Tag: June Lockhart

C.H.U.D. II: BUD THE CHUD (1989)

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Directed By: David Irving 

Written By: Ed Naha 

Cinematography: Arnie Sirlin

Editor: Barbara Pokras 

Cast: Gerrit Graham, Brian Robbins, Tricia Leigh Fisher, Robert Vaughn, Norman Fell, Jack Riley, Bill Calvert, Larry Linville, Sandra Kerns, June Lockhart, Rich Hall, Bianca Jagger, Larry Cedar 

A couple of teenagers break into a secret government science lab and steal a frozen corpse for a high school prank and accidentally awaken the corpse which turns out to be a CHUD named Bud, who goes on a killing spree and making his victims also cannibalistic CHUD’s and its up to the teens to stop him.

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The film as strange as it’s rated R, but there is nothing that bad, except for the implied violence in a little blood, but really as it’s so comedic and camp he could easily be more for kids as a starter, horror, film, or at least young teens, as there is nothing really that objectionable in the film

This song is one of those hidden in plain sight as this hits the right spot and happy to discover it late to truly appreciate it rather than just dismiss it as a product of the time which I’m sure many did. Now can watch it as a time capsule as they don’t make them even close to like this anymore.

The film is not scaring the least, as it goes more for comedy, which might have upset many fans of the original Chud film as this is nothing like the original, The film doesn’t even follow in the creature designs of the first  CHUD film instead this is a straight-up undead or zombie film. Should know that it’s an in name sequel. Which should have known by its subtitle of blood the Chad

The only way it’s Really connected to the original Is serving as a monster movie of sorts when an actuality, this was originally written to be a sequel to RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, and stay in that realm of comedy-Horror.

The film has a cast recognizable character actors in various roles. That feels like they are more guest starring. As The film feels like one of those TV movies from the 1980s at usually start actors on the network shows of the past and of the current shows that they had on and just like them. This is more of a teen film.

actor Garrett Graham is kind of the star of the film here as he plays Bud, the Chad, and truly steals the show and saves the phone. He showcases his talents that people slept on in various other roles in different movies. Here he does it all, though it’s more a physical comedic performance, especially his facial expressions. As the character doesn’t really talk.

Actress, Tricia Leigh Fisher Costars in this film and she’s an actress that one is always a fan of, but seems to have done so few films and television that when you do see her on screen, you can’t help but put a smile on your face as she has the talent and looks to do so much more in the film industry. And she comes across as a bombshell with a middle town, America appeal, and who can actually act

This isn’t a good film, but it’s a fun film of chess for Gerritt Graham’sphysical performance above all else. Especially, How he goes from awkward zombie to a more suave Casanova look.  not to mention seeing the cast of recognizable actors, feels a bit heartwarming. No, it stays comedic throughout.

It ends up feeling So bad it’s good but seems to be designed that way so it’s not bad Chessmore silly plus the film has the creepiest cameo by Robert England.

The humor of the film make it makes it feel like it’s a film full of dad jokes. Which one can appreciate this film for because it seems more and more these days like all her films even if they’re comedic, they’re more focused on exploitation of nudity and violence and can’t just be in the genre of horror and be fun and kind of clean.

Even if not scary, the film does offer good practical effects and make up FX, which seems to be a kind of a lost cause or getting diminishing returns these days

The film was filmed in 1987, but wasn’t released until 1989 the Director even made three cuts one emphasizing her, the other more emphasizing comedy in the third Edited to play on television one wonders if the cut we see now

Is the purely comedic one and the television one has one can only imagine what the scary version looks like. Even though this film seems . more made for television, and the humor seems more for a juvenile crowd.

Grade: C+

SLEEP WITH ME (1994)

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Directed By: Rory Kelly 
Written By: Duane Dell’Amico, Roger Hedden, Neal Jimenez, Joe Keenan, Rory Kelly and Michael Steinberg  Cinematography: Andrzej Sekula
Editor: David Moritz 

Cast: Eric Stoltz, Meg Tilly, Craig Sheffer, Lewis Arquette, Todd Field, Parker Posey, Vanessa Angel, Susan Traylor, Dean Cameron, Thomas Gibson, Joey Lauren Adams, June Lockhart, Adrienne Shelly, Alexandra Hedison, Quentin Tarantino 

Sarah, Joseph, and Frank are BFFs. Joseph and Sarah get married but the evening before she tells Frank with a kiss that it could’ve been him. Frank continues to have a thing for Sarah.

Six different writers wrote a scene each of this romantic comedy featuring the marriage and turbulent relationship of Joseph and Sarah, with Joseph’s best friend Frank trying hard to cope with letting the love of his life marry his best friend. An interesting experiment though it might also explain why it

Seems like a bit of a mess. That seems endless and single-focused. After a while it feels like small talk, about a lot of things said but nothing of any depth that can be called interesting. It might have worked better as a play. 

A 1990’s relationship drama with some very little comedy thrown in. It seemed dated even when it came out. It feels like a dramatic episode of the television show FRIENDS.

The film involves a group of friends who are all married and/or in serious relationships and only seem to hang out with each other. They are still young and hip with no kids in sight. 

So, of course, they have only one friend who is single and this film Explores all the different couplings in relationships. The one that gets the most attention is Meg Tilly who is usually a joy to see on screen. As she is rather obscure. Whose character is engaged to Eric Stoltz’s character. Who is kind of a ladies’ man whose best friend, played by Craig Sheffer with some Ill-advised facial hair and even worse hippie wardrobe is in love with Tilly’s character and she knows it.

She comes across as cruel because she knows yet every time he brings a date to their get-together. She interrogates and then insults them. 

When she suspects her fiancé of cheating she sleeps with Sheffer’s character out of spite and when he thinks they have started a relationship she begins to feel bad and have feelings. When Eric finds out and informs her he didn’t cheat. So now the two guys are competing for her. 

Imagine the Andrew McCarthy-Ally Sheedy-Judd Nelson love triangle from ST ELMO’S FIRE. Only if Nelson didn’t cheat and it was the main part of the movie, only more dramatic and you are on the same page as this film. 

The film tries to be a broad comedy type of movie played subtly seriously. It comes across as a bunch of self-important characters. Who think they are cool but aren’t coming to grips with growing up and making it seem more dramatic and meaningful than it actually is.

It’s a shame as the film has a good cast and could have really been good under better circumstances. 

Somehow here the direction just seems to drain all the fun and interest out of not only the scenes but the characters. The script seems fine if not indulgent and self-important. 

One only wishes for a more skilled director. Who could have better handled the material and made the scenes a little more vivid and exciting. At least give it a kind of sense of humor about itself. 

Maybe also allowing the film to be more of an ensemble and not focus so much on the leads and give the side characters more nuance and more to do. So the love triangle could have been more of a side caper or we see how it affects the dynamics of everyone in the group. 

After a while though it seems Like every woman throws themselves at Stoktz’s character. This is easy to see when Sheffer’s Comes off more as creepy and he is the single available one. Who seems to mess up any chance he has with other women. While Stoltz’s Character is already married has nothing to lose. As he already has a wife. So he can talk to these women without seeming like he wants to bed them Or looking for something. Which in turn seems to make him a challenge for them 

The only true noteworthy scene is the cameo by writer-director Quentin Tarantino giving a rant or his theory on how the movie TOP GUN is really a movie about a man’s struggle with his homosexuality. (This was before the internet introduced many people’s wild outlandish film and television theories)

In fact, that is one of the only reasons I watched it. The other is Eric Stoltz and Parker Posey, actors I am a huge fan of. 

GRADE: D+