Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! (1978) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

The film never provides a concrete scientific explanation for the tomato attacks. It presents the premise as an absurd, tongue-in-cheek homage to Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Birds' (1963), which the opening scroll explicitly references. The tomatoes simply become violent without explanation, treating the horrifying attacks as a given fact of the film's universe rather than something to be rationalized.

Foreshadowing: The opening prophetic scroll hints at dark events following the release of The Birds, foreshadowing the tomato menace.

• killer tomatoes
• origin
• attack
• parody

'Puberty Love' is a song that plays on the radio during the chaos. When Mason Dixon notices the tomatoes recoiling from the sound, he realizes it's their weakness. In the stadium showdown, the song is played loudly through loudspeakers, causing the tomatoes to shrink and become vulnerable to being stomped by the crowd. The film doesn't explain why this particular song works, it's played for comedic effect as a bizarre plot device.

Foreshadowing: Dixon first notices the tomatoes retreating when 'Puberty Love' plays on a child's radio, giving him the key insight.

• puberty love
• song
• tomatoes
• weakness
• defeat

The masked assassin is never clearly identified by name or motive in the film. They appear multiple times attempting to eliminate Dixon, including during the chase sequence where they hijack his car. The assassin operates as a human antagonist working against the task force, though their true identity and who sent them remain ambiguous, this element adds another layer of chaotic conflict to the story.

• assassin
• masked
• dixon
• attacker

After learning that the tomatoes are vulnerable to the sound of 'Puberty Love,' Richardson decides to keep this information secret rather than share it immediately. He reveals to Dixon that he intends to use the vulnerability to gain power and dominate once civilization collapses from the tomato attacks. However, Finletter interrupts before Richardson can fully explain his scheme, preventing his plan from being executed.

• richardson
• plan
• vulnerability
• power

The tomatoes shrink as a direct reaction to hearing 'Puberty Love.' The mechanism isn't scientifically explained, it's simply presented as an absurd vulnerability. The sound causes them to become small and weak, making them susceptible to being crushed by the stomping crowd. This allows the humans to defeat what seemed like an unstoppable, giant vegetable army.

Foreshadowing: Dixon observes the tomatoes shrinking after the song plays at the apartment, giving him the idea to use it as a weapon.

• shrink
• tomatoes
• puberty love
• defeat

Lois Fairchild is a senator or government official who becomes suspicious after a senate subcommittee unveils a secret pamphlet about the tomatoes. She begins her own independent investigation into the attacks, which leads her to track Wilbur Finletter. Her investigation puts her in the path of danger, ultimately trapping her with a giant tomato at the stadium climax.

Foreshadowing: The senate subcommittee scene reveals secret documents that prompt Fairchild's investigation.

• lois fairchild
• investigation
• senate
• spying

At the stadium, the survivors gather as the tomatoes advance. They play 'Puberty Love' through the loudspeakers, causing the tomatoes to shrink and become vulnerable. The crowd then stomps the diminutive tomatoes, defeating them. Fairchild is saved from a giant tomato when Dixon sings 'Puberty Love' to it while presenting the sheet music. The film concludes with a triumphant carrot emerging from the earth declaring the tomatoes are gone.

• stadium
• showdown
• defeat
• carrot
• victory

The giant tomato wearing earmuffs is significant because it cannot hear the 'Puberty Love' song that repels the other tomatoes. This makes it immune to the audio attack and allows it to continue pursuing Fairchild. Dixon must resort to showing the tomato the physical sheet music and singing to it directly, which eventually works and saves Fairchild.

• earmuffs
• giant tomato
• fairchild
• immunity

Mason Dixon is selected as the leader of the President's specialized task force to combat the killer tomatoes, though the film doesn't explicitly explain why he was chosen for this role. He appears to be a competent leader who coordinates the various specialists, disguise expert Sam Smith, scuba diver Greg Colburn, Olympic swimmer Gretta Attenbaum, and soldier Wilbur Finletter, each contributing their unique skills to the anti-tomato mission.

• mason dixon
• leader
• task force
• team

Sam Smith, the disguise expert capable of impersonating historical figures, attempts to blend in among the tomatoes by joining them around a campfire. His cover is immediately blown when he asks for ketchup while enjoying a hotdog, a glaringly obvious human行为 that betrays his disguise. This comedic moment exemplifies the film's absurdist humor and the incompetence of the task force.

• sam smith
• disguise
• campfire
• ketchup
• fail