Night of the Creeps (1986)

Alien brain parasites, entering humans through the mouth, turn their host into a killing zombie. Some teenagers start to fight against them.

Director:

Fred Dekker

Writer:

Fred Dekker

Stars:

Jason Lively, Tom Atkins, Steve Marshall

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jason Lively	...	Chris
Steve Marshall	...	J.C.
Jill Whitlow	...	Cynthia
Tom Atkins	...	Ray Cameron
Wally Taylor	...	Detective Landis
Bruce Solomon	...	Sgt. Raimi
Vic Polizos	...	Coroner
Allan Kayser	...	Brad (as Allan J. Kayser)
Ken Heron	...	Johnny
Alice Cadogan	...	Pam
June Harris	...	Karen
David Paymer	...	Young Scientist
David Oliver	...	Steve
Evelyne Smith	...	House Mother
Ivan E. Roth	...	Psycho Zombie

Storyline

In 1959, an alien experiment crashes to earth and infects a fraternity member. They freeze the body, but in the modern day, two geeks pledging a fraternity accidentally thaw the corpse, which proceeds to infect the campus with parasites that transform their hosts into killer zombies.

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Plot Keywords:

alien | survival | zombie | prologue | slug | 

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Taglines:

They don't bother to knock

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Genres:

Comedy | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to director Fred Dekker the prominent "Stryper Rules" graffiti visible in the bathroom scene appeared due to makeup artist Kyle Sweet's relationship with future husband, Stryper frontman Michael Sweet.

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Goofs

After the re-animated corpse of the axe murderer has it's head blown off, you clearly see one of the slugs being pulled away by a wire.

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Quotes

Detective Cameron: What's this?
Detective Landis: It was a grad student. He was scheduled to work here this evening.
Detective Cameron: Looks like he worked a little too hard, huh?

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Alternate Versions

Originally filmed with an ending in which Ray Cameron walks out of the house as a zombie, then collapses in front of a cemetery as the slug-like creatures escape from his body and head toward the graves; the alien spacecraft from the opening scene then arrives and begins to search the graveyard with spotlights. For the original theatrical and home video releases this was replaced with a briefer ending in which a slug-creature jumps out of the zombie-dog's mouth as the characters watch the sorority house burn down. The version with the original ending was used for some TV airings and later released as the Director's Cut (which includes the re-shot ending as a separate bonus feature).

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Connections

Referenced in Deadly Class: Stigmata Martyr (2019)

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Soundtracks

Put Your Head on My Shoulder
Performed by Paul Anka
Courtesy of Paul Anka

User Reviews

I think thats the Morton Salt Girl

For the genre, this film is outstanding. It has absolutely everything a horror film should. This includes a performance by Tom Atkins that is worthy of serious recognition. Zombies, exploding heads, creepy crawlies and a date for the formal. Like I said this ones got it all. Alien experiment is jettison from space and lands in Anytown USA where it releases a slug like creature that wants to get in your mouth and lay eggs in your brain. The movie begins black and white set in the early 60s, which is an awesome touch by the way, and then jumps ahead to the mid eighties where were treated to a sorority gals, frat nazis, a couple of pledge geeks(our heroes), Tom Atkins cop on the edge(who delivers some of the best lines in cinema history,i.e."Duck! It's Miller Time!" Exploding heads aplenty, flamin'zombies, a great lawnmower kill, zombie cat, zombie dog, a parapelegic whos faster on crutches then his able friend, and a hilarious janitor who has only one repeating line. NOTC is everything you want from a film, a perfect 10!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 August 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Homecoming Night

Filming Locations:

California State University Northridge - 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$220,800, 24 August 1986

Gross USA:

$591,366

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$591,366

Company Credits

Production Co:

TriStar Pictures, Delphi V Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min 85 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1