Murder and betrayal are on the table in this riotous NZ horror comedy. Four holidaying friends come across a strain of weed that gives them the most extreme case of the munchies ever recorded.
Jules (Alice May Connolly) is on a New Year’s Eve trip with her new boyfriend and his two stoner friends in the wops of North Canterbury when they stumble across a long-abandoned stash in an old shed. After a quick session and an accidental murder, the marijuana turns them into enthusiastic cannibals. To cover the evidence of their murder, they decide to keep toking so they can devour the body. What will happen when the meat runs out? Who will be the next victim?
The Weed Eaters is another entry into the beloved kiwi horror comedy canon. Shot on a deceptively low budget raised through crowdfunding and featuring appearances from Delaney Davidson, The Bats’ Paul Keen and comedian David Correros playing it straight. For a film about cannibalism, subtle effects keep the goriness to a minimum, so it’s even safe for all but the most squeamish. As with the best horror flicks, the true terror comes in the form of paranoia and growing mistrust between friends and as with many other gruesome faves it is not without social commentary as it explores New Zealand’s relationship with drugs and how it affects friendships. — Jordan Salomen
The Spinoff – “As someone who hates horrors, I can confidently say that The Weed Eaters is far more comedy than horror, and in fact I only had to close my eyes on three brief occasions. Besides, it is genuinely very funny.” (full review here)
The 13th Floor – “This little indie film feels like the defibrillator the NZ film industry didn’t know it needed – a necessary jolt to the system that reminds us what cinema made with heart, guts, and purpose can look like.” (full review here)
Craccum – “In its plot synopsis alone, The Weed Eaters is a stoner masterpiece: four slacker adults, vacationing in rural Canterbury, are thrust into a cannibalistic plot after toking up on freaky weed. Does that not sound awesome?!” (full review here)
