Munchies (film)
Encyclopedia
Munchies is a 1987
horror film
starring Harvey Korman
, Charlie Stratton, and Nadine Van der Velde
. Clearly inspired by the success of Gremlins
, and directed by that film's editor, Tina Hirsch
, the film features a remarkably similar plot line. It spawned two sequels, Munchie
and Munchie Strikes Back
, which possess no relation to the original save the title. These two films dealt with an impish wish-granting creature named Munchie.
. Bringing the specimen back to the United States, Watterman's son and girlfriend accidentally reanimate it and name it Arnold. Cecil Watterman, Simon's evil twin brother and snack food entrepreneur, kidnaps Arnold while Cindy and Paul are making out.
When Arnold is hurt by his kidnappers, it becomes aggressive and attacks Cecil's adopted son. Attempting to kill Arnold, they chop him into quarters, but instead of dying, Arnold multiplies into four new munchies. The quartet of creatures develop a love of women, beer, attacking people, and junk food
in the process.
1987 in film
-Events:*January 31 - The Cure for Insomnia premieres at The School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Illinois, to officially become the world's longest film according to Guinness World Records....
horror film
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
starring Harvey Korman
Harvey Korman
Harvey Herschel Korman was an American comedic actor who performed in television and movie productions beginning in 1960...
, Charlie Stratton, and Nadine Van der Velde
Nadine Van der Velde
Nadine van der Velde is a Canadian American actress, producer and writer. Van der Velde is a two time Emmy award winner, two time Annie Award winner and a recipient of a Humanitas Award.-Early life and career:...
. Clearly inspired by the success of Gremlins
Gremlins
Gremlins is a 1984 American horror comedy film directed by Joe Dante, released by Warner Bros. The film is about a young man who receives a strange creature—called a Mogwai—as a pet, which then spawns other creatures who transform into small, destructive, evil monsters. It was followed by a sequel,...
, and directed by that film's editor, Tina Hirsch
Tina Hirsch
Tina Hirsch is an American film editor. She has been elected to membership in the American Cinema Editors, and in 2000, she became the first woman to become president of the honorary society...
, the film features a remarkably similar plot line. It spawned two sequels, Munchie
Munchie
Munchie is a 1992 comedy film. The film was directed by Jim Wynorski, and Jennifer Love Hewitt makes her debut as a film actress. The film stars Andrew Stevens and Loni Anderson .The film was released in 1992...
and Munchie Strikes Back
Munchie Strikes Back
Munchie Strikes Back is a 1992 comedy feature film directed by Jim Wynorski and written by Wynorski and R.J. Robertson, as a sequel to Munchie, with Howard Hessman providing Munchie's voice.-Synopsis:...
, which possess no relation to the original save the title. These two films dealt with an impish wish-granting creature named Munchie.
Plot summary
The protagonist, space archaeologist Simon Watterman, discovers a fossilized "Munchie" in a cave in PeruPeru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. Bringing the specimen back to the United States, Watterman's son and girlfriend accidentally reanimate it and name it Arnold. Cecil Watterman, Simon's evil twin brother and snack food entrepreneur, kidnaps Arnold while Cindy and Paul are making out.
When Arnold is hurt by his kidnappers, it becomes aggressive and attacks Cecil's adopted son. Attempting to kill Arnold, they chop him into quarters, but instead of dying, Arnold multiplies into four new munchies. The quartet of creatures develop a love of women, beer, attacking people, and junk food
Junk food
Junk food is an informal term applied to some foods that are perceived to have little or no nutritional value ; to products with nutritional value, but which also have ingredients considered unhealthy when regularly eaten; or to those considered unhealthy to consume at all...
in the process.
Cast
- Harvey KormanHarvey KormanHarvey Herschel Korman was an American comedic actor who performed in television and movie productions beginning in 1960...
as Cecil Watterman and Simon Watterman - Hardy RawlsHardy RawlsHardy Rawls is an American character actor from Florida. His most notable role was as "Dad" Don Wrigley on the Nickelodeon television series The Adventures of Pete & Pete...
as Big Ed - Robert PicardoRobert PicardoRobert Picardo is an American actor. He is best known for his portrayals of Dr. Dick Richards on ABC's China Beach, the Emergency Medical Hologram , also known as The Doctor, on UPN's Star Trek: Voyager, The Cowboy in Innerspace, Coach Cutlip on The Wonder Years , Ben Wheeler in Wagons East, and as...
as Bob Marvalle - Wendy SchaalWendy SchaalWendy Schaal is an American actress and voice actress. She is best known as the voice of Francine Smith in the TV series American Dad!.-Personal life:...
as Marge Marvalle - Paul BartelPaul BartelPaul Bartel was an American actor, writer and director. Bartel was perhaps most known for his 1982 hit black comedy Eating Raoul, which he wrote, starred in and directed.-Life and career:...
as Dr. Crowder - Ellen Albertini DowEllen Albertini DowEllen Albertini Dow is an American character actress. She often portrays feisty old ladies and is perhaps best known as the rapping grandmother who performs in the feature film The Wedding Singer...
as Little Old Lady - Steven Bernstein as Dean
- Frank WelkerFrank WelkerFranklin Wendell "Frank" Welker is an American actor who specializes in voice acting and has contributed character voices and other vocal effects to American television and motion pictures.-Acting career:...
as the voice of Munchie - Fred NewmanFred Newman (actor)Frederick R. Newman is an American actor, voice actor, composer, and sound effects artist, as well as a former talk show host....
as the voice of Munchie