C.H.U.D.
Review by Peter Syslo

C.H.U.D. (1984) is a film about… well, Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers – hence, the acronym title. I saw this movie when I was younger and I remember that there was something very unsettling about it. This film came out when the threat of nuclear war and the fear of nuclear waste was still prevalent, in society. As a kid, I remember thinking that there was the possibility that nuclear waste could turn humans into mutants and that really scared me. After all, what the hell did the general public know about nuclear/toxic waste, back then? Anyway, C.H.U.D. is one of those movies that played upon the collective fears of the time period and I think that added to its success as a horror film (in my opinion). It is also a movie that is a common-bond between people in my age group – much like BETTER OFF DEAD. I bet you that most people who are in their thirties, who were into movies growing up, can recite what t he acronym C.H.U.D. stands for. The movie simply brings togetherness and harmony to people, just like a creepier (but not as pretty) version of Angelina Jolie.

C.H.U.D. is directed by Douglas Cheek and is written by Shepard Abbott and Parnell Hall. The film stars John Heard, Daniel Stern, Christopher Curry, and Kim Greist. Also the recognizable John Goodman and Jay Thomas make brief appearances as policemen, eating at a diner.

The film is about a photographer, a police detective, and the head of a soup kitchen (I know, it sounds like a joke) who are all trying to “get to the bottom” of a slew of missing person cases. After a lot of underground (NYC) homeless people and the detective’s wife disappear, the three begin exploring the tunnels beneath the subway system and they find out that the EPA had been studying the area. After realizing that there may be killer mutants running amok in the tunnels, the three work together to expose the government for pollution and to save New York City from the killer mutants.

Don’t let the probability that your girlfriend or wife may think the movie is “stupid” deter you from enjoying C.H.U.D. I have always liked this movie and I watch it from time to time. It’s a little on the campy side, but I do think that it has a genuinely scary aspect to it. In fact, I was watching this the other night, with the lights off, and I felt a chill or two as I looked over my shoulder to make sure no C.H.U.D.s were in the house. It is strange, but somehow I remember the movie containing more creature encounters; at any rate, it is an example of the JAWS phenomenon – less of the creature is more. Some people may think that it is a slow build-up to seeing the first C.H.U.D. (actually you don’t really see one for about a half-hour), but I think that patience is rewarded because the creature effects are actually very good. They are humanoid-looking, with fangs and these yellow, glowing eyes which are pretty c reepy. It sounds cheesy, but the creatures were very effectively used; and probably one of the best creature scenes, ever in a movie, is when the woman fashion model confronts a C.H.U.D. in her apartment. Its neck stretches out, ala Freddy Kreuger, and she decapitates it with a sword – that’s such a classic, over-the-top scene.

Cutting to the chase: C.H.U.D. is a fun, nostalgic movie from an era that was political, but not necessarily politically correct. The cast was just great and made the whole experience slightly tongue-in-cheek, with a very serious core. The cinematography was also great and this movie is one of the perfect examples of a gritty, slightly nauseating depiction of the urban horror of New York City . To sum it all up, the movie is like a combination of a Roger Corman film, a William Lustig film, and a Larry Cohen film; its unapologetic flirtation with the B-movie/Grindhouse genre is highly enjoyable.

If you like 1980s movies in the vein of THE STUFF, MANIAC COP, STREET TRASH, TOXIC AVENGER, etc. than you will probably find C.H.U.D. to be a great experience. On a final, sour note, I heard a rumor that there may be a remake of this film. But, it may actually be interesting to see, because it is a more obscure title and there is room for exploration within the story. We’ll see.