Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!
Plot Summary: Two dorks inadvertently release an alien parasite that transforms its host into a zombie that breeds more parasites.
Review: Over the years this film has gained a strong cult following in the way many forgotten gems of the '70s and '80s have, but I was that geek that liked it from the beginning. But you knew it was going to be good because it was written and directed by the same guy, Fred Dekker, that made one of my all time favorite movies, "The Monster Squad." While this film isn't quite as good TMS, it is so loaded with '80s cheesiness that it is nearly bursting at the seam. The dialogue, characters, and offbeat oddity to the plot scream of '80's B-movie, but, then again, it has everything so perfectly balanced that it becomes awesome! Think about it, alien leeches, zombies, shitty gore effects, and likable characters including a hot chick, what's not to love? It's hard to believe so many missed out on this bad boy back in the day, but, let's face it, a ton of shitty horror movies came out of the '80s and many good ones fell through the cracks.
The movie jumps into things right from the first scene as aliens are chasing, what appears to be, a zombie alien that has a creep in a canister. The creeps, as I will refer to them, are essentially leeches that attach to the brain, turning you into a zombie, where they multiply and attempt to infect others. I know for years I could not understand if the one alien was supposed to be a scientist or was everything an experiment gone wrong, but finally seeing the cast list revealed someone credited as "alien zombie." Finally that is cleared up in my head! The zombie alien launches the canister out of an airlock where it somehow ends up on Earth in the late '50s. This allows for some seriously cornball scenes and dialogue with a couple going out to some kind of lover's lane when they see the canister crash. There are a lot of elements incorporated from other films during this segment as, coincidentally enough, an escaped, killer mental patient is on the loose in the same area. As the guy in this couple finds the canister and is infected with the creep, the girl is chopped to pieces by the maniac. The slowness of the guy to become a zombie is merely one of many inconsistencies regarding the creeps so let's address that now.
So we skip ahead, all the way, to the futuristic setting of "pledge week--1986!" Oh shit, now you know things are about to get serious! Two dorks, named Chris and J.C., are hanging out at some party near a fraternity as Chris believes he sees the girl of his dreams, Cynthia, played by the smoking hot Jill Whitlow. While the acting may be shaky at times, the thing I like best about Chris and J.C. is that they have a realistic dynamic to their friendship. They talk to each other in a way that makes it feel as though they have had the same conversations before and have been through shit with each other. This kind of natural behavior and dialogue is one of the reasons why I actually liked "The Wicked" even though everyone hated it; it's hard to have dialogue that makes characters feel real and as if they've known each other for years! I should also note J.C. is disabled from some unknown condition which requires him to walk with the help of crutches. For some reason, Chris is convinced that if he joins a fraternity he will stand a chance with Cynthia so they try and pledge to some guy who refers to himself as the Bradster. Yes, the Bradster. He's supposed to be the token douchebag, but his acting was so over the top I wished he were in more of the movie! Apparently the Bradster, who is Cynthia's boyfriend, wants them to steal a cadaver and bring it to a rival frat, but what can our heroes do but oblige? Do to sheer hijinks, somehow Chris and J.C. stumble upon the cryogenically frozen guy infected with the creep from the '50s. Now, let's completely ignore the outlandish notion that he would not zombie-out in the time it would take to cryo-freeze someone or that there has to be this cryogenic technology to begin with or why in the hell would they keep his body at a facility debatably on campus instead of the some government research lab?! If you're overlooking this stupidity, then chances are you're really enjoying this film! After releasing the guy, he comes to life and Chris and J.C. run away as the only scientist in the vicinity becomes infected.
