C.H.U.D. (1984)

A bizarre series of murders in New York City seems to point toward the existence of a race of mutant cannibals living under the streets.

Director:

Douglas Cheek

Writers:

Shepard Abbott (story), Parnell Hall (screenplay),

Stars:

John Heard, Daniel Stern, Christopher Curry

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Heard	...	George Cooper
Daniel Stern	...	A.J. 'The Reverend' Shepherd
Christopher Curry	...	Captain Bosch
Kim Greist	...	Lauren Daniels
Laure Mattos	...	Flora Bosch
Brenda Currin	...	Francine the Landlady
Justin Hall	...	Justin
Michael O'Hare	...	Fuller
Cordis Heard	...	Officer Sanderson
Vic Polizos	...	Hays
Eddie Jones	...	Chief O'Brien
Sam McMurray	...	Officer Crespi
Frank Adu	...	Interrogation Cop
Ruth Maleczech	...	Mrs. Monroe
J.C. Quinn	...	Murphy

Storyline

A rash of bizarre murders in New York City seems to point to a group of grotesquely deformed vagrants living in the sewers. A courageous policeman, a photo journalist and his girlfriend, and a nutty bum, who seems to know a lot about the creatures, band together to try and determine what the creatures are and how to stop them.

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Plot Keywords:

new york city | city | mutant | sewer | bum | 

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Taglines:

Ugly. Slobbering. Ferocious. Carnivorous.

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Producer's Web site for this film

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 August 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

C.H.U.D. (Caníbales Humanoides Ululantes Demoníacos)

Filming Locations:

Jersey City, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,250,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

C.H.U.D. Productions, New World Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min 96 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (TVC)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debut of Jay Thomas.

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Goofs

At the end of the movie when George Cooper and the Reverend escape from the manhole, they realize that they are trying to be killed by Wilson, the supposed NRC guy. The Reverend finds Captain Bosch lying on the ground who was just shot (by Wilson) and grabs Bosch's gun from his belt. After killing Wilson, a scene is shown with the Reverend kneeling beside Bosch who still has the gun tucked in his belt.

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Quotes

Val: Gog... and Magog.
Captain Bosch: Yeah... well... uh, Val, I understand you used to live underground. What made you change your mind?
Val: On each side of the throne there are four living creatures filled with eyes in front *and* behind.
Captain Bosch: Creatures? Talking about your friends? They still down there?
Val: I know your work. You go by the name of being alive and you are dead.
Captain Bosch: Now listen, pal...
[Val whips out a big knife and Bosch jumps back, startled]
Val: They have the power to shut the sky.
[quivering]
Val: They have the power to ...

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Connections

Referenced in Fast Forward (1985)

User Reviews

B-listers battle homeless monsters for food stamps...

"C.H.U.D." is one of those semi-name oddities that always stood out on video store shelves when I was a youth (lamenting the 'parental lock' on all horror movies I so badly wanted to rent), what with the darkened figures congregating around a manhole, eyes glowing white. Years later, I have finally gotten a chance to see the film, and my response is pretty mixed: it lies somewhere between the Land of Campy and the Dominion of Creepy, with some elements of the Retro Rest Area thrown in for good measure. "C.H.U.D." takes a formula familiar to anybody who's seen a '50s 'Big Bug' flick: Evil Guys In Suits are dumping toxic waste where it doesn't belong (in this case, the sewers below Manhattan), thus inspiring some unexpected and unpleasant side effects in the homeless people living under the city--they transform into C.H.U.D.s (Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers), reptilian-looking monsters with a taste for human flesh. While the premise is extremely cheesy, director Douglas Cheek teeters the line between camp and horror rather well--not all-out serious nor a straight romp, it strikes a fair balance (the creepily minimalist, synth-driven score helps, too). The cast of semi-name actors (John Heard, Kim Greist, and a wonderfully wiggy Daniel Stern) treat the material at face value, but never wink at the camera, thus engendering a bizarre charm to the events that transpire. Unfortunately, even for a film that plays as fast and loose as "C.H.U.D." does, it leaves a few too many unresolved plot points for my liking. But if you want something a fair distance from the mainstream radar, greased with the grimy spirit of the 1980s, look no further than "C.H.U.D."