The Stuff (1985) – Film Review

Director: Larry Cohen
Cast: Michael Moriarty, Scott Bloom, Danny Aiello
Certificate: 15

By Roger Crow

Forty years ago, this schlock horror satire from genre master Larry Cohen won a cult following, but not a mainstream release. However, the story about a mysterious white goo which is marketed as a delicious dessert is as engaging as the eponymous foodstuff.

Scott Mills lookalike Michael Moriarty is terrific as troubleshooter Mo Rutherford, especially his debut on a yacht, which was obviously dubbed. Beautifully witty, it’s a zinger of a scene.

“Runs up the walls”

Owing a debt to The Blob and Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Stuff went on to inspire recent cosmetics horror satire The Substance. That killer logo, which I’d happily have on a T-shirt, and terrific adverts pre-empted the feel of RoboCop by a couple of years. And there’s a substance to the script; the legal stuff about the product is as accurate as it can be according to Cohen’s excellent yack track.

Top trivia. Co-star Andrea Markovicci was filming a scene in a hotel, and when her mother saw it, she revealed it was the same room where her doctor husband had saved Judy Garland’s life after the actress OD’d on sleeping pills.

Picture quality ranges from the great to the grainy, but on the whole it’s not bad for a 40-year-old flick.

Amazing to see acting greats like Danny Aiello and Paul Sorvino before they were famous, but the real star is that white, gelatinous goo in all its forms.

Yes, the pre-digital effects range from the good to the frankly rubbish, but they are also true to the nature of the movie. It’s meant to be a B-movie, so cheap visuals are necessary for such a schlock horror. However, the tilted room set, like Inception, is fabulous, especially when the stuff runs up walls. The oldest technical gags in Hollywood are always the best.

“Lot of fun”

The run time is perfect for the material, and this new release is sure to attract a fresh generation of fans.

I’ve been waiting 40 years to see the movie, and though not perfect, it’s a lot of fun with some great gags, adverts and again, a nod to that fabulous logo. It’s up there with a classic movie like Grease or a product like Coca-Cola for curvy, swirly brilliance.

I’m amazed it’s never been remade, but imagine it’s only a matter of time.

After all, ‘enough is never enough of The Stuff’.