Review of C.H.U.D. (1984) by Jose M — 26 Jul 2011

Sewers. They're just nasty places, man. There's no telling what you would find if you actually decided to go wandering around them (now that would be a banner day.........mm). You might find trash, bums, rats OR bums that used to be bums before they rolled around in some nuclear waste and became cannibalistic humanoid underground dwellers.

I mean.........there's always that. C.H.U.D. is quite a rarity in the horror world: it's a movie where the monsters aren't the focus of the story; they're just players in a story ABOUT the existence of the monsters.

I'm gonna say it. The acting is on point from just about everyone. It's a whos-who of actors you know( there's Daniel Stern! there's John Goodman for, like, five seconds..........but it was still him!).

John Heard is one of the most casual, honest actors I've seen and he actually lends this B-movie some weight. And the C.H.U.D.'s? Well, they are slimy dudes with glowing eyes........... It's basically guys in suits roaring at you (although one can stretch his neck reeeeally long.

....because he........can), but that just adds to the charm. It's also an outstanding postcard of New York City, cerca 1984. The cabs, the smokey man-hole covers(man-hole), the neon signs.......that's a lost time.

And it looks so awesome now on film. Seriously, this is a straight up B-movie of epic proportions, but the actors and the general feel of it make it one of the GOOD ones. I can see why this has become a genuine cult classic.

I really can.