The Stuff (1985)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Larry Cohen

Writer:

Larry Cohen (writer)

Release Date:

14 June 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Comedy | Sci-Fi | Mystery

Tagline:

Are you eating it ...or is it eating you?

Plot:

Weird yummy goo erupts from the earth and is discovered by a couple of miners. They taste it and decide to market it because it tastes so good...

Plot Keywords:

Stuff | Ice Cream | Advertising | Blob | Fake Commercial

Cast

Michael Moriarty	...	David 'Mo' Rutherford
Andrea Marcovicci	...	Nicole
Garrett Morris	...	'Chocolate Chip' Charlie W. Hobbs
Paul Sorvino	...	Colonel Malcolm Grommett Spears
Scott Bloom	...	Jason
Danny Aiello	...	Vickers
Patrick O'Neal	...	Fletcher
James Dixon	...	Postman
Alexander Scourby	...	Evans
Russell Nype	...	Richards
Gene O'Neill	...	Scientist
Catherine Schultz	...	Waitress
James Dukas	...	Gas Attendant
Peter Hock	...	Miner
Colette Blonigan	...	Jason's Mother

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

France:-12 | Australia:M | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Accord, New York, USA

Company:

Larco Productions

Trivia:

According to the audio commentary on the 2000 Anchor Bay DVD, some of the substance props or stand-ins for the real Stuff used in the movie included lots of Häagen Däzs ice-cream, yogurt, and, for one scene involving an enormous avalanche-like effect of Stuff crashing though a wall, fire-extinguishing foam. Other shots, such as the ones of the giant lake of Stuff required superimposed images and animation.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): In the scene at The Stuff factory, the stumble across a room full of Stuffies dressed in yellow, lying on the floor. In the shot directly after Jason says "Whatever was inside of them must have just taken off", the camera pans around all the Stuffies, who all have their mouths open and tongues sticking out. The actor at the top of the screen (the farthest from camera) is wiggling his mouth and tongue rapidly, indicating that not only he is very much alive, but quite likely didn't even hear the call of "Action"!

Quotes:

Col. Malcolm Grommett Spears: Pay the drivers, issue a ten-percent tip, get a cash receipt.
Militants: Yes, sir!
Col. Malcolm Grommett Spears: Proceed to the main lobby; we will reassemble! HUP!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Svengoolie: The Stuff (#1.3)" (1995)

The films of Larry Cohen

The Stuff (1985) was a very interesting film from low budget film maker Larry Cohen. A funny parody on American consumerism and the greed of business. The movie is about two men who discover a strange kind of goo that's resembles and taste a bit like yogurt. Except it has a few after effects such as a strong crave for more "stuff" and a very nasty side effect. One of the few films to feature Michael Moriarity(a Larry Cohen favorite) in a lead role. Paul Sorvino steals the show as a leader of a craze militia and Garrett Morris as a wannabe Uncle Amos.

I have to recommend this movie. It's very entertaining and a bit of fun for all. If you like fifties science fiction films and Larry Cohen's other work, this movie's just for you.

Highly recommended.