Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker

A teen guy, his crazy aunt, Julia Duffy and Bo Svenson

An orphan lives with his peculiar aunt (Jimmy McNichol and Susan Tyrrell) while seeking a basketball scholarship and pursuing a winsome blonde (Duffy). When someone ends up dead, it draws the attention of a narrow-minded detective (Svenson).

The oddly titled "Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker" (1981) comes from the novel on which it was based. The author got it from the old rhyme about three men in a tub and, specifically, the line ‘The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker.’ The flick’s also known as “Night Warning.”

There are some bits reminiscent of “Psycho,” but it mixes in a lot of droll humor, which is genuinely amusing, not to mention politically incorrect (which works for me). The last act is over-the-top with hammy acting and loads of blood that influenced future movies like “Scream” and Tarantino films.

Duffy is a highlight in her pre-Newhart days. She has a brief top nude scene (just a heads up).

Some of the characters are kind of sketchy, so you have to read between the lines; the book provides details, if you want ’em. Bill Paxton has a side role as the protagonist’s rival at school. I suppose it’s a ‘bad move,’ but it’s entertaining enough as a throwaway flick.

It runs 1 hour, 33 minutes, and was shot in Los Angeles.

GRADE: B-/C+