The director of Attack of the Killer Tomatoes argued that it took a ''certain kind of mentality'' to enjoy the film
"The weird combination is part of the appeal."
As a fine art, there are plenty of arguments to be had about whether a movie is good or not. In our opinion, if you like a film, that means it's a good movie. It's as simple as that.
Although today it has gained a cult following, a movie like Attack of the Killer Tomatoes received mixed reviews upon its theatrical run. However, the co-writer and director of the film, argued that much of the mistrust of the film lay in a fundamental misunderstanding from the audience.
"About ten percent of the people who heard the title thought it was serious," said John DeBello, director and co-writer of Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, during an interview with the Associated Press. "That really scared me about the human race."
Intended as a parody film, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes wasn't exactly award-winning material, but it is well-loved by its fans to this day. "The title sort of spawned the movie, and the rest is history," said DeBello."
DeBello said that the film was "a combination of esoteric humor and pie-in-the-face."
"The weird combination is part of the appeal," said Debello during an interview with the Dallas Morning News. "The script is quite funny, and acting is all across the board and the production value is that kind of fifties schlock look. People say, 'This looks really stupid - why am I laughing?'"
But despite some misgivings, DeBello was ultimately grateful for the fanbase that his film had garnered over the years. "I think it takes a certain kind of mentality to like Killer Tomatoes," said DeBello. "You need to be educated on one hand, but you need to have the mindset of an eight-year-old on the other. People realize intuitively that there's no pretension."