Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Will Keenan, Alyce LaTourelle, Trent Haaga, Debbie Rochon, Sheri Wenden ... see more see more... , Edouard Baer , Lloyd Kaufman , Ariel Wizman , Matt Stone , Ron Jeremy , Trey Parker

Troma Team Pictures, the company that brought you such classics as The Toxic Avenger, When Nature Calls and Class Of Nuke 'Em High, takes a look inside the making of a "typical" Troma release with Ter... read more read more...ror Firmer, directed and co-written by Troma co-founder Lloyd Kaufman, who also appears as the director of the film-within-the film. Here, Kaufman (whose character is blind, which would explain a lot about Troma's product) and his crew are making a willfully sleazy horror flick, complete with monsters, gore, gratuitous nudity and loud rock 'n' roll, when a serial killer appears who doesn't happen to be in the script. Terror Firmer is based in part on Kaufman's 1998 book about his career with Troma, All I Need To Know About Filmmaking I Learned From The Toxic Avenger, and includes a plug for the upcoming Jane Austen's Schlock and Schlockability (possibly a follow-up to 1996's Shakespeare variant Tromeo and Juliet). ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

75% liked it

4,797 ratings

R, 1 hr. 54 min.

Directed by: Lloyd Kaufman

Release Date: October 29, 1999

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: January 23, 2001

Get It:

Stats: 269 reviews

Your Rating



clear rating

Flixster Reviews (269)


  • August 28, 2009
    Indy directors schooled in shock had two options when Hollywood stepped in and stole their thunder with bad taste comedy hits like THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY and American PIE.

    1. Become like John Waters, lose your edge and deliver much tamer (and much more bland) stabs at the ... read moreestablishment or...

    2. Up the ante in terms of nihilistic gore, nudity, amorality, cruelty and cheap toilet gags.

    Lloyd Kaufman has, with this film, undoubtedly established himself as the poster boy for the latter. So possessed is this man to disgust, offend, shock and give viewers an alternative to good, decent, Speilbergian entertainment, he has whipped out a film that includes, but it certainly not limited to, dismemberment, decapitation, impalement, castration, breast mutilation, urination, scat, puking, incest, rape, child molestation, drug use, cheesy sound effects, flatulence, deformed sex organs, full nudity (male and female), a fetus ripped from a womb, soft core sex and gore-dripping overkill in any and every other possible department. I must say, that it's a hectic, erratic, messy film, but I was never once bored while watching it.

    Since the story takes place around the set of an independent movie (invaded by a hermaphroditic serial killer who hacks his/her way through the cast and crew in an effort to shut down the production) we also get some commentary on how the film industry works (and how it doesn't) and on the comedic virtues found in the lowest of low human behavior.

    All four of the leads (Will Keenan, Alyce LaTourelle, Trent Haaga and Debbie Rochon) are great. Kaufman himself also shows considerable on-screen appeal as Larry Benjamin, the aloof director of the film in question, who also happens to be blind, an idea copied by Woody Allen for his acclaimed (but apparently not all that original) film Hollywood ENDING in 2001!

    Fair enough to say that not everyone will be able to endure TERROR FIRMER, but be grateful someone has the audacity to slap Tinseltown in the face by beating them at their own game. The video and DVD both contain deleted scenes and outtakes and are available in uncut or R-rated versions. Watch for a cameo by SOUTH PARK creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Motorhead's Lemmy during an amusing end credit sequence.
  • September 5, 2008
    Beyond Tromafare for Citizens Toxie, Terror Firmer actually offers some interesting points about film-making and certainly Troma is better at satirizing themselves than the mainstream fair a la "Scary Movie", "Epic Movie", etc.

    Hilarious but perhaps far too silly (and unfamiliar... read more) for those unacquainted with the truly trash crap independent film and their rare glory.

    Does this movie dare to try to be "art"? Yes, and it succeeds better than a B movie should, proving that Troma is one cut above themselves.

    "Dig a hole and call the New York Post!"

    Troma's biggest problem is that any upcoming film-makers who may want to work for them *ahem* will expect a certain on set vibe because of this movie, and we're also plain aware that Troma is not as "no budget" as they claim and for the most part, just underpays the young and willing.
  • June 6, 2007
    Troma's best stuff.
  • May 28, 2006
    I love it. Disgusting. Sickening. Even made me feel like throwing up at times. Pure Troma gorgeousness. Twisted independent cinema. Cool.
  • April 2, 2009
    My favourite Troma film, as much for the documentary included as the film itself. Sums up perfectly what Troma fans like about the company's movies: an all around lack of taste on any subject.
  • April 1, 2009
    Decent Troma movie. Same elements as in every production by this team. It's playful and has the over the top gore. One of the better films in the Troma catalog.
  • July 31, 2011
    I personally think this is Troma's best movie. Yes, even better than the Toxic Avenger series. A weird mixture of camp, soft core porn, and the most over-the-top gore you've ever seen. It's not for the easily offended but if you have a hard stomach...check it out.
  • January 27, 2011
    This is another B movie Schlock fest from the Troma studio. Its silly, stupid & Lloyd Kaufman (the guy that usually comes on in the beginning of the movies) plays a Blind director. Tehre?s a serial Killer on the loose & the movie crew is dropping left & right. Well as usual the g... read moreore is up there, the boobs are there & LMAO there?s one silicone slut that well. Mm how can I put this? she got upgraded, then downgraded! Lol?This was at least funny. I do love the B-movie scholock on the occasion. B
  • September 22, 2009
    I first seen this movie on late night skinamax :p but was addicted ever since. Great acting and very entertaining (like most troma movies) with a very shocking ending.
  • September 15, 2009
    Not really into Troma movies. But this one was pretty good. It was funny, gory and sick. I am going to lok up some more from them

Critic Reviews


Alex Sandell
June 25, 2003
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum

Troma goes Blair Witch, and this movie gets VULGAR!

Lisa Nesselson
June 18, 2008
Lisa Nesselson, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Elvis Mitchell
January 1, 2000
Elvis Mitchell, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

December 6, 2005
Film Threat

Click to read the article Full Review

December 8, 2002
Film Threat

Click to read the article Full Review

Gemma Files
April 10, 2001
Gemma Files, eye WEEKLY

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

More Like This


Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Bad Taste
    Bad Taste (100%)
  • Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers
    Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers (100%)
  • The Hills Run Red
    The Hills Run Red (0%)
  • Zivot i smrt porno bande (The Life and Death of a Porno Gang)
    Zivot i smrt porno bande (The Life and Death ... (100%)

Facts


No facts approved yet. Be the first

Terror Firmer : Watch Free on TV


Terror Firmer Trivia


  • Who played the blind film director in Terror Firmer  Answer »
  • Who directed the following movies: The Toxic Avenger, Tromeo and Juliet and Terror Firmer?  Answer »

Movie Quizzes


No quizzes for Terror Firmer. Want to create one?

Recent News


No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists


Most Popular Skin


No skins yet. Interested in creating one?