Munchies (1987)

Director:

Tina Hirsch

Writer:

Lance Smith (screenplay)

Release Date:

March 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

They're cute, they're cuddly, and they're out for blood.

Plot:

Simon Watterman, a space archaeologist, discovers the "Munchies" in a cave in Peru. Cecil Watterman...

Plot Keywords:

Monster | Family | Archeologist | Independent Film

Cast

Harvey Korman	...	Cecil Watterman / Simon Watterman
Charlie Stratton	...	Paul Watterman
Nadine Van der Velde	...	Cindy
Alix Elias	...	Melvis
Charlie Phillips	...	Eddie
Hardy Rawls	...	Big Ed
Jon Stafford	...	Dude
Robert Picardo	...	Bob Marvalle
Wendy Schaal	...	Marge Mavalle
Scott Sherk	...	Buddy Holly
Lori Birdsong	...	Terry
Traci Huber-Sheridan	...	Amy
Paul Bartel	...	Dr. Crowder
Ellen Albertini Dow	...	Little old lady
Jerado Decordovier	...	Old Indian (as Jerado De Cordovier)

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | USA:PG | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Quotes:

Cecil/Simon: You don't know what L.A.'s like! It's like New Jersey with earthquakes.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Soundtrack:

Get Even

If it is good enough for Melvis...

An excellent performance by Alix Elias highlights an otherwise mis-directed and confused pile of dreck. I have seen this movie, perhaps 12 times, and with each run through, I find less and less pleasure. Why are Munchies so lustful? Is that ever explained? Are they a reflection of our wanton, boorish 'animal selves?' If they are, why not make it more obvious? Why not peal back just a touch of the subtlety that plagues this movie, and make that connection explicit? Another part of this movie that bothers me to no end - motorcycles. The jacket the little monster wears on the front cover seems to suggest 'street-wise' traveler. The sun glasses say 'pretty cool dude.' With all this I'm ready for Easy Rider meets the Muppets. All I get is Munchies (1987). What gives? Stick to the Gremlins series if you're a fan of diminutive, wise-cracking, reptile puppets - it'll give you the treatment you deserve.