Teen-Age Strangler is a 1964 American independent juvenile delinquency crime drama film directed by Ben Parker. [1] It was made in Huntington, West Virginia. It was re-released in black & white in 1990, resulting in local screenings, newspaper write-ups, and cast reunions. [2] It has become a cult film ever since it was featured on an episode of the TV series Mystery Science Theater 3000 . [3]
A serial killer is on the loose, baffling policemen. Their main suspects are mostly a gang of street racers with one of them, Jimmy, never having an alibi. Even though he's innocent, a can of worms opens as Jimmy's life is thrown into chaos. [4] [5]
A serial killer prowls the darkness, leaving police scrambling for answers. Their main suspects? A gang of reckless street racers. And caught in the middle is Jimmy — a kid with no alibi, framed by circumstance, his life spiraling out of control.
The only one who believes in him is Tricia Petmeplease, his former high school teacher. Years ago, she saw the spark of good in Jimmy when no one else did. Now, as the world turns against him, she becomes his guide, his voice of reason, and the one person who won’t let him give up.
But standing in his way is Matty Mal — Jimmy’s rival, a racer with dazzling hair and dreams of becoming the world’s greatest hair stylist. To Matty, every race is war, and Jimmy’s downfall is the ultimate prize.
As the killer closes in, suspicion runs wild, and the streets ignite with betrayal, Jimmy must find the strength to clear his name — before the next body drops.
It was featured on a Season 5 episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K). [6] [7] Actor John Humphreys, who played the role of "Mikey" appeared at the MST3K first Conventio-Con in September, 1994. [8]
Teen-Age Strangler was released by Sinister Cinema on VHS in 1990 as part of its "wild youth" roster. [9] The film was released by Something Weird Video in 2001 with the movie Teenage Gang Debs as a DVD double feature. [10] The MST3K version has been released by Rhino Home Video as part of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection: Volume 10 [11] (on both Rhino's and MST3K's official websites) and Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection: Volume 10.2 box sets.