Loosely based on the story of Joe Ball (also known as the Bluebeard from South Texas or the Alligator Man) from Elmendorf, Texas, sometime after Prohibition ended. He owned a bar with an alligator pit serving as an entertainment attraction. Several murders of women ensued, of which Joe Ball was suspected, but it was never proven that the flesh found in the pit was human. However, Joe Ball committed suicide at his bar on September 24, 1938, when he was about to be arrested by the police in connection with the murders.

According to Make-up Artist Craig Reardon, Cinematographer Robert Caramico directed several scenes, due to creative differences between Tobe Hooper and the films' producers.

Body count: seven (five humans, a monkey, and a dog).