miss much beyond some character development.
The story is about newlyweds, both grad students so they're broke and end up staying at a cheap motel because they can afford it. Not long after that, the husband is abducted in an ambulance, the wife flees in terror and ends up with a truck driver who picks her up. The two try to find answers.
This is a long movie for the genre but it moves pretty good. The story is entirely from the perspective of Monica, the newlywed wife and we are wondering about the other characters, their motives and who to dare trust under the circumstances.
There are some plot holes like why didn't she go to the police immediately the two times just about anyone else would have. After thinking about it I don't feel like those were major plot holes under the circumstances in the story. No one would believe what she was claiming about people being abducted and the motel owner would just lie about seeing them. The movie flat out acknowledges the plot hole of why Bill, the truck driver does as much as he did when she asks him why he was doing this. He had no reply to her question and we don't know why either.
A good movie. I never saw a good print of it but I enjoy it anyway. You will be disappointed if you expect this to be a gory horror flick. It really isn't a horror movie as much as it is a psychological thriller.
For those that wonder, the longer version of this movie adds one detail which is implied anyway in the shorter version. You get to see Monica and Bill go to New York as part of Bill's initial delivery when they first meet. He picked her up while she was fleeing her captors and he continuesd to do his truck driving job but with her along for the ride. The shorter version omits just that one trip so you don't miss much beyond some character development.
Lukewarm made for TV thriller
The_Void13 April 2009
Going by the title, you would be forgiven for thinking this film would be some sort of grisly slasher; but actually (and disappointingly) it's a subdued made-for-TV thriller that bears more than just a passing similarity to Michael Crichton's 1978 film, Coma. The film is directed by Rainer Erler and is a German made film; although it takes place in Texas, USA. Being a TV film, you've got to expect it not to be heavy on the gore and special effects; and this is the case. Spare Parts relies on the plot and its characters to remain thrilling...and unfortunately it doesn't really pull it off effectively. The plot focuses on a newlywed couple having their honeymoon in Texas. They stop at a motel and meet the friendly proprietor; shortly before an ambulance swings by and abducts the husband. The girl goes back to the motel for help; but the proprietor insists she's never seen her before. The woman ends up getting a lift with a trucker, who helps her get to the bottom of the mystery.
This plot has been done several times; not only in the aforementioned Coma, but also in later efforts such as Larry Clark's The Ambulance. The film feels very cheap throughout, and never manages to get past its TV movie status. At one hundred and five minutes, it really has to be said that the film is too long also; and it becomes less than interesting before the end. The central character; a young German woman is fairly likable, although despite the long running time; we don't really get to know a great deal about her. The plot certainly could have been very interesting, but not a great deal is made of it. There's very little suspense in the film either and that doesn't exactly help the film when it comes to the excitement stakes. To its credit, however, the plot does at least make sense throughout and the film does feature an ending that wraps everything up nicely. Spare Parts is not an easy film to find and to be honest I wouldn't recommend anyone bothers to track it down - Coma is (slightly) better anyway!
This plot has been done several times; not only in the aforementioned Coma, but also in later efforts such as Larry Clark's The Ambulance. The film feels very cheap throughout, and never manages to get past its TV movie status. At one hundred and five minutes, it really has to be said that the film is too long also; and it becomes less than interesting before the end. The central character; a young German woman is fairly likable, although despite the long running time; we don't really get to know a great deal about her. The plot certainly could have been very interesting, but not a great deal is made of it. There's very little suspense in the film either and that doesn't exactly help the film when it comes to the excitement stakes. To its credit, however, the plot does at least make sense throughout and the film does feature an ending that wraps everything up nicely. Spare Parts is not an easy film to find and to be honest I wouldn't recommend anyone bothers to track it down - Coma is (slightly) better anyway!
A dark story, maybe Erler's best
Horst_In_Translation30 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
"Fleisch" or "Spare Parts" is a German horror/thriller movie from 1979 written and directed by Rainer Erler. He is in his 80s now and has not made new films in a long time. The 1970s were probably his most successful decade and you may find more semi-famous film by him from that time. Just like this one here. It features Jutta Speidel as the main character and she is still fairly known here in Germany. She is in her early 60s now and looking at stuff like "Um Himmels Willen" I don't think she is a particularly talented actress or even a German Mia Farrow. And her performance in these 110 minutes, during which she is in almost any scene, does not change my opinion either. I won't go into detail about the other actors as I don't know any of them, but let me say that there is a clean structure in this film. Early on, the husband plays a major role (just like a motel lady), then a helpful truck driver and finally a dubious doctor. I think I definitely preferred the first half, maybe even first two thirds of the film. The final sequence was slightly underwhelming, but I don't think that was Charlotte Kerr's fault. They really did a lot wrong with Dr. Jackson. They build her up as some kind of main antagonist, then she is suddenly a useful helper and then they rush in her death eventually. It's just too much in too little time and it does not feel authentic anymore, just shocking for the sake of it and this is actually disappointing because early on the film manages to shock a lot through subtlety as well. The entire premise was very well executed early on and you could even guess there were supernatural forces behind the ambulance car driving the helpless victims away. I also think Erler did a great job with the camera work here and the locations too that fit well in terms of tone and atmosphere. So with a better ending it may have been a great film even, but it's still a good one. The last 30-35 minutes aren't as bad that they could actually destroy the film and I can also see why they were the way they were. Organ transplants were a much bigger and much more controversial back in the 1970s than they are today, so maybe you can't really blame the film that it has not aged as well as it could have. But wait, maybe it has. The suspense from early on is something that many filmmakers these days can only dream of when it comes to their talent and movies. I have seen other stuff by Erler that was also about a darker take on reality and did not like some of it. But I certainly enjoyed this movie here. Better lead actress (then again it's more of a writer director movie and Speidel doesn't do anything really wrong) and better last half hour and this could have been a stunning achievement. I recommend checking it out.
