Henenlotter amassed a devoted following in the 1980s with his classic exploitation flicks, which include Basket Case and Frankenhooker. But in 1992 he dropped out of sight.

Biology marks his (triumphant) return.

Question: Where were you for the past 16 years?

Answer: I was doing other things! God knows there are easier ways to make a living in this world than films.

Q: But why did you abandon your public?

A: In the early '90s the market shifted very much to the mainstream. Exploitation films just disappeared. . . . I mean, I kept writing scripts, but everyone was scared of them.

Q: Where on earth did you come up with the idea for Bad Biology?

A: Not having done a film for so long, I didn't want it to be too normal. I thought, "Take a basic love story and push it to its most primitive form."

Q: So your goal as an artist is to shock?

A: [Laughs] I push buttons, sure. . . . I figured [Biology] would alarm some people, confuse others, and annoy some. I mean, in the first three minutes we see a naked man pushing needles into his penis.

Q: What do you want viewers to get out of your film?

A: I hope they'll find it funny. And I hope they're appalled.