Slaughterhouse

Slaughterhouse

Year: 1987

Runtime: 85 mins

Language: English

Director: Rick Roessler

HorrorHorror the undead and monster classicsGory gruesome and slasher horrorGraphic violence and brutal revengeGothic and eerie haunting horror

Lester Bacon faces pressure from the town lawyer, the sheriff, and a rival slaughterhouse owner who wants his land. Determined to protect his property, he orders his massive, mentally unstable son to eliminate anyone who threatens them, sparking a violent, relentless showdown.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Slaughterhouse yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Slaughterhouse (1987)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Slaughterhouse (1987). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

late 20th century

The events unfold in a contemporary late-20th-century rural setting, where traditional farming meets modern industry. Economic pressure, including foreclosures and property sales, fuels tension and helps drive the violence. The small-town atmosphere enhances the sense of danger as familiar places become sites of terror.

Location

Bacon Slaughterhouse, Lovers Lane, rural town

The action centers around the Bacon Slaughterhouse and nearby Lovers Lane in a rural town. The site blends old hog-farming life with a factory-style slaughter operation, symbolizing economic change and foreclosures affecting the community. Its isolated roads and the slaughterhouse interior become the backdrop for the teenagers' horror plans and a brutal sequence of killings.

🏚️ Rural setting 🚜 Farming town 🏭 Industrial encroachment

Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 20:33

Main Characters – Slaughterhouse (1987)

Meet the key characters of Slaughterhouse (1987), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Kevin Matthews (Joel Hoffman)

A high-school student who, along with Michele, becomes a target of Buddy's rampage at Lovers Lane. His murder marks a turning point in the town's violence and discloses the fragility of young lives in a rural community.

🩸 Victim 🧒 Teen

Michele Mitchell (Courtney Lercara)

A teenage victim of Buddy who is present with Kevin at Lovers Lane. Her death compounds the sense of danger surrounding the community and intensifies Liz’s ensuing fight for survival.

🩸 Victim 👧 Teen

Buddy Bacon (Joe B. Barton)

Lester’s simple-minded son who escalates from petty aggression to brutal murder, using the slaughterhouse environment as a tool for his violence.

🩸 Violent 🧠 Unstable

Lester Bacon (Don Barrett)

Old farmer and patriarch whose shift from traditional hog farming to modern slaughter practices destabilizes the family and community, setting off a chain of tragic events.

👨‍🌾 Patriarch 🏭 Industrialization

Liz Borden (Sherry Leigh)

Sheriff Borden’s daughter who survives the ordeal, confronts the killers, and ultimately drives away to seek safety, embodying resilience in the face of rural danger.

🧭 Survivor 👩‍👧 Daughter

Sheriff Fred Borden (William Houck)

The local lawman involved in the investigation of the disappearances and killings, representing the town’s attempt to restore order as violence unfolds.

👮 Authority 🕵️ Law enforcement

Tom Sanford (Bill Brinsfield)

Lester’s attorney who collaborates with the town's power structure to pursue land deals around the slaughterhouse; becomes entangled in the escalating crisis.

⚖️ Attorney 🏛️ Law

Deputy Dave Thomas

A law enforcement deputy who investigates the missing couple and meets a grim fate as the violence closes in on the town.

👮 Deputy 🕵️ Investigation

Sally Duncan

Dave Thomas’s girlfriend who attempts to escape Buddy’s rampage but becomes another casualty in the spree.

🩸 Victim 🧳 Survivor of pursuit

Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 20:33

Major Themes – Slaughterhouse (1987)

Explore the central themes of Slaughterhouse (1987), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔪 Violence

The film centers on a family whose routine life spirals into brutality. Buddy’s escalating acts turn a quiet rural landscape into a deadly network, revealing how heredity, frustration, and economic stress can ignite a killing spree. The narrative uses explicit violence to expose the consequences of cruelty within a community. The tension builds as violence flows from the household into the town.

🎥 Voyeurism

Teenagers planning a horror video turn fear into a form of entertainment, turning the environment into a stage for danger. The slaughterhouse area becomes a magnet for spectators seeking thrills, blurring lines between observer and victim. This dynamic critiques how media and curiosity can magnify real-world violence. The movie suggests that the appetite for fear can have deadly real-world outcomes.

🏭 Industrialization

Old farming ways give way to factory-style slaughterhouses, symbolizing progress at a cost to community safety. Foreclosure threats and land sales underscore the encroachment of large-scale industry on rural life. The setting demonstrates a town torn between tradition and efficiency, with violence emerging from that conflict. The narrative critiques economic forces that prioritize profit over people.

🗡️ Revenge

The climax centers on acts of retaliation that reassert a sense of justice through violent means. Victims become avengers in a grim cycle, culminating in a brutal confrontation that reshapes the town’s sense of safety. While revenge provides closure, it comes at a heavy cost to all involved, underscoring the destructive nature of vengeance.

Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 20:33

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Unlock the Full Story of Slaughterhouse

Don't stop at just watching — explore Slaughterhouse in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Slaughterhouse is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Slaughterhouse Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Slaughterhouse, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Slaughterhouse Summary

Slaughterhouse Timeline

Track the full timeline of Slaughterhouse with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Slaughterhouse Timeline

More About Slaughterhouse

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Slaughterhouse: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Slaughterhouse