C.H.U.D. (1984)

Director:

Douglas Cheek

Writers:

Shepard Abbott (story)
Parnell Hall (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

31 August 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Ugly. Slobbering. Ferocious. Carnivorous.

Plot:

A rash of bizarre murders in New York City seems to point to a group of grotesquely deformed vagrants living in the sewers...

Plot Keywords:

Sewer | City | Police | Toxic Waste | Hobo

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

John Heard	...	George Cooper
Daniel Stern	...	A.J. 'The Reverend' Shepherd
Christopher Curry	...	Captain Bosch
Kim Greist	...	Lauren Daniels
Laure Mattos	...	Flora Bosch
Brenda Currin	...	Francine the Landlady
Justin Hall	...	Justin
Michael O'Hare	...	Fuller
Cordis Heard	...	Officer Sanderson
Vic Polizos	...	Hays
Eddie Jones	...	Chief O'Brien
Sam McMurray	...	Officer Crespi
Frank Adu	...	Interrogation Cop
Ruth Maleczech	...	Mrs. Monroe
J.C. Quinn	...	Murphy
Patricia Richardson	...	Ad Woman
Ray Baker	...	Ad Man (as Raymond Baker)
Beverly Bentley	...	Doris
Graham Beckel	...	Val
Gene O'Neill	...	Jackson
Rocco Siclari	...	Hugo
Bill Raymond	...	Victor (as William Joseph Baker)
Peter Michael Goetz	...	Gramps
Shana Lee Farrell	...	Cindy
John Ramsey	...	Commissioner
George Martin	...	Wilson
John Bedford Lloyd	...	Shadow Man (as John Bedford-Lloyd)
Henry Yuk	...	Coroner
Robert Toupin	...	Benson
Frankie Faison	...	Sgt. Parker (as Frankie R. Faison)
Ivar Brogger	...	Gooney NRC Man
Parnell Hall	...	Judson
John Goodman	...	Cop in Diner
Jay Thomas	...	Cop in Diner
Hallie Foote	...	Waitress
Jon Polito	...	Newscaster
Mark Mikulski	...	Cop at Wrecked Diner
Lou Leccese	...	CHUD
Sanford Clark	...	CHUD
James Dudley	...	CHUD
Carey Eidel	...	CHUD
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dan Campbell	...	Frightened Spectator (uncredited)
Kelly Nichols	...	Frightened Specator (uncredited)
Jan Saint	...	Bum in the street (uncredited)

Directed by
Douglas Cheek

Writing credits
Shepard Abbott		(story)
Parnell Hall		(screenplay)
Christopher Curry		uncredited
Daniel Stern		uncredited

Produced by
Larry Abrams	....	executive producer
Andrew Bonime	....	producer
Thomas H. Field	....	associate producer
Alfonso Tafoya	....	associate producer

Original Music by
David A. Hughes		(as Cooper Hughes)

Cinematography by
Peter Stein

Film Editing by
Claire Simpson

Production Design by
William Bilowit

Art Direction by
Forge Toro
Jorge Luis Toro
Sonja Roth		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Jennifer Lax

Makeup Department
John Caglione Jr.	....	special makeup creator: CHUD
Joe Cuervo	....	special makeup crew: CHUD
Doug Drexler	....	special makeup crew: CHUD
George Engel	....	special makeup crew: CHUD
Ed French	....	additional special makeup effects artist
Susan Giammusso	....	hair stylist
Susan Giammusso	....	makeup artist
Kevin Haney	....	makeup animatronics
Michael Maddi	....	assistant makeup artist
David E. Smith	....	special makeup crew: CHUD (as David Smith)

Production Management
Robert Bordiga	....	production manager
Jack Briggs	....	assistant production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lewis Gould	....	first assistant director
Steve Wertimer	....	second assistant director

Art Department
William Depaolo	....	propmaker
Darryl Ferrucci	....	art department and props
Timothy Main	....	carpenter
Kay DiMarco	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
Jack Higgins	....	sound re-recording mixer
Harry Lapham	....	assistant sound effects
Harry Lapham	....	sound recordist
Hal Levinsohn	....	sound editor
Lynn Sable	....	assistant sound editor

