Attack of the Killer Tomatoes

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes is a 1978 cult film that spawned the most unlikely franchise ever.  This film would eventually lead to three sequels, video games, comics and an animated series.  All this from a campy movie parody.  The movie opens with a warning telling us that when Alfred Hitchcock made The Birds people thought it was silly...until a small town was actually invaded by birds.   From this the audience is supposed to fear the mighty tomato. A brief sequence follows where a tomato rolls around and terrorizes a house wife.

 
Following that sequence we have the credits and the movie's theme song plays.  If for some reason you thought this was going to be a serious movie...those hopes have now been dashed as the opening credits remind me of Monty Python and The Holy Grail.  The film resumes with the police investigating the death of the house wife.  Later the police are seen near a farm in a desperate battle with the tomatoes.

A bit later several Generals and Scientists manage to squeeze into a small room for a conference on what to do about the killer tomatoes.  A japanese scientist, dubbed in english, gives a report.  Later we see that even cute teenage girls out for a swim are not safe, as the tomatoes attack them.  Obviously, the threat is serious if cute girls are in danger.  Jaws was quite popular at the time and this sequence is meant to parody it. 

A secret document on the growing tomato threat is 'misplaced' and ends up in the hands of our Lois Lane stand in...Lois Fairchild.  Meanwhile, tomatoes are still causing chaos as they attack a guy riding a dirt bike then later attack the police that were sent to assist.  I should point out our rotating cast of characters also includes a secret team composed of a master of disguise, a paratrooper, a Olympic athlete and a scuba diver.  The master of disguise assumes the identity of Hitler.  The disguise is so good that one of this own teammates tries to attack him...despite the fact he is black.

The movie is so absurd it even identifies San Fransisco as New York.  I guess I don't need to mention the guy who randomly breaks out in song.  Or the talking dog and his master who are killed by tomatoes.  The leader of the secret team is suddenly caught by two killer tomatoes but before they can attack are scared away by some unknown force.

The awkward flirting between Lois and the paratrooper reminds me of Beast From Haunted Cave...only this scene is played for laughs.  Meanwhile the master of disguise has infiltrated the tomatoes but exposes himself once he asks for ketchup.  Finally, the army takes action and engages the tomatoes in a deadly battle.

 
Near the end of the film we have a great car chase.  It starts off the with paratrooper's parachute getting caught in the car door.  When both vehicles sputter out he is almost able to out run the car.  Eventually a plan to destroy the tomatoes is devised.  It is discovered that the 'hit song' Puberty Love can destroy the tomatoes.  The song causes the tomatoes to shrink back to normal size and everyone stomps them.  The movie ends with a love song and...the possible rise of the killer carrots?

The tomatoes being defeated by a song certainly reminds me of Lynn Minmay from Macross.  If you've forgot about Minmay then you clearly do not remember love!  Also of musical interest, it should be noted that the singer of Puberty Love is Matt Cameron who would eventually become the drummer for Soundgarden and Pearl Jam.

There is certainly more to this movie than i've pointed out.  It's something that you need to experience for yourself.  If you enjoy Mystery Science Theater 3000, any movie parody like the Scary Movie series or bad movies like Plan 9 From Outer Space  then you'll love Attack of the Killer Tomatoes.