C.H.U.D. (1984): Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers and New York's Finest Hour
By Johnny Rewind | Nostalgia Navigator
C.H.U.D. stands for Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers. The film is about exactly that. New York City's sewer system is full of homeless people who have been mutated by toxic waste illegally dumped by a government agency. They emerge at night to eat people. A photographer, a soup kitchen operator, and a police captain piece together what's happening while city officials cover it up. It is a New York film through and through — grimy, paranoid, and deeply suspicious of authority — wrapped around a monster movie.
Behind the Madness
C.H.U.D. was shot entirely on location in New York in 1984 for $1.75 million. The practical monster effects were done by a small team working with limited budget and considerable creativity. John Heard and Daniel Stern — both legitimate actors — play the leads with complete commitment. The film has genuine social commentary about how cities treat their homeless population buried under the monster movie elements, which gives it more weight than the title suggests.
Comments