Auntie Lee's Meat Pies Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Auntie Lee's Meat Pies Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 12, 2021

Director Joseph F. Robertson honed his craft in the world of adult entertainment, so it makes sense that his foray into B-movies is a porno-like viewing experience that strives to be both ridiculous and bizarre. “Auntie Lee’s Meat Pies” is very reminiscent of a Troma picture, and while Robertson isn’t big on technical skill and editorial command, he knows when to rein in this oddball, backwoods version of “Sweeney Todd,” only instead of a mad barber, there’s a crazed aunt who lives with child-like muscle, various nieces, and maintains authority over her “bakery.” “Auntie Lee’s Meat Pies” doesn’t live up to its potential, but it’s also not completely slapdash, trying to squeeze in some style and thespian conviction to give the viewing experience a dash of substance as a John Waters film threatens to break out at any moment.

In the far reaches of California, Auntie Lee (Karen Black) runs a bakery on her ranch, committed to making meat pies for local restaurants, and her meals have become very popular in the community. She’s joined by her brother, Larry (Michael Berryman), a developmentally disabled man who tends to chores, and there are nieces around, with Fawn (Kristine Rose), Magnolia (Ava Fabian), Coral (Teri Weigel), and Sky (Pia Reyes) helping Auntie Lee with her mission to feed everyone. Of course, ingredients are necessary, with the women working together to murder drifters and assorted weirdos, using their bodies to keep the meat pie machine running, with Chief Koal (Pat Morita) blissfully unaware of what’s going on.

“Auntie Lee’s Meat Pies” offers a darkly comedic take on the central premise, with Robertson taking everything up a notch without reaching a level of farce. There’s just enough strangeness to go around, keeping a mystery alive with Auntie Lee’s reason for pie-making, and there’s Bob (Stephen Quadros), a hitchhiker Fawn picks up during her delivery rounds, unaware the man is being trailed by Harold (David Parry), a private investigator who follows his leads to Auntie Lee’s ranch, threating to expose her ghoulish operation. As plots go, it’s not a bad one, offering mild suspense with Harold’s nosy ways, which soon involve Chief Koal, who’s probably the only law enforcement officer in history to proudly admit to rural Americans that he fought for Japan during World War II.

There’s a decent first half to “Auntie Lee’s Meat Pies,” watching Fawn work her seductive magic on Bob, luring him into the house, and the rest of the nieces have their gifts as well, handling weapons and squeezing into tight outfits to make sure Auntie Lee has a consistent supply of fresh meat. The feature isn’t especially funny, but it has some moments, finding Black giving her part a demented spin, and it’s always nice to have Morita around. There’s the added bonus of Playboy Playmates in supporting roles, with Petra Verkaik joining the fun as Baby, the “youngest” member of the family.

The film takes a hit with the arrival of Toxic Waste, a metal band forced to spend the night at Auntie Lee’s when Coral shoots out their tires. Pace slows as the screenplay explores a lengthy dinner sequence, which leads to time spent in the various rooms of the ranch, one featuring Baby’s house of pain, while another is a black-lit house of snake worship, exposing the depths of evil going on. There’s some gore, and Robertson gets around to more sexploitation interests, but “Auntie Lee’s Meat Pies” gets stuck in neutral, lacking a sense of discovery, while most subplots simply die off in favor of the band’s punishment.

Auntie Lee's Meat Pies Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from a 4K scan of the original 35mm camera negative. It's a clear look at frame particulars, with the production keeping backgrounds heavily decorated, with everything open for exploration. Facial surfaces are textured, dealing with elements of age and illness, and costuming is fibrous, ranging from leathery band gear to sheer offerings of lingerie. Gore zone visits retain intended wetness. Colors are exact, with the finale providing extensive black light events. Primaries are crisp, and a candlelit dinner sequence retains its amber glow. Hues are varied throughout the viewing event, looking fresh and natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is heavy and film-like. Source is in good condition.

Auntie Lee's Meat Pies Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

"Auntie Lee's Meat Pies" wasn't created with the finest sound design, leaving the 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix to expose some limitations. Extensive ADR is utilized throughout the film, keeping dialogue exchanges distinct, while on-set performances remain intelligible, hitting a few fuzzy highs along the way. Scoring offers wider engagement, with a clear synth sound. Sound effects are blunt but appreciable.

Auntie Lee's Meat Pies Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Blood in the Pool" (12:16, HD) is an interview with makeup effects artist Roy Knyrim, who recalls his interest in the production, happy to get the assignment to make fake heads for director Joseph F. Robertson. Knyrim encountered an organized shoot with a decent amount of prep time, giving him a chance to craft gore for the feature, and manufacture a fake snake that ultimately wasn't used in the movie. Working with a small crew, filming went well, and the interviewee offers his fond memories of meeting the cast, also sharing respect for Robertson. Some talk of locations closes out the conversation.

• "Express with Less" (19:48, HD) is an interview with actor Michael Berryman, who was simply offered a role in "Auntie Lee's Meat Pies," eager to take a job with a colorful cast. Co-stars are assessed, including Pat Morita, who became a close friend to Berryman after their filmmaking experience. Director Joseph F. Robertson is recalled, with the helmer creating a happy, efficient shoot, also asking the actor to work without his dentures to make the character more memorable. Berryman goes deep into acting technique, tracking his thespian development and his career throughout the 1970s, offering an amusing anecdote concerning a stunt pulled during the promotion of "The Hills Have Eyes."

• "Say Yes" (17:10, HD) is an interview with actor Grant Cramer, who was basically recruited to "Auntie Lee's Meat Pies" by his friend, Cort McCown. Experiencing a dry spell in his career, Cramer accepted the gig, ready to "just have fun" for a change, enjoying the party atmosphere of the film. Co-stars are fondly recalled, with the interviewee simply delighted to be around Karen Black, Pat Morita, and Michael Berryman, and director Joseph F. Robertson is remembered, with Cramer unaware of the helmer's career in adult cinema. The cult popularity of "Auntie Lee's Meat Pies" keeps coming after Cramer, who eventually transitioned from acting to producing, recently working on "Willy's Wonderland."

• "So Bad, It's Good" (10:05, HD) is an interview with actor Richard Vidan, who apparently won his role when Lyle Alzado dropped out due to illness. The interviewee shares his impression of director Joseph F. Robertson, and admits he quickly rewrote all of his dialogue, hoping to improve on what was on the page. Co-stars Pat Paulsen and Ava Fabian are remembered, and Vidan offers an anecdote about a squirting head wound he had to wear.

• "The Homicidal Homemaker" (3:11, HD) presents cooking time with host Kaci, who walks viewers through a meat pie recipe.

• A Trailer has not been included on this release.

Auntie Lee's Meat Pies Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Auntie Lee's Meat Pies" isn't sharply made, finding Robertson maintaining his adult film vision, keeping staging stiff and performances permissive, simply trying to make his days, not deliver a refined movie. There's entertainment in such limitation, but most of the fun is presented early in the picture, creating an uneven endeavor.