‘Upset the head… and you’re dead!’
Head of the Family is a 1996 American comedy horror film about a giant head on a tiny body who controls the rest of his unusual family.
Directed by co-producer Charles Band [as Robert Talbot] (Puppet Master: Axis Termination; Evil Bong; Crash!) from a screenplay written by Neal Marshall Stevens [as Benjamin Carr] (Thir13en Ghosts; Hellraiser: Deader; The Killer Eye), based on Band’s storyline.
A sequel, Bride of the Head of the Family, has been announced more than once but it has yet to be produced and is listed as “in development” for 2024.
Meanwhile, the movie has spawned various items of Full Moon merchandise such as t-shirts, mugs, mouse mats and resin figures.
The movie stars Blake Adams (The Killer Eye; Lurking Fear), Jacqueline Lovell (The Killer Eye; Hideous!), Bob Schott (Fear), James Jones, Alexandria Quinn, Gordon Jennison Noice, J.W. Perra, Vicki Skinner, Robert J. Ferrelli, Bruce Adel, Gary Anello, Dyer McHenry, Rob Roeser, Steven Novak, Van Epperson.
Plot:
Howard (Gordon Jennison Noice) is the meanest nastiest thug in town, a criminal with a hotwife Loretta (Jacqueline Lovell). Loretta’s problem is she’s having an affair with Lance (Blake Adams), owner of the town diner and Howard’s getting suspicious.
Driving back from one of their nightly flings, Lance witnesses the local family of weirdos, the Stackpools, dragging a man from his truck and into their house. Seeing this as an opportunity, Lance discovers the Stackpools’ terrible secret.
They are quintuplets but instead of being born as normal humans, they each have one of the traits of one human being: One is extremely strong; one has extremely well-developed senses; one is extremely attractive (Alexandria Quinn); and, one is extremely intelligent.
The whole family is run by the one who has superintelligence, the ‘head of the family’ from the title, Myron (J.W. Perra). Little more than a giant head with hands in a wheelchair, Myron psychically controls his other siblings but seeks more…
Our review:
Head of the Family is all about Jacqueline Lovell aka Sarah St James and the number of times that she can shed her clothes in the film. In fact, the last five or so minutes the whole pretence of a movie is dropped in favour of her being complete starkers for the finale.
This Full Moon movie was made before CGI was prevalent and we didn’t have too many online forums to talk about bad or cult movies. Because if we did, this movie would have been one of the most popular discussion points. And perhaps we would have even got that sequel that was promised at the end of the film and teased again many times since by director Charles Band.
With regard to the film, it’s a fun and funny time waster that would probably never be made today due to the abundance of nudity. Honestly, I think this movie could have survived without all the sex and nudity – the run time would have been cut in half, but it would still have been an interesting film.
Not that I am saying the nudity should be cut. It shouldn’t. It’s part of the sleazy charm of the film alongside the rather decent-looking giant head effect, especially with its elongated and slimy tongue which is used to lick one of Ms Lovell’s breasts! What a gloriously outrageous scene!
Head of the Family is a low-budget movie that was never going to stand the test of time but didn’t need to. This is the type of cult movie that filmmakers dream of making, a small comedy horror that people are still talking about more than twenty-five years later. And people are still waiting for that sequel Charles.
The Arty Dans, MOVIES & MANIA
Other reviews:
“Lovell is treated to a tongue-on-flesh scene that posits her as Full Moon’s ’90s-era Barbara Crampton, participating in what is easily the most unnerving nipple licking ever committed to 35mm. This scene alone makes Head of the Family worth a watch for any self-respecting Full Moon fan; it’s the perfect synthesis of the grotesque and softcore that the company does so well.” Yell!
“The comedy, overall, works and the big treat is that when considering this film is not as old, the remastering is drop-dead gorgeous. As a soft-core p*rn style flick that blends black comedy into the mix, some fans may appreciate the added detail. Lovell shines more often than not, as the story really does focus on her…” 28 Days Later Analysis
“It’s not likely to become any movie buff’s favorite piece of cinema ever, but it has a fun story, some good practical effects (the makeup job on Myron is quite a piece of work, as are a few of the surgery-aftermath applicatons), a decent script, and plenty of Grade-A nudity to boot.” Mad Mad Mad Mad Movies
“The inadequate financing apparently prevented the filmmakers from even using real fire during the finale, leaving far too much to the imagination – so much, in fact, that nothing appears resolved as if the story just tapers off with no clear conclusion. Nevertheless, the dual lack of plausibility and clothing, mixed with a few bits of outrageously accidental humor, make this cult film a perversely erotic, strangely worthwhile watch.” Gone with the Twins
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