Microwave Massacre

Microwave Massacre

Year: 1979

Runtime: 76 mins

Language: English

HorrorComedyCrude humor and satireHorror the undead and monster classicsFunny jokes and crude humor

Donald, a weary construction worker, struggles with his wife's insistence on cooking only gourmet meals, leaving him with barely edible food. After a heated argument ends in tragedy, he discovers an unconventional use for his microwave. He begins preparing richer dishes, experimenting with a variety of recipes and meats, turning the appliance into a macabre source of sustenance.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Microwave Massacre (1979)

Trace every key event in Microwave Massacre (1979) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Murder during drunken quarrel

Donald comes home drunk after an argument with May and bludgeons her to death with a large salt shaker. He wakes the next day with a foggy memory and a brutal hangover, discovering May's corpse in the microwave. The act sets off a chain of horrific choices he will try to rationalize.

Night Home
2

Disposing the body begins

Still unsettled, Donald cuts up May's body and stores the pieces in foil wrap in the refrigerator. A running gag emerges as May's head occasionally appears sentient or watchful, hinting at the macabre humor of the situation. He tries to compartmentalize the crime while maintaining his routine.

Same night Home Kitchen
3

May's hand becomes the first snack

During a late-night snack, Donald bites into May's hand and finds it delicious. He repeats the experience and even shares it with coworkers Phillip and Roosevelt, who oddly approve the flavors. The discovery accelerates his descent into cannibalistic cooking.

Late night Home
4

Hooker meat becomes part of the menu

Donald begins picking up prostitutes and using them as meat for his recipes, broadening his culinary experiments beyond May's remains. His normal life becomes a cover for a growing appetite and a dark hobby. The kitchen becomes a forbidden laboratory.

Over the next days City and Home
5

Mild heart attack and pacemaker warning

While cooking one night, Donald experiences a mild heart attack and visits his doctor. The doctor notes a pacemaker implanted years earlier due to weight issues but says the heart is currently functional. The medical reality intersects chillingly with his secret meals.

One night Doctor's office
6

Evelyn arrives and uncovers May

Evelyn, May's sister, arrives seeking May but discovers May's severed head in her sister's bed. She is gagged with bread and tied up in Donald's closet, becoming a prisoner of the macabre situation. The intruder adds pressure to Donald's already dangerous acts.

Shortly after arrival Home
7

Luncheons prove popular; plan a wrestling outing

Donald's lunches keep turning up as hits among his friends. He announces a catering outing to a wrestling match and tests a new recipe he dubs Peking chick, signaling a planned public showcase of his cannibal cuisine. The business-like tone contrasts with his hidden acts.

After Evelyn's capture Home
8

Roosevelt and Phillip arrive; confront a corpse

When Roosevelt and Phillip arrive to collect Donald, they instead find him dead on the kitchen floor from a heart attack. Partly cooked body parts sit in the microwave, forcing them to confront the horrific truth of his cooking.

Evening Home
9

House sale and microwave inspection

Some time later, the house is put up for sale and movers haul away the furniture. A repairman (director Wayne Berwick in an uncredited cameo) inspects the microwave and notes a dangerous wire issue that would be bad for someone with a pacemaker.

Later House
10

May's head revealed in the fridge

The camera zooms into the fridge, revealing May's head with glowing orange eyes, signaling the culmination of the cannibal nightmare. The film closes on this grisly, unsettling image. The living world moves on, but the horror remains.

End Kitchen
11

May's head as macabre guiding motif

Even after her death, May's severed head keeps appearing as a surreal reminder, sometimes observing or taunting Donald. The absurd humor contrasts with the grim acts he commits, fueling the film's dark tone.

Throughout Home
12

Director cameo and meta moment

The repairman cameo by Wayne Berwick adds a meta touch, acknowledging the film's production while contributing to the eerie atmosphere. This moment serves as a bridge to the final reveal and the house's neglect.

During the repair inspection Home

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 12:25

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Microwave Massacre Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Microwave Massacre

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