Homebodies (film)

Homebodies is a 1974 comedy horror film directed by Larry Yust. The film features a cast of veteran actors, including Ian Wolfe, Ruth McDevitt, Peter Brocco, and Douglas Fowley. The film centers on elderly residents resorting to murder to protect their condemned building.

Plot
A quiet, elderly group of pensioners discover that their homes are scheduled to be demolished in order to make way for a block of flats. Their attempts to discourage the developers soon escalate from dissuasion to murder as they begin to rid themselves of both the developers and the construction workers by any means necessary.

Cast

 * Peter Brocco as Mr. Blakely
 * Frances Fuller as Miss Emily
 * William Hansen as Mr. Sandy
 * Ruth McDevitt as Mrs. Loomis
 * Paula Trueman as Mattie
 * Ian Wolfe as Mr. Loomis
 * Linda Marsh as Miss Pollack
 * Douglas Fowley as Mr. Crawford

Production
Principal photography for Homebodies took place in 1973, on location in Cincinnati, Ohio. The film's cast was composed of veteran actors and actresses who, according to Daily Variety's report, "had appeared in nine hundred films, collectively, but were receiving top-billing for the first time in their careers". The film marked the second film production by the Cinema Entertainment Corporation.

Home media
Homebodies was released on VHS by Sony Pictures on June 23, 1994.

Kino Lorber released a Special Edition Blu-Ray version on November 2, 2021.

Reception
Time Out gave the film a positive review, complimenting the film's humor, well controlled tension, as well as Trueman's "saner version of Ruth Gordon" performance. Allmovie called the film "an unexpectedly haunting piece of work", complimenting the film's unpredictability, strong characterization, and direction. On his website Fantastic Movie Musings and Ramblings, Dave Sindelar gave the film a positive review, calling it "an engaging curiosity". In his review, Sindelar commended the film for its "offbeat and eccentric" premise, and wicked sense of humor. Sindelar also commended the film's acting, particularly Trueman's. Terror Trap awarded the film three out of a possible four stars, commending the film's acting, humor, feeling of urban decay, calling it "a heartwarming horror story". Not all reviews for the film were positive. TV Guide awarded the film 2/4 stars, calling it "a strange little shocker about a murderous group of geriatrics", although the reviewer commended the film for being well shot, and directed.