Troma‘s Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz have kept the independent spirit alive for the better part of 52 years and are still going strong. While their in-house productions have slowed, they still have a hand in distributing films that aim to capture the spirit of what they’ve spent decades building.
While many of these DIY titles are entertaining, most try too hard. With the 2025 release of filmmaker Ricky Glore’s Sweet Meats, they’ve found a fitting addition to their catalog that doesn’t feel like an imitation; it’s more like the real thing.
Bobby Sweet (Ricky Glore) is a delusional wannabe country singer stuck doing grunt work at a rundown restaurant run by the perpetually drunk Nick (Andrew Gordon). When Nick accidentally falls into the meat grinder, his daughter Laddie (Eileen Earnest) decides the obvious solution is to serve dear old Dad as the daily special. It turns out business is booming when human flesh hits the grill!
After changing its name to Sweet Meats, the restaurant becomes an overnight sensation, with Bobby taking center stage. But keeping the crowds fed means finding a steady supply of fresh meat, sending Bobby and Laddie into a bloody, chaotic killing spree.
One interesting thing about the film is that it was shot at Bobby Mackey’s Music World in Wilder, KY. It was the final film shot there before the venue was destroyed. The place was considered one of the most haunted in the country, and there’s a Ghost Adventures episode that focuses on it. After it was torn down, portions were reconstructed at Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada, which I visited.
The film itself is a rootin’-tootin’ good time. I was entertained by the antics, much like when I watched Lloyd Kaufman’s last directorial effort, Shakespeare’s Shitstorm (2020). Glore seems to have studied the horror-comedy greats and does a fine job of balancing the two, which isn’t as easy as one might think.
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Boosted by a solid script and capable actors, Sweet Meats balances the blood and guts with likable characters and, surprisingly, a lot of heart. Did I mention it’s also a musical with catchy tunes? I’m not much of a country music fan, but it works here. It reminded me of the rockabilly madness of Jim Larsen’s Buttcrack (1998), one of Troma’s most memorable acquisitions of all time.
Sweet Meats is available on Troma Now, Troma’s streaming platform, and on physical media. The Blu-ray includes decent special features such as a commentary track, The Grind: The Making of Sweet Meats, cast and crew feature-length interviews, and the traditional Tromatic extras.
With great performances, a solid script, and a true passion for the art of filmmaking, Sweet Meats keeps you laughing (and cringing) until the credits roll.
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