Retro Blood 216 – Home Sweet Home (1981)

James Kline and J.H. Alison close out 1980s Killer Families Month with one of horror’s strangest forgotten Thanksgiving slashers: Home Sweet Home (1981). A PCP-crazed bodybuilder, a dysfunctional family gathering, and pure early-’80s chaos—this one has it all.

We kick things off with our first impressions, including the amazing trailer and how James randomly discovered this long-lost DVD. Then we dive into the film’s behind-the-scenes history:

• Director Nettie Peña — one of the few female horror directors of the era

• Writer Thomas Bush — his only screenplay before shifting into sound work

• Jake Steinfeld (aka “PCP Jay”) — his wild performance and what he became known for

• Young Vinessa Shaw (Angel Bradley) — her first film role and later Hollywood success

• Filming locations, indie production details, and why this movie vanished for decades

Then we break down the full movie: a Thanksgiving where nearly every adult wants drugs, no holiday decorations in sight, improv-heavy dialogue, and PCP Jay launching himself onto cars, tables, and people like an unhinged slasher superhero.

A weird, gritty, oddly authentic Thanksgiving horror film—and a perfect way to wrap up the month.

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