105) Munchies (1987)

"Hacky sack? Oh, yeah! That's that game you hippies play while you're doing drugs."

Director

Bettina Hirsch

Cast

Harvey Korman - Cecil Watterman/ Simon Watterman

Charles Stratton - Paul Watterman

Nadine Van der Velde - Cindy

Alix Elias - Melvis

I've heard claims, most likely false ones, that horror flicks such as Ghoulies (1985) and Critters (1986) are rip-offs of the 1984 movie Gremlins. I argue that that's not the case. Ghoulies began production in 1984 - the year Gremlins was released. And Critters is certainly its own thing. 

I can't vouch for the 1988 creature feature, Hobgoblins. Once I watch it, then I'll let you all know. 

But one creature feature that really struck me as taking some inspiration from Gremlins is the 1987 cult creature feature, Munchies. 

These little monsters originate from another country, they multiply, have anti-social attitudes, and make life hell for people by wreaking havoc where ever they end up. 

The stories for both films are a little similar which doesn't surprise me as Munchies is directed by Bettina Hirsch who previously worked as film editor for Gremlins. 

Franceso Borseti interviews Hirsch in his book It Came from the 80s!. There, she claims that Roger Corman had wanted to make a film similar to Gremlins as it was a profitable franchise at the time.

"Coincidentally, he had recently asked the heads of companies that made lower-budget movies, what their most profitable projects were," Hirsch says. "All of them mentioned making money from Gremlins rip-offs. He was in the process of getting a creature script. I had cut Gremlins, so it would be a perfect fit." 

Harvey Korman kicks this mess off as space archeologist, Simon Watterman, exploring a cave in Peru with his son, Paul (Charles Stratton). 

Paul's ambition, by the way, is to be a comedian. But his dad constantly reminds him that he's not funny. And he's right.

During his search inside some ancient ruins, he finds a dormant alien-looking creature. He somehow reanimates it and brings it back to the states. 

He thinks this creature will be the greatest alien discovery.

When they get back home, he leaves it with Paul and his girlfriend, Cindy (Nadine Van der Velde) while he goes out to prepare for...something...I don't know?
They name it Arnold, although Cindy calls it "Munchie" since it loves snack foods.

Since they're home alone with Arnold, or Munchie, Paul gives the creature a porn magazine to keep it occupied while he and Cindy go upstairs to have sex.

Simon's evil twin brother, Cecil (played also by Harvey Korman) lives right next door. Cecil works in the snack foods industry, and often spies and eavesdrops on what's going on inside Simon's house.   

He lives with an adopted dork of a son whom he cares nothing about. And he has an Elvis-obsessed wife as well who shows up later in the movie.

When the coast is clear, Cecil sneaks over with his adopted son to try and kidnap Arnold. 

As they chase the creature around, they end up hurting it. 

This makes Arnold turn very aggressive and attack.

Cecil's son tries to kill it by chopping it into pieces.

Little does he know that this is how these creatures multiply. Each body part becomes a whole new "Munchie." 

The small gang of alien creatures escape, and can suddenly talk. For some reason, they talk like thugs off the streets of Brooklyn. 

They love women, drink a lot of beer, attack innocent people, and gorge themselves with junk food.

And the rest of the movie is just repetitive cat and mouse chasing, with over-the-top gags and humor in between.

Arnold initially sounds like Gizmo from Gremlins. 

Speaking of voices and sounds, the talents of Fred Newman and Frank Welker provide Munchie's voice.

Several small nods to other horror movies like Halloween III: Season of the Witch and Evil Dead are sprinkled throughout. And there's a small E.T. gag that made me roll my eyes. 

Harvey Korman is a legendary comedian. He was hilarious during his days on the Carol Burnett Show.

It's unfortunate that all he has to go with here is his bad wig and fake mustache while playing Cecil. Korman isn't given much else to work with. He bolsters his appearances up for humor because his lines aren't funny. Korman isn't given much else. 

A cameo from Robert Picardo, dressed as an ice cream man, is a surprise. 

Also, Ellen Albertini Dow (The Wedding Singer, Patch Adams) plays an outlandish old lady who's ready to take on these Munchies for attacking her while she's driving down a road. 

This creature feature is light on the gore. In fact, there's really nothing to it. 

The jokes are just silly humor. There are a lot of caricatures, and lame cracks. Only one scene made me laugh. That's not an exaggeration. Even "stupid humor" can still, sometimes, make me laugh. This movie resorts to the lowest denominator with making the creatures vulgar and disgusting. There's no reasoning or explanations.

At times, the sound is inconsistent between shifts in the camera angles. 

Otherwise, this movie is dull and repetitive. The music soundtrack constantly makes it seem like something important is happening. Nothing ever does.

Many of these actors go into their roles like their performing as a favor to the director. Some of it is way too over-the-top such as the performances from Cecil's son and wife. The others are apparently dull and lackluster.

The plot involves people chasing the creatures, then finding them, then chasing them, and then finding them again, and then chasing them, and then finding them, only to chase them again. It's more of a low-budget puppet show - one where nobody tries very hard - than it is a true creature feature. The only elements worth remember are the names attached to this movie - Wendy Shaal, Robert Picardo, Frank Welker, Paul Bartel, Ellen Albertini Dow, and obviously Harvey Korman.

Corman can, and has, made some sublime low-budget bad flicks. Munchies isn't one of them. It's bad all around. 

If Gremlins is the name brand, Munchies isn't even the store brand. It's more like the "Save-On" version found beneath the generic store brand. 

Ellen Albertini Dow in Munchies.