Downbeat TV horror
Red-Barracuda26 July 2015
Warning: Spoilers
A rundown hotel is a human trap for a black market in body parts.
This television movie is distinctive for being a German production that was shot in America. Despite featuring an incredible premise, the events are played out very much in a low-key. And it actually works really well in the first half of the film, where odd events happen with quite a bit of genuine intrigue surrounding them. The odd ambiance of this section of the film is accentuated by an atmospheric synth score played in a minor key, while the remote dusty locations are integrated well too. The idea of a human parts black market was also an interesting one. But events do slow down in the second half and the film gets a little lethargic, not helped by the slightly overlong run-time; having said that, the good work in the first half compensates for this somewhat. On the whole, this is a slightly odd horror film that isn't too derivative and has some good atmosphere in places. Worth seeing.
This television movie is distinctive for being a German production that was shot in America. Despite featuring an incredible premise, the events are played out very much in a low-key. And it actually works really well in the first half of the film, where odd events happen with quite a bit of genuine intrigue surrounding them. The odd ambiance of this section of the film is accentuated by an atmospheric synth score played in a minor key, while the remote dusty locations are integrated well too. The idea of a human parts black market was also an interesting one. But events do slow down in the second half and the film gets a little lethargic, not helped by the slightly overlong run-time; having said that, the good work in the first half compensates for this somewhat. On the whole, this is a slightly odd horror film that isn't too derivative and has some good atmosphere in places. Worth seeing.
Not my thing, sorry
sarcasm_for_free7 February 2020
In yet another case of 'great idea, shame about the execution' this drama/thriller about secret organ dealers kidnapping unsuspecting people to harvest their body parts might've been much better with a more cohesive plot, much less filler (like, for instance, a five minute run through New York for some reason) and well-developed characters.
Oh, and the dubbing is TERRIBLE. Sheesh. 4/10
Oh, and the dubbing is TERRIBLE. Sheesh. 4/10
Rosewell? Wasn't he sick?
nogodnomasters12 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers
"Spare Parts" and "Fleisch" are the same films. Mike and Monica spend their honeymoon at a dive motel in New Mexico. Mike is absconded in an ambulance while Monica gets away. With the help of a truck driver...
The title "Spare Parts" takes the mystery out of the film. The spare parts type film was popular in the 70's and this one was perhaps the least in the group. Available on 50 DVD packs.
Guide: nudity (Jutta Speidel)
The title "Spare Parts" takes the mystery out of the film. The spare parts type film was popular in the 70's and this one was perhaps the least in the group. Available on 50 DVD packs.
Guide: nudity (Jutta Speidel)
Atmospheric 70's Gem
dimmerfive-119 April 2009
Warning: Spoilers
During the long winter of 2009 I discovered the 50 movie value pack DVD's from Millcreek . These contain Films that fall into public domain and range from truly awful to outstanding. Thus the film "Spare Parts " aka " Fleisch " a little gem of a movie I would of passed up in a video store judging from the video box artwork ( a girl chopped up on the cover )thinking it would be another stupid slasher flick but as I got to view it I was surprised to find a great thriller with an outstanding synthesizer score by Eugen Thomas. The plot is simple an organization kidnapping people for their organs, but due to the filming locations (the desert of New Mexico, the streets of Manhatten) good acting and the great eerie synthesizer score this movie is Highly Recommended . way better than the crap that Hollywood has been producing in the last 10 years ( look how they botched " The Day the Earth stood Still " ) Check it out ! and let's hope somebody can put out a soundtrack compilation of the works of Eugen Thomas.
It's a German Gem!
tchibwaa11 November 2023
This movie is centered on Roswell, New Mexico. Most folks know about Roswell including some folks in Germany.
A married couple make their way to Roswell for a honeymoon. The wife is a bit wiser than her husband and finds a dry creek waterway to elude capture.
Abductions is what this 1979 movie is about. Abductions and Roswell! The German actors speak in good American accents excepting the female who plays a foreigner.
