Watch Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker

Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker is a horror film from 1981 that follows the story of a young man, Billy Lynch (Jimmy McNichol), who is raised by his doting Aunt Cheryl (Susan Tyrrell) after his parents are killed in a car accident. Cheryl has raised Billy with a fierce protectiveness that the local townspeople find strange; however, Billy is happy with his aunt and their quiet life together.

But as Billy approaches adulthood, things begin to change. Aunt Cheryl becomes increasingly possessive and controlling, and she resists any attempts by others to get close to Billy. She also begins to have disturbing hallucinations and flashbacks, which she keeps hidden from Billy.

Meanwhile, Billy is met with constant pressure from his high school basketball coach, Tom Landers (Bo Svenson), who wants to recruit him for college basketball. But Aunt Cheryl, fearing that Billy will leave her, begins to sabotage his relationship with Landers and becomes aggressively protective of Billy.

As the story progresses, Aunt Cheryl's behavior grows more and more erratic and dangerous, and it becomes clear that she has a dark secret that she will do anything to protect. Soon, Billy finds himself caught in a nightmarish struggle to escape his aunt's madness and discover the truth about what happened to his parents.

One of the strengths of Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker is its strong performances. Both Jimmy McNichol and Susan Tyrrell deliver nuanced performances that make their characters feel real and multifaceted. McNichol's Billy is sympathetic and relatable, while Tyrrell's Cheryl is both sympathetic in her vulnerability and terrifying in her descent into madness.

The film also features some memorable horror sequences, particularly in its third act. Without giving too much away, the climax of the film is a tense, bloody showdown that is sure to leave viewers on the edge of their seats.

Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker is also notable for its exploration of queer themes. While the film doesn't explicitly address issues of sexuality or gender identity, it does feature a character (Aunt Cheryl) who is clearly struggling with repressed desires and whose behavior can be interpreted as a metaphor for the ways in which society can drive people to extremes when they are forced to hide who they really are.

Overall, Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker is a solid horror film that is elevated by its strong performances and its exploration of complex themes. While it may not be the most well-known film from the era, it is certainly worth seeking out for fans of horror and suspense.

Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker is a 1981 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 36 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3 and a MetaScore of 71.