Heirloom tomato: Cult film mad here turns 30

Tag : tomato
At the time of its theatrical release, the film was a flop that“no one knew what to do with,” according to De Bello.That is, until it was entered in the World's Worst Film Festival,based in New York City.
“Suddenly people got it; it was the spoof of spoofs,”De Bello said. “It created a cult following and it's been funever since.”
That fun included a sequel in 1988, “Return of the KillerTomatoes,” starring a then-unknown George Clooney.
“Somehow he used it to catapult him to fame,” De Bellodeadpans.
The original “Killer Tomatoes” is also noteworthybecause it was one of the first movies to be made with thecooperation of the San Diego Film Commission, now thesecond-largest organization of its kind in the state behind LosAngeles'.
Cathy Anderson, the president of the film commission, worked withDe Bello and crew when they shot the original and its sequels inSan Diego.
“What John was able to do here was sort of prep the regionfor what was to come,” Anderson said, referring to laterprojects to be shot in San Diego, such as the feature-film“Traffic” and the TV series “VeronicaMars.”
'Tomatoes' today
Two more “Tomatoes” films followed in 1990 and 1991, inaddition to an animated TV show and a number of video games. DeBello has remained involved, directing all three film sequels. Heis set to come on board as an executive producer of the recentlyannounced “Tomatoes” remake planned by Kent Nichols andDouglas Sarine, the duo behind the award-winning Web series“Ask a Ninja.”
“I'm excited to see what a new generation can do with theconcept and the ideas,” De Bello said.
De Bello also attends various other “Killer Tomatoes”events on a regular basis.
“There were people from all over the country, and it's just akick,” he said of a recent “Killer Tomatoes”dinner in St. Helena in the Napa Valley.
Anderson remembered a “Killer Tomatoes”10th-anniversary party De Bello hosted at which the main ingredientfor the night's menu was ... tomatoes.
“John's been successful because he understands how thatmarketing works,” she said. “Those people who enjoyedthat genre have been true and loyal to it.”
The spoof genre that “Tomatoes” helped ignite is nowapart of the mainstream – take the successful “ScaryMovie” series, or the new “Disaster Movie,”opening in theaters today.
“(The spoof) has changed dramatically. It's a genre untoitself,” De Bello said. “I think, personally, I gotmore of a kick out of doing something ... where there's a lot ofsubtext.”
That subtext, which De Bello claims is understood whether“you're 7 or have gone to grad school,” is one of themain reasons behind the film's staying power.
“It strikes a chord with certain people, and I think that's areason for its longevity,” he said.
De Bello added that with something as silly as a deadly vegetableat the core of the story, the films have something for everyone.
“The 'Killer Tomatoes' concept pokes fun at everything– it's an equal opportunity offender,” he said.“It's not aimed in any particular direction. It's a greatpalette to paint on because it's so broad in terms of itshumor.”
Whatever the explanation, the stamina of “KillerTomatoes” is something De Bello never counted on. But hecouldn't be happier to have his name attached to the film and to behearing the same tomato jokes over and over.
“It's not always the focus of your life, but it's always inthe background,” he said. “You try and go out and dosomething fun, and it's gratifying that people enjoy it.” Kate Stanhope is a Union-Tribune intern.