Munchies (1987)

I was just in grade school when Munchies came out; I never watched it when it came out, or rented it on video tape/dvd over the years. Probably it was because I may have grown tired of the tiny creature horror comedies that came out in the mid-late 1980s; most all of them seeming to capitalize over the success Gremlins (1984) the first of these types of movies and the most popular and best-remembered today. Full-disclosure: I've rewatched Gremlins and its sequel many times over the years; they are definitely "childhood favorites". I also remember watched Ghoulies (1985) which I didn't like. Then came Critters (1986) and its sequel Critters 2 (1988) and those were fun and I liked those.

But Munchies? Nope, never seen it. Until now.

Watching it for the first time in 2022, I now understand that the filmmakers were aiming for outrageous parody, no question about it. Had I watched the movie as a kid, no doubt most of the subtle satirical humor would have gone over my head. Examples of this are all the cops and townsfolk afraid of communists around every corner, common back then (and modern times!).  A sleazy entrepreneur / media mogul / real-estate developer (Harvey Korman) and his wife are totally reminiscent of disgraced televangelists and politicians of that era (and modern times!). 

It's notable to point out that Munchies director Tina Hirsch was the Film Editor on Gremlins, and co-star Nadine Van der Velde was one of the heroes in Critters. So we've got alot of little movie monster cred happening here. And of course Roger Corman was producer. Back in the 1980s when this movie came out, I had no idea who he was. 

It felt like the filmmakers and actors were all having fun making this movie, and when I can tell that is happening, then it makes me enjoy the film, too. And it seems like the writer (Lance Smith) really got creative in finding new ways the little creatures can attack us. 

For example:

• In Gremlins, we had creatures in a mailbox, a microwave, a movie theater, a bar, and in a department store.
• In Ghoulies, there were creatures in a toilet and in an old mansion
• In Critters, we had creatures in space and on a farm.

But Munchies raises the set-piece bar in new ways - now we have creatures driving a car, in a lake, in a mini-golf course, in a cave, in an ice cream store, in a fast-food restaurant, and finding ways to multiply in a factory warehouse. One of my favorite sequences involves a showdown in a video store, where the heroes shield themselves with a giant Clint Eastwood cardboard advertisement (for Pale Rider). A pretty neat scene, and a nostalgic one, too, as video stores are non-existant today.

When I watch older movies today, what often distracts me is seeing the old technology being used. I recently watched a thriller film where there were countless scenes of people talking on telephones, or people using a phone booth. But....I can't remember any telephones used in Munchies, even with all the mayhem and destruction that happens in the course of the film.  I'm not sure if that was intentional or not. To me, if there are no telephones use in a film, it makes the film appear "less dated" than some other movies of the same time. Funny how one character in the movie is obsessed with a vinyl record collection; a modern viewer (and vinyl collector) might really appreciate that since vinyl collecting is "in" again in 2022. One unappealing thing about this movie - like other movies like it - is how sexist those little creatures are made to be, and this can make a modern viewer cringe. It's satisfying, though, when they meet their eventual demise (no spoilers here, though). 

Then there are the special effects. Some people who are used to CGI don't like these types of movies where puppets are used. But in my opinion, when it comes to tiny alien creature horror-comedies, I'm ok with the use of actual puppets vs GCI, even if they are ridiculous-looking as they are in Munchies.  Recently, I watched a semi-newish horror comedy called Yoga Hosers (2015) starring Lily Rose Depp; in that movie, she battles little sausage creatures. The movie was OK, but the creatures were all CGI and I kept wishing the filmmakers just went "old-school" and just used puppets the old fashioned way. If you are going to make a ridiculous movie, why waste time with all the GCI and just go for ridiculous looking puppets?

This may seem like a small, insignificant, b-movie, but I have a feeling alot of directors have watched Munchies and been inspired by it for their own horror-creature-comedies. 

I'm sorry I passed up on it for so long and never watched it until now. But am so glad I have seen it, and I would recommend it to you if you have never seen it!  

This post is part of the Roger Corman Blogathon!

Hosted by Cinematic Catharsis and Reelweedgiemidget Reviews