Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker
1981 · Movie · R · 96 min · ★ 6.5 · 82% critics
A teen preparing to leave home finds his guardian growing dangerously possessive and determined to keep him close at any cost. As deaths and accusations mount, a hardline detective becomes convinced the teen is responsible, pulling everyone into a tense spiral of obsession, paranoia, and violence.
Also known as The Evil Protege · Thrilled to Death · Nightmare Maker · Momma's Boy
Where to watch
Watch free on Tubi — also streaming on AMC+ and Shudder.
2 hours to watch.
Stream (included)
Streaming availability and prices may be inaccurate or change — verify with the provider before subscribing.
unSUB's subscription recommendations are informational only, not financial advice.
More value for your money
Similar titles, ranked by watch-hours per subscription dollar.
Details
- Years
- 1981
- Release date
- 1981-11-20
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 96 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 82/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.5/10 (162 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a grimy, camp-tinged 80s psycho-thriller with obsessive family drama, rising body count, and a nasty authority figure; Not for you if you dislike sleaze, homophobia themes, or intense domestic menace like The Stepfather.
Pros: unhinged lead performance; darkly funny moments; pulpy suspense hooks | Cons: uneven acting; over-the-top tone; uncomfortable themes
Themes
- child abuse
- jealousy
- police
- homophobia
- sexuality
- obsession
- detective
- manipulation
- aunt
- coach
- slasher
- orphan
- +4 more
Cast & crew
Jimmy McNichol
as Billy Lynch
Susan Tyrrell
as Aunt Cheryl
Bo Svenson
as Detective Joe Carlson
Julia Duffy
as Julie
Marcia Lewis
as Margie
Steve Eastin
as Coach Tom Landers
Britt Leach
as Sgt. Cook
- CS
Caskey Swaim
as Phil Brody
- CN
Cooper Neal
as Frank
Bill Paxton
as Eddie
Directed by William Asher