From here we are introduced to Detective Cameron played by horror icon Tom Atkins. Oh come on, you remember him..."Halloween III" my favorite? That fucking piece of shit! Cameron is a mixed bag for many because his character will either come off amusing or annoying as hell since he's always sarcastic and saying "thrill me." Personally, I like the character because Mr. Atkins does a good job, and because I knew the character was meant to be an homage to classic detective novels which you even see strewn about his home. Cameron is also suicidal and a bit unstable since he was the ex-boyfriend of the girl who was chopped up in the beginning and he secretly killed the mental patient. At the same time, zombie guy finds his way to Cynthia's sorority and his head bursts into many creeps right in front of her. The next day, the Bradster and his flunkies confront Chris and J.C. about the prank that seemingly went awry. Cynthia overhears their side of the story as they explain they wimped out, but the Bradster does not likey and kicks out J.C.'s crutches. Cynthia then helps the dorks while ditching the Bradster as Cameron shows up to question the duo which he humorously dubs as Spanky and Alphalpha. The two convince Cameron they aren't involved as Cynthia later shows up at their dorm believing they are the only ones who may understand what she saw with the zombie guy. In all honesty, if someone as hot as Ms. Whitlow was speaking the nonsense she was saying I think I'd be even more interested! Cynthia even asks out Chris to some formal dance--lucky bastard. Unfortunately, J.C. had left to let Chris and Cynthia have some alone time when he is attacked by creeps and infected.
Cameron later explains to Chris that he killed the mental patient as, conveniently enough, a creep brings the mental patient back to life to begin a new killing spree and infecting a dog with a creep. Cameron eventually kills the zombie again and sees the creeps running about. This leads to the next contrivance as somehow J.C. was able to leave a recording to Chris explaining how the creeps work, they are vulnerable to fire, and he was killing himself. I didn't want J.C. to die but it's a good thing he was able to explain everything to the characters and audience in a convenient manner skipping all that exposition! For some reason a bunch of douchebags are traveling to this formal dance by bus which crashes when trying to dodge zombie-dog. The doggie then proceeds to infect the bus full of mostly Bradster flunkies as the Bradster too is infected by the doggie at a later point. Chris and Cameron borrow a flamethrower from the police armory because uh, what police station doesn't have a flamethrower on standby?! Cynthia is all dressed up looking even sexier as zombie Bradster tries to infect her only for Chris to show up and save the day. For some inexplicable reason, Chris gives Cynthia the flamethrower as the bus full of zombie flunkies show up to meet their dates. You have to love the action in these scenes because it is just hilarious to see Ms. Whitlow torching zombies. Eventually they realize all the creeps are gathering in the basement of the sorority because a plot device presented earlier demands it! Cameron laces the place with gasoline and then blows himself up with all the creeps in a semi-epic manner. From here there are two distinct endings, one of which I only recently viewed. The ending I have watched my whole life involves the zombie-dog reappearing and infecting Cynthia. I never did like that ending because I don't want Cynthia dying damn it! But apparently the original, director's ending involved Cameron, charred and infected, making his way to a cemetery when his head bursts out more creeps. Then the aliens finally show up looking for the creeps. I much prefer this ending because it would make more sense that the aliens would have tracked down the creeps ala "Critters" style, and because I don't like the idea of Cynthia dying.
Is this film corny and full of over the top lame scenes? Yes. Sure, the acting is bad at times, the dialogue can be stupid, and some effects are really weak, but none of this deters from the overall presentation. Like other underrated horror movies, there is this certain charm to the film that shines through especially when it offers that rare instance of making characters appear to be genuine friends. You do need to have a certain appreciation for films like this, but it just works somehow. I have to give credit for the creativity and unconventional direction the plot goes in as well. I definitely recommend tracking this down and now that it has been given a proper re-release, it shouldn't be all that hard. Although, from what I've read, this updated version only includes the director's ending. So if you're interested in the ending people have been watching for years, look it up on youtube or something. Either way, give this one a try, but understand it comes off more as a comedy horror than meant to be serious.
Notable Moment: When J.C. rants about how Chris is a little bitch; it makes the characters feel more real with an established friendship. If only more films would take the time to add that little bit of development.
Final Rating: 6.5/10
The lovely Ms. Whitlow killing it '80s style:
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