Retro Blood 235: OverKill (1987)

Join James Kline and J.H. Alison as Retro Blood continues J.H. Alison’s Birthday Month Picks with another wild entry from Ulli Lommel—the gritty, low-budget slasher Overkill. We kick things off with quick thoughts on the movie and its chaotic tone before stepping out of the ’80s for a special segment covering WrestleMania 42 Saturday. The guys break down Night 1, discuss the matches and storylines, and preview what’s coming for Night 2. Then we rewind back to the late ’80s, diving into the era of gritty exploitation and Buddy cop action cinema. We talk how films like Overkill fit into that underground wave, blending sleaze, violence during the VHS boom. From there, we get into the behind-the-scenes story—Lommel’s fascination with serial killer narratives, the film’s low-budget production style, and the casting, including discussion around Mickey Spillane inspiration vibes and the odd “Playgirl-era” energy surrounding parts of the cast and marketing. Finally, we deliver a full breakdown of the movie, covering its bizarre structure, over-the-top characters, and moments that had James questioning if this was actually meant to be a spoof. We talk kills, performances, tone, and whether Overkill lands as disturbing, ridiculous, or somewhere in between. It’s sleazy, strange, and pure underground horror chaos—only on Retro Blood. 🔥🩸 #RetroBlood #Overkill1987 #UlliLommel #80sHorror #CultHorror #SlasherFilm #VHSHorror #BirthdayPicks #WrestleMania #HorrorPodcast #RetroHorror