I think we all can agree there are some truly stellar b-movies that exist with large cult followings for sheer reason they deliver the outrageous laughter, and a storyline is often insane, but somehow it all bizarrely keeps the entertainment factor dial to eleven. There’s something unique about 80s movies: big hair, flashy clothing, and everything going to the extreme excessiveness. This movie has an interesting backstory, which was originally released as Killbots, in March 1986 however, it performed poorly which was linked to the title. If that sounds strange, perhaps, but some thought the movie was children orientated because producers’ ties to the animated shows, however it might have been more of a play on the Tonka’s ‘Gobots’ which was an off shoot of the Transformers toy line. After some time, the violent exploitation movie was re-released to theaters under the title Chopping Mall, with over 15 minutes cut by Concorde Pictures and the received a special Blu-ray release by Lionsgate in 2016. Jim Wynorski, using lessons from legendary producer Roger Corman and a highly tight budget of $800,000 along with inspiration from the film Gog (1954) to create an interesting story of robotic security guards, with plenty of camp and cheese elements often found in b-movies. However, less than two months later another robot movie would receive a greater theatrical release Short Circuit (1986). It was 1982 all over again, E.T versus The Thing, here the killer security robot versus a military robot turned loveable creation, just a curious footnote the latter film uses story elements from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Even though, Jim crafted a decent Corman stepped in and reedited the film, shaving 10-minutes and presented it as a slasher flicker, all as his wife Julie Corman took on the producing credits. Another interesting side note, that this film’s robot is very similar in design to that in Evolver [1994], showing the maddening robotics want to eliminate the human race.
Paul Bartel and Mary Woronov
We have the corporate working to eliminate more human jobs, by bringing a few techs and robotic security patrol units, known as Protectors 1, 2,3 that never take breaks, no sleeping on the job, and will never ask for pay raise, though they’ll never buy anything and have no understanding of human colloquies, otherwise perfect. A spokesperson guarantees his audience that “absolutely nothing can go wrong,” which means a dreadful situation shall ensue soon; also, at this meeting a quick note to the reunited Paul Bartel and Mary Woronov reprising their roles from the film Eating Raoul [1982] and Angus Scrimm (Phantasm: Ravager [2016]) makes a cameo appearance as Dr. Carrington. The story moves swiftly along as a freak (of course) lightning storm damages the central computer that is energizing the robots, no power surge protector, but anyway it sends a boost to them scrambling their programming and giving them life, a play on Frankenstein. Shortly afterwards, the trio come online, killing first a tech, a brief cleanup and then his buddy Nessler (Gerrit Graham (Demon Seed [1977]))) and then heading out into the mall, forcing the doors shut, locking all inside, the next up was the janitor Walter Paisley (Dick Miller (The Howling [1981])) as he has an electrifying encounter with the guards, then time to patrol. However, a group of 20-something employees, four couples Rick (Russell Todd (Friday the 13th Part II [1981]) and Linda (Karrie Emerson), next is Greg (Nick Segal) and Suzie (Barbara Crampton (Re-Animator [1985])), coming in third was Mike and Leslie, while the forth grouping is more of two individuals paired together by friends Ferdy and Allison, they decided to stay inside a furniture store with some snacks, brews, and have sex with each other. The fourth couple Alison (Kelli Maroney (Exorcism at 60,000 Feet [2019])) and Ferdy (Tony O’Dell (Evils of the Night [1985])) take in a b-movie called Attack of the Crab Monsters [1957], which incidentally is a Roger Corman flick, enjoying some laughs. We have the neon everywhere, pastel color clothing, the big hair as well as the young, minded attitudes of then, and it’s the 80s clearly, except instead of a homicidal maniac stalking them we have three silent robot killers who seem to keep their military hardware, (and plastic explosives! WTF!) what kind of mall environment are they encountering, but that looniness makes the film more enjoyable. The film works to never become a complete parody of itself, ratcheting the violence up for a good measure with many memorable scenes, the killing of Mike (John Terlesky) who utters the line “klaatu barada nikto” referencing back to The Day the Earth Stood Still [1951] which gives the Protector robot envy and Leslie (Suzee Slater) she just loses her head, which causes the others to scatter for their lives. As the threats mount the guys break into a sporting goods store, which easy reminds one of Dawn of the Dead [1978] especially as the guys grab all types of guns including M-16 like rifles and a propane tank though not as quite effective as Dawn of the Dead [2004]. The deaths some more gruesome than others continue throughout the remainder of the film, and visits to some stores including a pet store with exotic animals, um okay. This movie has it all the fun, laughs, blood and of course nudity a mall employee locker room especially for women with teddies hanging on the wall a collection of wackiness fills the scant running time but delivers on so many levels.
