Body Bags

Body Bags (1993) is a horror anthology film directed by John Carpenter (Halloween, The Thing), who also stars in the film, along with prolific actor Tom Arnold (True Lies, Roseanne) and Tobe Hooper, an esteemed director fondly remembered for his contribution to the horror genre with films like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

This made-for-television movie consists of three spine-chilling stories with dark and grotesque elements of humor, all designed to evoke fear in viewers. All three segments are distinct but share a common thread, being connected by an engaging narrative from John Carpenter's eccentric character, a creepy, cadaverous mortician working in a morgue.

The first segment, "The Gas Station," set in the nocturnal quiet of Haddonfield, offers the lead character Anne as a college student doing the graveyard shift at an isolated petrol station. A blend of suspense, isolation, and obscure characters keeps the segment incredibly gripping. Anne’s encounters leader her into a blood-curdling situation as a serial killer is reported to be on the loose in the vicinity.

Moving on to the next story "Hair," it features Stacy Keach as Richard Coberts, a middle-aged man obsessed with his thinning hair. The story depicts Richard's desperate measures to regain his lost hair under pressure from societal norms and his beautiful girlfriend, played by Sheena Easton. The desperation leads him to a strange experimental hair regrowth procedure provided by Dr. Lock, charmingly played by David Warner. The result is bizarre, carefully exprming the essence of science arcana and our society’s obsession with maintaining youth.

The final ("Eye") offers a glimpse of futuristic technology and our vulnerability as species to achieve perfection. It stars Mark Hamill, best known as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, as a baseball player named Brent Matthews. After losing an eye in a car accident, he receives a donor eye from a deceased convicted murderer. The following paranormal events put Brent's life and sanity in jeopardy.

Distinctively, Body Bags breaks the fourth wall by introducing a narrator, the Crypt-Keeper-esque coroner (played by John Carpenter), who introduces each terrifying tale with an appropriate dose of humor. This addition adds up to the fun element interwoven into the otherwise nerve-wracking stories and sets the mood right for the creepy tales to follow.

In addition to the leading actors, Body Bags boasts an incredible supporting cast with many notable faces from the horror genre. The screen features cameos from Wes Craven (director of Nightmare on Elm Street), Roger Corman (famed B-movie producer), and Sam Raimi (director of Evil Dead). Along with them, other notable performances include Deborah Harry from "Blondie" appearing in the opening segment and Twiggy, the iconic British model, who also makes an appearance.

Although initially intended as a television pilot, Body Bags presents an entertaining, frightening anthology, reminding viewers of other successful anthologies such as Tales from The Crypt and Creepshow. The tales exhibit a remarkable venue of urban myths and horror, ranging from relentless serial killers, terrifying side-effects of dubious medical treatments, to unsettling tales of transplants gone awry.

The directors, John Carpenter and Tobe Hooper, have skillfully embedded their signature techniques into every tale. John Carpenter, who directed the first two segments, has excelled in creating a sense of dread with restrained mayhem constructed through amplifying sounds, atmospheric lighting, and skilled camera work. The third segment by Tobe Hooper exploits his skill in generating suspense and horror through raw elements.

In short, Body Bags is an intriguing nexus of horror, science fiction, and dark comedy. With horrific visuals and gripping narratives neatly imbued with threads of comic relief, Body Bags appeases fans of both horror films and anthologies. Amidst its grotesque and scary sequences, it pushes viewers to ponder deeper questions about vanity, perfection, societal pressures, and the dire consequences that might ensue when we try to manipulate the natural course of life.