Originally meant to be an anthology horror TV series for premium cable network Showtime, Body Bags (directed by John Carpenter, Tobe Hooper, and an uncredited Larry Sulkis) features a more than solid cast and an array of cameos by horror fan favorites. Ultimately, it was deemed to be too close to competitor HBO’s highly successful Tales from the Crypt, so the series idea was scrapped and the initial three episodes were combined into a feature with framing and interstitial sequences. For the record, Carpenter directed “The Gas Station” and “Hair” sequences, Hooper did “Eye,” and I’m assuming Sulkis was responsible for the wraparound stuff with the host-like Coroner. Body Bags premiered on August 8th, 1993, so l decided to take a look back for its 30th birthday.
Carpenter is actually pretty funny in a rare turn in front of the camera as the ghoulishly irreverent aforementioned Coroner. Clearly having fun under some light prosthetic makeup, he introduces each of the short stories. First up is the fairly standard woman in peril tale “The Gas Station.” Anne (frantic Alex Datcher) is working the overnight shift in one of those self-contained booths at a fairly deserted refueling spot outside of Haddonfield(!), Illinois. With a serial killer on the loose, you know it won’t be long until the mayhem begins. Robert Carradine, of Revenge of the Nerds fame, does good work in an against-type role. Wes Craven, Buck Flower, Peter Jason, and David Naughton are pitch-perfect in minor roles. Watch out for the cameo by Sam Raimi. Even if the story isn’t anything special, Carpenter elicits some scares with expert camerawork and a tense atmosphere.
Up next is “Hair,” which stars Stacy Keach as Richard, a man obsessed with his hair loss. However, his girlfriend Megan, played by ‘80s pop star Sheena Easton, is growing tired of his insecurity. So when Richard sees an ad for a miracle cure, he jumps at the opportunity. Dr. Lock (creepy David Waner) and his nurse (Blondie’s Debbie Harry) have sinister intentions with their treatment, though. Darkly humorous, this is my favorite segment, despite some dated CGI. Keach is a riot, going from despondent to giddy to terrified. Effects god Greg Nicotero cameos as a man with some luscious locks.
“Eye” is the last, and most serious in tone, of the triptych. Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill, plays Brent, an up-and-coming minor league baseball player who loses an eye in a tragic accident. When presented with the chance to participate in a cutting-edge eye transplant surgery, he agrees, eager to return to his life as a ballplayer. Soon, visions from the eye’s former owner begin intruding on his recovery, inducing erratic and violent behavior. British supermodel Twiggy is appropriately concerned as Brent’s dutiful wife and regal Roger Corman is warm as Brent’s physician. Hooper and a typically goofy Tom Arnold show up for the end-framing sequence.
Written by Billy Brown and Dan Angel, the stories aren’t really anything special on their surface. However, Carpenter, Hooper, their star-studded cast, and the lensing by Gary Kibbe mold the material into a supremely watchable ninety-five minutes. The practical makeup by Rick Baker and the guys at KNB provides a nice compliment of ghastly and gruesome effects. Carpenter’s score (produced in conjunction with Jim Lang) is one of his more playful works, reminiscent of Big Trouble in Little China and especially They Live. While I wouldn’t consider the film to be anywhere close to Carpenter or Hooper’s respective bests, it’s definitely worth a watch for fans of both.
It’s understandable that Body Bags didn’t go forward as a show, as comparisons to the contemporary Tales from the Crypt would’ve been apt and inevitable. As it is, the talent on both sides of the camera makes it worth seeking out. John Carpenter, Robert Carradine, and Stacy Keach’s performances are the highlights for me. Brisk and fun, Body Bags is an often overlooked entry in Carpenter and Tobe Hooper’s impressive oeuvres. Recommended for fans of Creepshow, Twilight Zone: The Movie, and Tales from the Darkside: The Movie.
Michael Cavender