RELEASE DATE: 1985
RATED: R
REVIEWED BY: The DarkSider 9/20/7
Our film begins with an old guy hanging outside during a winter day. Outside a factory somewhere, he notes some pulsating white goop in the ground. Usually if I came across anything pulsating in a gooey manner I�d probably slowly turn heal and walk away. What does this braniac do? He simply digs in and comments at how great the goop tastes. Um ok�at this point we know we�re doomed plot sensibility wise.
Cut to a kid named Jason lying in bed at night. Let me say right now, the Gods of B-Movie rules often refuse to kill off young brats and usually make them unlikely heroes. This kid is the ultimate abuse of this rule. Although I�m sure Cohen intended this kid to be comic relief (which he does fulfill in a supermarket in a few paragraphs) he generally is quite annoying. He is neurotic, emotionally unstable and has a problem with authority. All things that would make today�s kids go on Sally Jessie Raphael and get shipped off to a �special� school. However, he is one of the first people to know something is up with the film�s desert antagonist.
Anyhow, the little jerk rolls out of bed and heads to the fridge. Inside, he spots a can of The Stuff which indeed is the�um�stuff the guy in the beginning was scarping up. It appears to be crawling out of it�s container which makes Jason a bit jumpy. This is interrupted when his father comes downstairs to confront him. After a little disturbing father to son spanking, Jason�s dad scoops up a serving. Jason goes back to bed to presumably freak out a bit more.
A few scenes later, we get introduced to the film�s hero David Rutherford who doubles as Mo. You know why, because was someone gives him money he always wants �Mo�. Ok, people who have seen this film can sigh now. People who haven�t seen it, just understand this joke gets played out a few times too many. Rutherford is played by Michael Moriarty who I honestly think is a talented actor. However, he always plays roles that usually end up in me hating his character even if he is the perpetual �good guy�. I felt this way about him in Q The Winged Serpent, Its Alive III and yes this movie. Its one of those things I can�t explain.
Anyhow, in this film he is a talented industrial spy paid off by competitors of The Stuff. His mission is to find out everything he can about the desert which has swept across the world. That and make a whole bunch of idiotic jokes along the way. He starts by getting in contact with The Stuff�s main promoter Nicole. He pretends to be an oil engineer and convinces her to give up some information.
After this, Mo goes on to talk to a FDA agent named Vickers who happens to be played by Danny Aiello. Vickers has a rather large doggy who he is pretty shaky around. The dog, who is hooked on The Stuff, ends up barfing up some of it and attacking his master. Well actually, he kind of looked like he was friendly licking him to death to be honest.
Meanwhile back in Jason�s land of adolecant peculiarity, he wreaks havoc on a local supermarket in a rather amusing scene. He knocks The Stuff out of people�s hands then continues his assault on the dairy and frozen food section. Jason finds himself grounded for his actions which still today stands as one of the funniest scenes in horror movie history.
Back to Mo who investigates a local mom and pop town that had a factory bought out by The Stuff. This is when he meets Chocolate Chip Charlie who is played by Garrett Morris. Aside from knowing his chocolate he also seems to be a master of all types of martial arts. I can�t see his point in the film other than to have a somewhat notable name. Anyhow, the two investigate a whole lot more until they are assaulted by a bunch of folks controlled by The Stuff. Mo tells Charles to go find one of his inside men in the FBI while he sorts stuff out. Mo meanwhile gets offered money by The Stuff to join their team which he denies.
After introductions Mo, Jason and Nicole (who turned �good� earlier in the film) decide to infiltrate The Stuff�s main canning plant. Jason falls asleep on the plane ride and is left behind. Meanwhile Mo and Nicole go into the plant to investigate. Once again, I have to cover two stories at once. You see while Mo and Nicole do their thing, The Stuff attacks the plane Jason is sleeping in. He escapes and ends up at the local truck depot for The Stuff. Our little sh*t decides the best place to hide is inside a tanker. Nice move however once again it will a little too conveniently reunite the film�s players.
Meanwhile Mo and Nicole are attacked by a virtual mess off The Stuff and escape their hotel just barely. They decide to spy on the local supply run of The Stuff�s tankers. Mo gets close enough to see the workers pumping it from a huge hole in the ground. Mo lifts the truck (yep, the one with Jason in it) and blows up a bunch of explosives which seals the puddle of Stuff.
Mo and his buddies run off to a Colonel Spears who is played entreatingly by Paul Sorvino. Mo convinces Spears and his militants to invade The Stuff�s plant. They do this but find most of the workers dead however The Stuff comes out in full force. Everybody flocks to Spear�s radio stations to make announcements about The Stuff.
Chocolate Chip Charlie makes another pointless appearance and it turns out he is infected with The Stuff. No matter though, for the film�s main players contain the assault which sees Charlie becoming chocolate chips himself. They make their announcements on the air which causes major anti-Stuff sentiment. Mo and Jason give pay back to the executives behind The Stuff in the end by making them eat it. However, out on the streets, apparently The Stuff is the new illegal drug of choice.
I�ve always liked Larry Cohen�s films because of the subtle jabs they take at society. For example in this film, you have a mysterious food agent that people keep shoving in their mouth just because it tastes good. They don�t know what is in it or what it does to a body nor do they care. Although many say this film is a parody of the tobacco industry, I still think anything unhealthy can fit the bill. In one scene a Stuff vendor was blown up next to rather popular fast food chain. Tell me that isn�t a nod towards crap food in our society.
Perhaps the �big message�, if you will, often gets lost in Cohen�s silly plots which is a bit unfortunate. For example in this film which features a killer desert as it�s antagonist. Then there is Its Alive where killer babies are on the loose. All stuff certain people would sneer at as being corny. It is a bit of a double edged sword for Cohen with several of his films. In a way its funny and entertaining to watch a film like this yet many people may not get the subtle jabs at society which is a shame. In other words, this film isn�t just some mindless B-movie adventure. It is a mindless B-movie adventure on an important mission.
All in all, The Stuff is one of those movies worth watching at any given point of life for a good laugh. Although as stated in last paragraph, the film�s important messages may be lost to the general public. Us gifted fans of the genre will no doubt pick up on them though. The film has a sense of humor towards itself which can be enlightening and make the viewing experience truly a fun one.
