One thing you have to give film makers in the eighties
credit for when it came to horror films. Rather than sit back and rely only on
remakes and sequels (of which there were plenty) a number of movie makers made
a point of creating some new monsters to scare us with. Not all worked but when
they did they worked well. Case in point C.H.U.D.
C.H.U.D. tells the story of George Cooper (John Heard), a
noted news photographer who is trying to take a break away from the news to
pursue a new career as a fashion photographer at the bequest of his girlfriend
Lauren (Kim Greist). He’s picked a bad time to start the change since a series
of bizarre murders and disappearances are happening in New York at the same
time.
Ties between the murders and a set of homeless people that
George once did a photo essay on, a group that lives beneath the city streets
in the abandoned tunnels of the NY subway system, draw the attention of the
police and the curiosity of George. They especially interest a Det. Bosch
(Christopher Curry) whose wife we later learn is one of the missing. Bosch
turns up the pressure on A.J. Shepherd (Daniel Stern), an ex-con who now runs a
soup kitchen for the homeless.
The paths of all three cross as they begin to investigate
the crimes and find clues on their own leading to the discovery of a creatures
living deeper in the tunnels that are killing the people of New York. Dubbing
them C.H.U.D. or Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers, the government
may be involved in their creation. If so the term C.H.U.D. may have a different
meaning. In any event, we’re offered a new urban legend and monster to tie in
with the explanation.
The movie is not blockbuster summer hit material but it does
offer something rarely seen in many horror films today and that’s originality.
As I said from the start, movies tend to rely on tried and true formulas and
creations from vampires to the currently hot zombies. That the film makers here
could come up with a new creation, a new monster, deserves credit. The low
budget film actually looks quite good and the fact that it stands up to the
test of time serves it well. When you consider that the movie came out in 1984
and people can still tell you what C.H.U.D. stands for speaks volumes.
The camera work is good for a low budget film. The acting
ranges from good to bad but good for the most part. The story has a few holes
but hey, this is a horror film and they often have more holes that a brick of
Swiss cheese. Here they don’t detract from the film itself but turn it into one
of those films you love even for all of its flaws.
I can’t sing the praises of Arrow Video enough. Once again
they’ve offered fans the opportunity to witness this film in the most pristine
version possible. And as always the extras here are many worth watching as
opposed to the usual making of extras new films get with stars sitting and
repeating the same lines about how great their movie is before it gets
released. What does Arrow offer this time?
-Brand new restoration from original
film elements
-High Definition Blu-ray (1080p)
presentation
-Original Uncompressed Mono PCM audio
-Optional English subtitles for the
deaf and hard of hearing
-Audio commentary by director Douglas
Cheek, writer Shepard Abbott, and actors John Heard, Daniel Stern and
Christopher Curry
-Brand new crew interviews
-Original Theatrical Trailer
-Reversible sleeve featuring original
and newly commissioned artwork by Dan Mumford
If you love the film you’ll want to add this to your collection.
Horror fans will want to do the same. And if you’ve never seen the film then by
all means make it a point to seek it out. It’s solid entertainment that will
have you walking a wide path around manhole covers for the rest of your life.
Click here to order.
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