Special Effects by
Steven Kirshoff	....	pyrotechnic effects
Matt Vogel	....	flamethrower effects

Stunts
Gene Hartline	....	stunt double
Jery Hewitt	....	stunt double
Harry Madsen	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Stephen Barrow	....	gaffer
David M. Dunlap	....	first assistant camera
Tony C. Jannelli	....	camera operator (as Tony Jannelli)
Paul Wachter	....	best boy grip
Tony Whitman	....	key grip

Editorial Department
Jim Finn	....	negative cutter
Dennis M. O'Connor	....	associate editor (as Dennis O'Connor)
Tara Timpone	....	assistant editor

Music Department
David A. Hughes	....	musician (as Cooper Hughes)

Other crew
Peter Bernard	....	production assistant
Tim Boxell	....	monster design
Milton Forrest	....	production assistant
Susan Hall	....	production assistant
Ken Kopro	....	location scout
David Larkin	....	studio manager
Denise Latella	....	production assistant
Jonathan Levy	....	production assistant
Karin Litzman	....	production assistant
Brian McMillan	....	head animal trainer
Carla Neary	....	production assistant
David Stern	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• C.H.U.D. Productions
• New World Pictures

Distributors

• New World Pictures (1984) (USA) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Beam Entertainment (Japan) (DVD producer)
• Creative Axa Co. Ltd. (Japan) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (laserdisc)
• Media Home Entertainment (video)

Runtime:

88 min | USA:96 min (director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (TVC)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Italy:T (VHS rating) | Australia:M (DVD rating) | Australia:R (original rating) | France:-12 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Jersey City, New Jersey, USA

Company:

C.H.U.D. Productions

Trivia:

Jay Thomas' movie debut.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the end of the movie when George Cooper and the Reverend escape from the manhole, they realize that they are trying to be killed by Wilson, the supposed NRC guy. The Reverend finds Captain Bosch lying on the ground who was just shot (by Wilson) and grabs Bosch's gun from his belt. After killing Wilson, a scene is shown with the Reverend kneeling beside Bosch who still has the gun tucked in his belt.

Quotes:

A.J. 'The Reverend' Shepherd: You Cooper?
George Cooper: Yeah.
A.J. 'The Reverend' Shepherd: You all right?
George Cooper: Who are you?
A.J. 'The Reverend' Shepherd: I run the soup kitchen.
George Cooper: On Kenmann.
A.J. 'The Reverend' Shepherd: Right... right. This is crazy. C'mon.
George Cooper: Thank God they deliver.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Simpsons: The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson (#9.1)" (1997)

Poorly made but fun 80's trash!

The coolest abbreviation in horror cinema stands for Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers (as well as something else) and refers to hideous monsters with fluorescent eyes that live in the sewers of Soho. Their existence is the result of years of dumping radioactive toxic waste down there and now these monsters are responsible for an incredible amount of missing-persons cases. Everyone in Soho is affected by the city council's cover-up. Soup kitchen owner A.J reports a lot of his homeless friends missing, independent photographer Cooper is begged for help by people who live underground and police captain Bosh has even lost his wife. For some incomprehensible reason, I always loved this trashy 80's film and can't possibly bring myself to spread negative comments on it, no matter how stupid the plot is or no matter how cheesy the make-up effects actually are. For what it's worth, "C.H.U.D" is a hugely entertaining monster film with a couple of atmospheric set pieces and several comical dialogues. Elements that increase the fun-level are a pointless, yet bloody shower sequence and a C.H.U.D who stretches his neck muscles seemly without a specific goal. This poverty row horror production is surprisingly blessed with a great cast! Daniel Stern, John Heard and Christopher Curry all prove they're gifted actors who never got the breakthrough they deserved. Good fun, highly recommended but – whatever you do – keep away from the retarded sequel.