Back in the mid-90s, I was working at the Chapter 7 bookstore in a suburban strip mall. The job was fine since my fellow book clerks were great folks. One of my workmates went on to have his name on the Stanley Cup when the Carolina Hurricanes won the title in 2006. The cultural advantage of the strip mall was in the middle of the parking lot stood a Kenny Rogers Roasters. Whenever I wanted to feel good, I’d clock out for lunch and head over for a plate. The place was a shrine to Kenny Rogers. The walls were covered in reproduction gold records for all his hits including “The Gambler” and “Lucille.” There were framed photos galore including several with him and Dolly Parton singing together. And the speakers in the ceiling played Kenny’s music. I enjoyed his chicken and being absorbed in Kenny’s world. The bookstore and Kenny Rogers’ Roasters are both gone from the strip mall. But the memories of his music and chicken remain inside me. Sweet Meats is a movie about a different country superstar with a restaurant. Although if I ate the burgers at country superstar Bobby Sweet’s joint, I’d probably not be feeling so good telling anyone.
Before Bobby Sweet became a country superstar and world famous for his Sweet Meats hamburger joints, he was a lowly employee at a restaurant owned by Nick Gruoch (Andrew Gordon, Curtains For Christmas). It’s a dive that not even Gordon Ramsey can save. The grubby restuarant is a family affair although his son Jerry (Timmy H. Barron, Never Not Yours) doesn’t have the aptitude to take over. His daughter Laddie (Eileen Earnest, All Your Friends Are Dead) has a clue how to make the place a bit more appetizing. She “saved” up money from the till to buy a super grinder that will be able to make the cheapest cuts of meat taste edible as a hamburger patty. Like all family businesses, things get heated between members and dad gets an up-close experience with the new grinder. Instead of burying the remains to hide them from the law, Laddie and Bobby end up serving dad up as their new Sweet Meats hamburger. The new entree turns out to be a sensation. The local restaurant critic can’t get enough. Laddie and Bobby have to figure out ways to procure more of their secret ingredient. At the same time the burger joint is becoming a goldmine, Bobby learns the secret of writing a country song. He flies up the charts after Laddie gives him a great new look. But how long can these two last at the top with such a dark secret at their core?
Sweet Meats is a joyful addition to the Cannibal musical subgenre. It’s a country music version of Sweeny Todd. The film is also a perfect addition to the legacy of Troma which gave us Cannibal! The Musical from the guys behind South Park. Sweet Meats is gross and yet the songs are so addictive. Troma founder and icon Lloyd Kaufman makes a cameo in the film. What really made me enjoy Sweet Meats was the performance by Eileen Earnest as Laddie. She turns her character into a comical Lady MacBeth who wants success and wants to make her man a success. She doesn’t care who goes in the grinder to accomplish her dream. She also cares about Bobby to looking glamorous as a country star. She does a great job of being a Country Queen when she joins him in duets. They are a cannibalistic Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton.
After watching Sweet Meats, I’m relieved that Kenny Rogers’ Roasters only sold chicken. I don’t have to worry about a drumstick coming off a person and being an “unwitting cannibal.”
The Video is 1.78:1 anamorphic. You’ll see all the gross stuff clearly in the 1080p transfer. The Audio is Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo so you’ll get that grinding noise in both speakers. The movie is subtitled in English
Lloyd Kaufman Dig Those Sweet Meats! (1:10) has a fake movie of the week opening. Lloyd Kaufman performs his vacuum cleaner store owners.
Cast and Crew Commentary with cast and crew has them reflect on making this film in barely a week. They shot in a haunted location.
Sweet Meats Q & A is an audio track recorded after a screening
Sweet Meats Makes the News (5:17) has Elieen Ernest and Ricky Galore on a local news shows promoting the premiere in Cincinnati. Ricky talks about one of the locations being haunted. They also appear on a different news show (4:31) for Sweet Meats talk. They get into the musical element of the film.
The Making of Sweet Meats (21:40) has Ricky Galore explain what inspired the cannibal musical. We see pictures of his Smokey and the Bandit musical. Plus they staged a Game of Mobile Homes. Cast and crew discuss the role and working fast to make the burger film.
Lloyd Kaufman Helps Independent Cinema (7:00) has Ricky Galore chatting on the computer about working with Troma. Lloyd talks on cam (0:48) about the film. There’s a message to cast and crew from Lloyd (0:49) to wish the well.
Evolution of a Song (2:29) breaks down “Catching You.”
Sweet Meats Table Read (79:39) has the cast reading the script on a compter chat. These are words before a bit of improv on the set.
Proof of Concept Trailer (4:14) opens with an introduction from Lloyd Kaufman. This is a completely new scene with different actors. Two girls ask the chef at Sweet Meats to show them the secret of the burger. This was part of the online fundraising before they shot the actual film.
Original Theatrical Trailer (2:06) brings out the secret to Bobby Sweet’s success.
Tromatic Extras and Troma trailers to give you the Troma life.
Troma Entertainment presents Sweet Meats. Directed by Ricky Galore. Screenplay by Ricky Galore. Starring Ricky Galore, Andrew Gordon, Timmy H. Barron and Eileen Earnest. Running Time: 101 minutes. Rating: Unrated. Release Date: September 8, 2026.
