Meet the Hollowheads

Meet the Hollowheads

Year: 1989

Runtime: 86 mins

Language: English

Science FictionHorrorComedy

The Hollowheads are a bizarre, ultra‑modern family living in a Jetsons‑style world filled with whimsical gadgets and oddball customs. Henry, an employee at a slime factory, hopes a promotion will come when he invites his lecherous boss over for dinner to meet the clan. Unaware of their ways, the boss makes advances on Mrs. Hollowhead, causing fallout.

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Timeline & Setting – Meet the Hollowheads (1989)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Meet the Hollowheads (1989). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Hollowhead household, The Edge, Kitchen, Regeneration Chamber, Basement

The Hollowhead home is a bright, surreal residence filled with unusual appliances and odd foods. Beyond its doors lies a dark, pipe-filled world where misbehaving children are threatened with the Edge. Key locations include the lively kitchen during dinner, the regeneration chamber in the basement, and shadowy corridors connecting the house to the strange outside.

🏠 Domestic 🌀 Surreal 🧰 Industrial

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:34

Main Characters – Meet the Hollowheads (1989)

Meet the key characters of Meet the Hollowheads (1989), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Henry Hollowhead

An ambitious father who pushes to secure a promotion, even at the expense of others. He balances concern for his family with a willingness to bend rules to impress his boss. Henry is calculating, often relying on the family to help him navigate a corrupt workplace.

👔 Ambition 🗝️ Manipulation 🧑‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family loyalty

Miriam Hollowhead

The resilient mother who refuses to be intimidated by Mr. Crabneck. She contributes to the plan to subdue the predatory boss and protects her family with practical, calm leadership. Miriam embodies strength and resourcefulness under pressure.

🪶 Resilience 🧭 Resourceful 👩‍👧‍👦 Matriarch

Cindy Hollowhead

The older sister who is excited about a party and social status, and who becomes entangled with Mr. Crabneck. Her actions drive the party sequence and the ensuing chaos, serving as a catalyst for the family’s response.

💃 Rebellious 🎭 Socialite 👩‍👧 Family member

Bud Hollowhead

The oldest son, a budding musician whose controversial songs and presence reflect the family’s cultural tension. His presence at key moments deepens the conflict and underscores the gap between ambition and danger.

🎹 Musician 🧭 Tactful 🧒 Family

Billy Hollowhead

The youngest son, curious and mischievous, who plays with splat-spray games and the family pet’s parasites. He demonstrates courage during the confrontation with Mr. Crabneck and helps steer the family toward resolution.

🧒 Playful 🧬 Inventive 🛡️ Protective

Joey

Billy’s best friend, a partner in mischief who contributes to the night’s events. His presence offers a more playful counterpoint to the family’s serious predicament.

🧒 Loyal friend 🎨 Creative 👫 Companion

Mr. Crabneck

A lonely, predatory boss who uses charm and coercion to seek advancement and satisfy his desires. His actions trigger the family’s crisis and ultimately lead to his downfall.

💼 Boss 🗝️ Predatory 🧭 Exploitative

The Crazy Man

A mysterious, unsettling figure who lurks in the basement and around the edges of the Hollowhead world, contributing to the film’s surreal and darkly humorous atmosphere.

🎭 Enigmatic 🕳️ Unstable 🧬 Surreal

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:34

Major Themes – Meet the Hollowheads (1989)

Explore the central themes of Meet the Hollowheads (1989), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🏠 Family

The Hollowhead family forms the emotional core of the story as they navigate a dangerous, oppressive world. Loyalty and protective instincts push them to take extreme actions to shield each other. The film suggests that family bonds can override external danger, even when survival requires morally gray choices.

⚖️ Power

Power dynamics drive the plot: a lonely boss seeks control and advancement, while the family figures out how to resist or subvert coercive authority. The narrative exposes how those in charge manipulate others through desire and fear. Trust, pressure, and defiance clash as authority is challenged.

🧪 Surreal World

The setting fuses a bright domestic life with a dystopian underworld of pipes and an ominous edge. Technology and odd appliances act as instruments of both marvel and menace. The surreal environment highlights themes of control, revival, and the fragility of rational order.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:34

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Meet the Hollowheads Summary

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Meet the Hollowheads Summary

Meet the Hollowheads Timeline

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Meet the Hollowheads Timeline

More About Meet the Hollowheads

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