The Census Taker

1984 "Four lovers with everything to hide. One stranger with nothing to lose."
5.5| 1h35m| NR| en| More Info
Released: 23 January 1984 Released
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Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Synopsis

When George and Martha let Harvey, an annoying census taker, into their home, they find themselves under a barrage of increasingly abusive questions. Furious at his intrusiveness, and at their wit's end, they kill the census taker and with the help of their friends Pete and Eva, must hide the body from a determined investigator.

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Reviews

MamaGravity good back-story, and good acting
HeadlinesExotic Boring
Stephanie There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes
Darin One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.
BillRossVLogic Yes, this is a low-budget comedy with cheap sets, but it is a direct spoof of "Who's Afraid Of Virginia Wolfe?" Even the characters see the parallel, as their names are George and Martha. Martha's first words are, "What a dump!", a direct quote. You have a dysfunctional couple who have to host a younger couple. Secrets are revealed. If only they had eliminated that annoying census taker this would have been even better. The couples' interaction could carry the movie. The best aspect is you get to see the FUNNY side of Meredith MacRae. She was usually typecast as the ingenue, occasionally getting to sing, but always serious, even in comedies. You had to see her on a game show to find out how smart and funny she was. This was the only time she showed off her sarcastic, comic delivery. I was a big fan of hers in the 70s, but never heard of this until about 8 years ago. Thank goodness for cable.
rreger By far the worst movie I have ever seen. (And I've seen "Flesh Eating Mothers.") When I'm laying on my death bed, one single tear will roll down my cheek as I remember the 1 1/2 hours I wasted subjecting myself to this movie.
SatyrIX I remember the original appearance of this film - it had all the corporate venality of the SNL product we've come to accept as so much saturation in movies over the last two decades, and was DOA in theatres when released.Today however, the movie has a bizarre level of subliminal black humor that manages to play pretty entertainingly; it also has incidental music by the Residents throughout (mostly stuff from the Commercial Album), which works surprisingly well.Overall, the movie is similar in feel to Eating Raoul, or the late 70s tv show Mary Hartman, in terms of questionable funniness but sustained 'edginess'. Speaking of MH, MH, the husband reprises his role here, more or less; his Martin Mull-ish cop buddy, IMO, was the comic highlight of the film.
donlhumphries Came across this movie just recently, and found it quite a good suspense thriller. The tension builds gradually, as the census taker asks all kinds of impertinent questions, thus invoking the wrath of the married couple. Complications ensue, and the body count mounts. A grim comedy, with several twists.