Review of C.H.U.D.

My main gripe with this film is that it gets off to a shamefully slow start after the amusing beginning sequence, however once it gets to its last 40 minutes, business picks up. The performances in this film are surprisingly good; that rag-tag 80's new york sensibility of day-to-day survival is upheld on all ends of the acting spectrum; they are a group you actually care about. It also helps that this is the most visceral depiction of the seedy-side of New York I've personally seen since Taxi Driver. The labyrinth of derelict sewers especially give off a feeling that the whole city is about to cave in on account of its own decay. This film tries to convey a message on the consequences of environmental degradation even in a place like a city, but it doesn't really follow through with it beyond using it as the backbone of the plot, which is perfectly fine in a film like this. Daniel Stern's ramshackle underground soup kitchen hero, is the standout, his interactions carry the film and bring everyone together by the story's end. Kudos to Christopher Curry for not overplaying a certain pivotal, depressing moment for his character; he truly plays the worn down cop to an exceptional level as we watch him reach his breaking point. The creatures are definitely creepy to this day, and the gore effects hold up even better, perhaps due their understated use throughout, it never reaches ruinous excess like its dated peers. The ending was both amusing and anti-climactic at the same time. Recommended for those that can handle its slow, methodical pace.