Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers (also known as simply Hollywood Hookers in the United Kingdom) is a 1988 American black comedy horror film directed by Fred Olen Ray, and starring Gunnar Hansen, Linnea Quigley, Jay Richardson, and Michelle Bauer. It is known as a B-movie.
Contents
Plot
The private detective Jack Chandler tries to track down Samantha, a teenage runaway. He runs into a cult of Egyptian chainsaw-worshipping prostitutes led by "The Stranger".
Disclaimer and announcements
The film's tagline was "They Charge an Arm and a Leg!"
The film begins with the disclaimer "The chainsaws used in this motion picture are real and dangerous! They are handled here by seasoned professionals. The makers of this motion picture advise strongly against anyone attempting to perform these stunts at home. Especially if you are naked and about to engage in strenuous sex." The film ends with the promise of the sequel Student Chainsaw Nurses, which was never made.
Cast
Linnea Quigley as Samantha
Gunnar Hansen as The Stranger
Jay Richardson as Jack Chandler
Dawn Wildsmith as Lori
Michelle Bauer as Mercedes
Esther Elise as Lisa
Tricia Burns as Ilsa
Susie Wilson as Sally
Fox Harris as Hermie
Jimmy Williams as Bo
Dukey Flyswatter as Jake, The Bartender
Dennis T. Mooney as Mick Harris
Jerry Miller as Murphy
Gary J. Levinson as Nubian
Christopher Ray as Kid At Bar (uncredited)
Release
At the time, the UK video release was not allowed to have the word Chainsaw in the title, so the film was released simply as "Hollywood Hookers" (a drawing of a chainsaw replaced the missing word on the cover sleeve).
Reception
Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers received mixed reviews from critics and audiences, earning a Rotten Tomatoes Want-To-See score of 33%.
The film is said to have "set the course for Ray". The film has been described as a horror parody and a film-noir spoof.
Home media
Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers has been released on VHS, DVD and Blu-ray format.
In the United States, the film was released in a '20th Anniversary Widescreen Edition' DVD on August 5, 2008. It was made available on Blu-ray in two individual editions on January 9, 2015, with a standard edition and a signed 'Special Limited Edition' of 1000 copies.
In the United Kingdom, the film was released on DVD on July 10, 2000. 88 Films has released the film on Blu-ray on March 23, 2015 as part of the 'Slasher Classics Collection'. It is placed at #6 and like the other films released in the collection, it contains a reversible sleeve.