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Meet the Hollowheads

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Meet the Hollowheads
Directed byThomas R. Burman
Written byThomas R. Burman
Lisa Morton
Produced byPippa Scott
Jonathan de la Luz
Neil C. Lundell
John Chavez
Joseph P. Grace
StarringJohn Glover
Nancy Mette
Richard Portnow
Juliette Lewis
Matt Shakman
Joshua John Miller
CinematographyMarvin V. Rush
Edited byCarl Kress
Music byGlenn A. Jordan
Distributed byMoviestore Entertainment
Release date
  • January 1989 (January 1989)
Running time
86 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Meet the Hollowheads, also known as Life on the Edge, is a 1989 science fiction black comedy movie directed by special-effects makeup artist Thomas R. Burman and written by Burman and Lisa Morton. It stars Juliette Lewis, John Glover, Richard Portnow, and Joshua John Miller. The film is a black comedy and satire of 1950s sitcoms set in a dystopic future populated by bizarre, tentacled creatures which function dually as household appliances and food.

Plot

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The film takes place in a dark world full of pipes, tubes, corridors and a mysterious "edge" that misbehaving children are threatened with being thrown over. The Hollowhead family lives in a brightly lit, surreal home that features unusual appliances and foods.

Henry Hollowhead informs his wife that his new boss Mr. Crabneck will be coming to dinner, and she graciously agrees to make it a memorable one. He hopes to take advantage of this chance at getting a promotion at United Umbilical by impressing his boss over a delicious dinner. Meanwhile, youngest son Billy Hollowhead and his best friend are making a mess in the bedroom with Billy's new splat-spray game, using the family pet's parasites as ammunition. Older sister, budding beauty Cindy Hollowhead is raving about an upcoming party, and her brother Bud is practicing just a little too loudly on his electro-chicken-accordion instrument, which he will be playing at the same party.

Henry and Mr. Crabneck arrive just in time to see the Cindy leaving for the party, and Mr. Crabneck wastes no time in showing his slimey side to both daughter and mother. Dinner begins, with some idle chitchat about work, degrading into a discussion of the dangers of rationalism, and finally coming back to Mr. Hollowhead's desired promotion. At this point, Mr. Crabneck informs them that he is a very lonely man, and the only chance Henry has at getting promoted lies with Miriam, and her willingness to ease his boss's loneliness. Unable to restrain himself further, Mr. Crabneck attacks Miriam while Henry ponders a way to get noticed at work. She fends him off with the help of her well-adjusted son Billy, until Henry joins in and together, the three subdue Mr. Crabneck.

Mr. Crabneck is knocked out and hidden the kitchen just as the police arrive with daughter Cindy. The party has been raided by police after the party-goers tapped into a highly restricted tube, and Cindy was taken into custody under the intoxicating influence of two pounds of softening cream. Oldest son Bud returns after having been booed out of the party because of his new songs, and Mr. Crabneck wakes up once more before finally expiring at the sight of Cindy's drunken state. Instead of throwing the body over the edge, they throw him in the regeneration chamber, revive him, and put him in the basement with Grandpa, who they are secretly keeping alive despite the law.

Problem solved, promotion secured, and pervert safely locked away, the family reminds each other how important family is, because the family that slays together, stays together.

Cast

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