Three on a Meathook (1972) | Merits of Sin | Region-Free (DVD)

Title: Three on a Meathook (1972)

Genre: Horror

Plot Synopsis:

A quiet country boy named Billy brings home a group of young women after their car breaks down. While he tries to be hospitable, the women begin dying one by one in gruesome ways. As suspicion mounts, Billy’s troubled past and his relationship with his father slowly unravel, revealing horrifying secrets and a twisted family legacy of madness and murder.

Cast and Crew:

• Director: William Girdler

• Writers: William Girdler

• Cast:

  • Charles Kissinger as Papa

  • James Carroll Pickett as Billy Townsend

  • Sherry Steiner as Sherry

  • Madelyn Buzzard as Becky

  • Linda Thompson as Mary

IMDb Link:
Three on a Meathook (1972)

Reviews from Letterboxd:

1. daisysyndrome – ★★★
   “Criminally underrated and kinda dreamy. The banjo scene lives in my head rent-free. A hypnotic and quietly sad slice of regional horror.”

2. jakkepoes – ★★½
   “Opens like a sleazy grindhouse flick and then goes unexpectedly introspective. The twist wasn’t surprising, but the execution was better than expected.”

3. liam – ★★★
   “A weirdly sentimental slasher with soft lighting, awkward romance, and a surprisingly emotional ending. Girdler gives it an almost poetic tone at times.”

4. bobfreelander – ★★
   “Cheap, slow, but somehow oddly compelling. Definitely one of the more restrained entries in the ‘based on Ed Gein’ subgenre.”

5. rhymingrhino – ★★★½
   “Loved the eerie music and dreamy atmosphere. If you’re into offbeat regional horror, this is a gem. Not perfect, but unforgettable.”

Meta Description:
A disturbing blend of horror and Southern gothic, Three on a Meathook (1972) delivers twisted family secrets and eerie regional atmosphere in this cult classic from William Girdler.