Alice Cadogan Movies
Virtually unnoticed during its brief theatrical run, this wildly entertaining horror-comedy achieved healthy cult status following its home-video and cable TV releases. The directorial debut of Fred Dekker (writer of the successful horror parody House), this low-budget effort throws alien monsters, axe-wielding killers, flesh-eating zombies, nudity, and (gasp!) drunken fraternity shenanigans into a blender, spiced with witty one-liners and references to dozens of horror classics (and anti-classics). The result is a satisfying treat that will tickle the tastebuds of horror fans. The film's nominal protagonists are a pair of randy fraternity pledges (Jason Lively, Steve Marshall) who open a literal can of worms when they steal a corpse from the campus medical facility and release a horde of space-leeches, which proceed to infest the bodies of everyone in sight. The host bodies subsequently become homicidal zombies with a penchant for popping in on unsuspecting (and undressing) sorority girls. The town's only hope (such as it is) seems to be a hard-boiled ex-cop (Tom Atkins), who has uncovered the secret link between the zombie invasion and a 30-year-old axe-murder case... and who's also several sandwiches shy of a picnic. Dekker keeps things moving at a brisk pace thanks to some outrageous set-pieces (some of which happen so quickly they'll have viewers reaching for the pause button) and clever dialogue, particularly for Atkins ("Girls, the good news is your dates are here; the bad news is, they're dead"), who dives into his crusty character with relish. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jason Lively, Steve Marshall, (more)
What's that wisecracking young black guy (Eddie Murphy) in that beat-up Chevy Nova doing in lily-white Beverly Hills? He's Axel Foley, a Detroit detective who's been sent on involuntary vacation because he refuses to drop his intention of avenging his friend's murder. Warned by Beverly Hills police chief Ronny Cox to stay out of trouble, Foley nonetheless dogs the trail of above-the-law Steven Berkoff, the British crime czar who was responsible for the murder of Foley's friend. With the help of sympathetic local cops Judge Reinhold and John Ashton and lady friend Lisa Eilbacher, Foley attempts to corner Berkoff in his mansion, which leads to a wild slapsticky shootout. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, (more)
- 1984
Tom and Helen Willis (Franklin Cover, Roxie Roker) cannot agree on how to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary. After much heated "discussion," they decide on a romantic weekend in the same hotel where they spent their first honeymoon. But things have changed a lot in three decades -- and not necessarily for the better. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1983
Magnum (Tom Selleck) agrees to escort Rick's 22-year-old sister Wendy (Alice Wright) on a seemingly harmless evening of sightseeing. But though Rick (Larry Manetti) is convinced that Wendy is a sweet, innocent lass, she quickly proves otherwise by behaving in as wild and reckless a manner as humanly possible. Ultimately, Wendy turns up murdered--and a vengerful Rick holds Magnum entirely responsible. Entertainer Carol Channing appears as herself in this episode, which also marks the first appearances of Kathleen Lloyd and Elisha Cook Jr. in the respective recurring roles of Deputy DA Carol Baldwin and shady businessman Ice Pick. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
