Do you know what C.H.U.D. stands for? This was a question that often came up in schoolyards among kids who may have caught a glimpse of the often syndicated movie on ’80s and ’90s television. The answer is actually twofold for anyone who was paying close attention to the New World Pictures cult hit from 1984 that starred Home Alone’s Daniel Stern and John Heard as well as Kim Greist from Terry Gilliam’s Brazil.
The poster was a conversation stopper, looking like an evil cousin of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles emerging from New York’s sewer system. The creature is a result of toxic waste being carelessly drained into subterranean communities by the government, causing a horrific mutation. With an increasing population of those struggling with homelessness found across most major metropolises, the movie strikes a heavy chord with anyone who has experience with the real-life struggles of this humanitarian crisis. The film is a beloved entry in monster mythos, with a fantastic cast, cool creature effects, and an impassioned political theme about homelessness and government corruption.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
The iconic slice of 1980s monster mayhem was followed by a disappointing sequel in 1989, C.H.U.D. II: Bud the Chud, which unfortunately cut the legs out from under what could have been a fantastic franchise. The original plants seeds in the dialogue and visual cues for a much deeper mythology. The sequel may have actually been retrofitted last minute to be sold as C.H.U.D. II. Other than some brief dialogue early on in the film, the movie bears little resemblance to the original. Let’s put on our hazmat suits and take a deep dive into the mutating slime of toxic waste and why now is the right time for the return of C.H.U.D.
C.H.U.D. is Genuinely Frightening
New World Pictures
Horror that tends to work touches on real-life fears and anxieties. From the thin line between demonic possession and mental illness to the overpopulation and unsustainable consumerism of humans and the zombie apocalypse, themes that scare us are thinly veiled commentaries on reality. With the help of wickedly freaky creature designs and makeup fx, that is the stuff nightmares are made of and quickly draw the line between audiences who like and loathe the experience of cinematic terror.
Pile on to that a great script with characters you relate to and genuinely care about, occasionally the confines of a B-movie framework are broken, and something iconic and special is born. C.H.U.D. is a prime example of this. While skillfully operating on a tight budget, C.H.U.D. draws you in with a philanthropic subtext that speaks to the homeless crisis that we face in most major cities on planet earth. While it was certainly a problem in the ’80s, it’s only gotten worse in the 2020s.
Homelessness is an Ongoing Issue
Careful not to demonize the issue of homelessness (in the wrong way), C.H.U.D. rather embraces a mythology that links the mysteries of mental illness with a specific kind of mutation people underground are falling victim to. Daniel Stern’s character A.J. runs a homeless shelter where Val, a man who suffers from some form of schizophrenia, begins sharing his unique thoughts on the mutations and why people are going missing near manholes. He lays out a fascinating lore referencing the ancient concepts of Gog and Magog, religious figures often associated with the apocalypse. Val goes on to assert, “They have the power to shut the sky.” and repeats the line angrily. He also refers to four living creatures of ‘a throne’ filled with eyes in front and behind. This brilliant little moment, performed impeccably well by veteran actor Graham Beckel, elevates C.H.U.D. into a Lovecraftian realm of cosmic horror. Another moment later in the film shows the monsters basking in toxic waste in a kind of religious ecstasy.
A Deeper Meaning
Upon first look, one might not catch these deeper contemplations that help to make the film about something more than just Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers. The clever little movie then pulls the veil off the schlock revealing the true acronym; Contamination Hazard Urban Disposal, a despicable act of callous policymaking in a total disregard for human life that has otherworldly consequences, awakening demonoids from the dark realm who are given passage into the flesh of men, woman, and children. What else may be eyeing our earthly realm from this forbidden zone? Perhaps the C.H.U.D. is only the first wave of an attack from something beyond human comprehension. It’s a metaphor for the catastrophe of homelessness. It’s not headed toward a bright outcome, should the issue truly have the power to “shut the sky.” Tragically, C.H.U.D. only grows more relevant with each passing year as the homeless epidemic grows with no cap in sight.
As studios continue to mine yesterday’s intellectual properties for their accompanied brand awareness and built-in fan bases, they would be wise to dust off C.H.U.D. and give those schoolyard kids (now adults) obsessed with the acronym a proper sequel. There’s a ton of room for world-building here and much more to be said about the film’s important themes.