She flags down a trucker who quickly fears her because of her wacky news yet she does the convincing!
From Roswell this movie goes to New York City where the foreigner continues her mistrust of people claiming to be the law.
If you have a DVD of this movie and use your computer to play it, you might encounter freezes and skips. That could be because this movie is a foreign movie.
To try and correct the play problem, right click on start then click device manager. Click DVD/CD-ROM drives.
A box will appear with tabs. Click DVD region. A list of nation's follow. You'll want to click Germany. If that doesn't correct the problem, it means you'll have to play the DVD on a DVR or DVD player. This movie is a German movie. Remember that Roswell is at issue! They give you hints at what might be going in there!
A married couple make their way to Roswell for a honeymoon. The wife is a bit wiser than her husband and finds a dry creek waterway to elude capture.
Abductions is what this 1979 movie is about. Abductions and Roswell! The German actors speak in good American accents excepting the female who plays a foreigner.
She flags down a trucker who quickly fears her because of her wacky news yet she does the convincing!
From Roswell this movie goes to New York City where the foreigner continues her mistrust of people claiming to be the law.
If you have a DVD of this movie and use your computer to play it, you might encounter freezes and skips. That could be because this movie is a foreign movie.
To try and correct the play problem, right click on start then click device manager. Click DVD/CD-ROM drives.
A box will appear with tabs. Click DVD region. A list of nation's follow. You'll want to click Germany. If that doesn't correct the problem, it means you'll have to play the DVD on a DVR or DVD player. This movie is a German movie. Remember that Roswell is at issue! They give you hints at what might be going in there!
Still worth watching 50 years later
hoschi2k26 July 2022
An ambulance abducts the man from a honeymooning couple shortly after they checked into a cheap motel. His wife Monica follows the trace from the ambulance with the help of a friendly trucker named bill.
This production was released shortly after "Coma" (1978) and has a similar approach. This basic concept was picked up again with "The Island" (2005).
Filmed in the U. S. this is a suprisingly well produced TV movie, that could have been run in theaters at his time. Action, speed and pace are a slower than today, but it is still has suspense. A nude scene may be the reason for its rating, blood & violence are harmless.
This production was released shortly after "Coma" (1978) and has a similar approach. This basic concept was picked up again with "The Island" (2005).
Filmed in the U. S. this is a suprisingly well produced TV movie, that could have been run in theaters at his time. Action, speed and pace are a slower than today, but it is still has suspense. A nude scene may be the reason for its rating, blood & violence are harmless.
Feeble conspiracy thriller
Wizard-81 March 2014
I was drawn to watch this movie in part because it was a foreign production filmed and set in America, and that promised that the movie would have a unique angle. The portrayal of America is surprisingly balanced - there is a deep and deadly conspiracy in the story, but the movie does give us plenty of innocent and helpful American characters at the same time. Unfortunately, this interesting balance is about the only good thing I can say about the movie. Certainly I can't blame the filmmakers for the atrocious dubbing, but they are guilty of other things. At 105 minutes, the movie is way too long (and slow) for its own good. Along this tedious journey are some real unbelievable plot elements like the fact the protagonists don't consider contacting the police until very late into the story. The movie is also directed with no sense of style, with no tension or any great feelings coming from the movie at any moment - it always feel flat. It's capped off with one of the worst opening/closing credits songs I have ever heard in a motion picture. There is the occasional hint of a decent (though not original) thriller here, but as a whole it simply does not work.
Huge, gaping, black (plot) holes didn't hurt this film
rubiesanddust3 December 2010
Warning: Spoilers
They simply made it less predictable.
The story concerns a pair of newlyweds terrorized by organ thieves. When the groom is kidnapped by a pair of sinister ambulance drivers the bride runs off shrieking then spends six days with a kindly trucker before thinking to rescue her husband. Why didn't she go to the police? Why, later in NYC did she just sit and stare at the hospital where said hubby was being held instead of doing something? Why did the song that opens the movie make my ears bleed in the beginning and yet by the end had me singing along? Not sure I have answers but somehow it all worked, the story itself made an odd sort of sense and the characters pulled me right along with them on their madcap journey.
Visually bleak with the film makers choosing the grimmest shots possible of New Mexico and NYC it's worth looking for, give it a try.
The story concerns a pair of newlyweds terrorized by organ thieves. When the groom is kidnapped by a pair of sinister ambulance drivers the bride runs off shrieking then spends six days with a kindly trucker before thinking to rescue her husband. Why didn't she go to the police? Why, later in NYC did she just sit and stare at the hospital where said hubby was being held instead of doing something? Why did the song that opens the movie make my ears bleed in the beginning and yet by the end had me singing along? Not sure I have answers but somehow it all worked, the story itself made an odd sort of sense and the characters pulled me right along with them on their madcap journey.
Visually bleak with the film makers choosing the grimmest shots possible of New Mexico and NYC it's worth looking for, give it a try.
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