The Stuff (1985)

A delicious, mysterious goo that oozes from the earth is marketed as the newest dessert sensation. But the tasty treat rots more than teeth when zombie-like snackers who only want to consume more of the strange substance at any cost begin infesting the world.

Director:

Larry Cohen

Writer:

Larry Cohen

Stars:

Michael Moriarty, Andrea Marcovicci, Garrett Morris

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

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. The American public literally eats up the new dessert sensation now known as the Stuff, but, unfortunately, it takes over the brains of those who eat it, turning them into zombie-like creatures with no will to do anything but eat more of the bizarre substance by any means. It is up to ex-FBI agent David Rutherford and a kid named Jason to stop the spread of the mind-devouring dessert.

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Plot Keywords:

stuff | dessert | ex fbi agent | advertising | ice cream | 

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Taglines:

It's smooth and creamy. I'ts low calorie and delicious. And it kills. It's The Stuff!

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Genres:

Comedy | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 June 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Coisa

Filming Locations:

New Paltz, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,700,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Larco Productions, New World Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

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.

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Goofs

After Moe and Nicole get off the jet plane, they leave in a car with two executives. As the car drives away, you can briefly see the camera's shadow on the car (on the left side of the screen).

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Quotes

David 'Mo' Rutherford: Well, everybody has to eat shaving cream once in a while.

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Crazy Credits

Although Michael Moriarty's character is continually referred to (and introduces himself) as "'Mo' Rutherford," the credits list him only as "David."

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Connections

Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #19.7 (2010)

User Reviews

There's more to this movie than satire

I LOVE this movie. I rented it in high school because the cover looked like it was going to be total horror schlock. This of course was not the case.

On the surface, it definitely satirizes American consumerism.... but after several discussions with my friends, we noticed something else. This movie also seems to be Cold War era anti-communist propaganda. The Stuff, seemingly innocent at first, possesses and adapts you as part of the machine to further its spread around the globe (just as we were told in the ages of the Red Scare, communists are everywhere, and you can't tell them apart from you or I, and they will try to CONVERT YOU). Before long, all the people are willing slaves of the Stuff machine (the Stuffies), and they seek out the few that aren't under the Stuff's grip to force them into becoming part of the hive mind. It takes the actions of a few patriotic Americans (in the form of the Georgia Militia) to conquer and defeat the Stuffies (the Communists hidden among us).

I highly suggest checking this movie out, as it really is a great film, regardless of whether you agree with my opinion of what the movie is about.