A rural family’s deadly secrets turn a lakeside getaway into a nightmare of blood and blame.
THREE ON A MEATHOOK
A Padlocked Shed, Hooks of Cold Steel -- a Maniac on the loose
When four girls go on a weekend trip to a lake, they start to have car problems on the way home and meet a local man who takes them back to his farm. Later, his father begins to murder the girls and tries to pin the crimes on his son.
Quick Answer
Three on a Meathook is a 1972 American horror film directed by William Girdler about four girls whose weekend trip takes a deadly turn when they encounter a father-son duo at a remote farm, leading to a series of gruesome murders and a twisted attempt to pin the blame on the son.
Programmer's Pick
William Girdler’s debut is a grimy slice of hixploitation served with rural dread and a healthy dose of grindhouse gore. If you like your horror bloody, psychosexual, and a bit unhinged, this meathook delivers exactly what’s on the label.
— SassyFlix Programmer
Overview
Details & Specs
- Director
- William Girdler
- Writer
- William Girdler
- Release
- 1972
- Runtime
- 1h 20m
- Country
- United States of America
- Language
- English
- Genres
- Horror
- Also Known As
- 3 on a Meathook!
Why This Matters
This early feature from writer-director William Girdler draws inspiration from the real-life crimes of Ed Gein, reflecting the era's fascination with true crime influences in horror cinema.
Cast & Crew
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Why Cult
The farm setting and rural isolation amplify an atmosphere of paranoia and danger, making the countryside as menacing as any monster.
The twisted father-son relationship adds a psychological edge, with manipulation and guilt fueling the film’s tension.
From blood splatter to cannibalism, the film revels in practical effects and explicit violence typical of early '70s exploitation.
A proto-slasher featuring serial murders, dismemberment, and a killer with a meat cleaver—before the masked maniacs took over the genre.
Scene Gallery
Threat File
Questions from the Vault
When was Three on a Meathook released? +
Three on a Meathook was released in 1972.
Who directed Three on a Meathook? +
Three on a Meathook was directed by William Girdler.
How long is Three on a Meathook? +
Three on a Meathook has a runtime of 80 minutes.
What genre is Three on a Meathook? +
Three on a Meathook is a horror film.
How does Frank attempt to convince Billy he is responsible for the murders? +
Frank tries to pin the crimes on his son Billy by manipulating him into believing he is insane and responsible for the deaths of the girls.
Trailers & Clips