Talk About Losing Your Head
A side note, this movie made many references to other films, before it became a running aspect in the Scream franchise and even Scary Movie spoofing franchise, such as the store Roger’s Little Shop of Pets a clear reference to Roger Corman’s The Little Shop of Horrors (1960); while Peckinpah’s Sporting Goods store gives nod to director Sam Peckinpah who often had films of violence and shoot ‘em reckless abandonment. Also, some wonderful lines lifted from The Thing from Another World [1951], I dare to wonder if the actors even knew what movies they were references during the production. The pizza restaurant has the most interesting artwork on the walls, namely horror movie posters such as Saturday the 14th [1981], Galaxy of Terror [1981], and the Slumber Party Massacre [1982]; the one thing common with all Roger Corman was producer on each film. In fact, some might not know that Dick Miller was also reprising a character of his named Walter Paisley which was the title role from A Bucket of Blood which was you can guess it directed by Roger Corman.
Dick Miller
One thing that might elude some viewers is that these robots actually worked on this shoestring budget, operating them via remote control, aside from the lasers, giving it all they had stretching the almighty dollar. Of course, one must overlook the contribution from composer Chuck Cirino, well known in the b-movie circuit, who would later worked more times with Jim Wynorski, made sure to make was stellar cues that lent references to gunslinger scenes of The Wild Bunch [1969], and soundtrack that still captures the retro synthwave fans. Nevertheless, did anyone enjoy that massive explosion at the end of the film paint store filled lethal chemicals and no sprinklers going off, classic enjoyment.
The concept of shopping malls is a relative dead subject, so many that once were not either hulking crumbling mazes, becoming exploration for the urban explorer, but this movie allows us to revisit this time in our past. The location primarily the interior shots were of Sherman Oaks Galleria, which has a long-standing tradition in films for example Phantom of the Mall: Eric’s revenge [1989] and Terminator 2: Judgment Day [1991]. One hopes a remake does not occur for it would be nearly impossible to rekindle the celluloid magic on the screen, from classic and cult actors to wonderful references and sheer political incorrectness, Wynorski made sure to include solid action sequence, brought the best out of his young but experience cast, with some good stunt work, it all generates a lasting charm for this movie that has allowed it to be a cult classic. It captured the obsession with robots nicely, the horror and sci-fi crowd has enjoyed variations of their inclusion from Forbidden Planet [1956] to Alien [1979] with Ash, then The Terminator [1984] having the phrase “I’ll be back” to these killing robots with a polite “thank you, have a nice day” which later become similar to Robocop’s Murphy’s “thank you for your cooperation”. Regardless of one’s opinion of robots’ usage from sci-fi crossing over into the horror genre the cyborgs would become another subgenre, but this movie its truly one hell of a great ride of sheer entertainment.
Protectors
TAGLINES:
- Tonight Park Plaza Mall switches on the world’s toughest security force. Absolutely nothing can go wrong…
- Shopping will never be the same!
- Where shopping can cost you an arm and a leg.
- Chopping Mall – Where they slash their prices – and their customers!
- Buy or Die
- At Park Plaza Mall the security force isn’t just tight, it’s terrifying!
- Shop til you drop, dead!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090837/
IMDb Rating: 5.6/10
Baron’s Rating: 6.0/10