As a momma-obsessed child, Matthew loses his left hand after intentionally killing his own father with a runaway tractor.

Now grown, Matthew (Holbert) and his hook-for-an-arm return home from a mental hospital only to find his mother remarried.

Furious, he slays both ma and his new stepdad and sets out on a murderous spree - seemingly spurred on by the ghosts of those he's claimed.

Matthew's deranged wrath seems to calm somewhat when he meets artist/hooker Vera (Mitchell). But surely his neurosis won't be quelled for long.

A surprisingly feisty little drive-in terror, this benefits from Mitchell's solid performance as the tortured heroine, while Holbert tows a nice line as the psycho without ever going over the top.

Kudos also to the creative editing during the kills which help to maximize shock value.

Gets a half star for both the healthy bodycount and depressing ending.

Aka Claw of Terror.