Chopping mall

Chopping Mall (1986)

     Forget the misleading title or cover art on the box, this movie is very entertaining if you like b-movies. I don't know why, but for once in a long while, especially in an 80's horror flick I was actually feeling for the characters. I can't explain why, but the acting and direction were both well done, and though it's more of a horror spoof than anything, it is quite a frightening concept. I remember watching this at my friend John Roberts house during one of our many all night horror-a-thons.  As for many movies in the 80s the cover sparked my interest.  Who would not want to see a movie that had a metal clawed hand gripping a shopping bag, unfortunately that hand is no where in the movie but oh well.
     The major complaints I have with this one is that some of the deaths are 'throw away', obvious and without style (most of the movie, they are running from cheesy 80's laser effects shooting all around them, but never hitting them...of course, when they do finally make contact, you never expect it), but it is still a good movie.  I love the quote that the robots say every time that they dispatch one of the teens. It is simply priceless. Also, watch for Barabara Crampton of Re-Animator and From Beyond fame as one of the horny teenagers. 
     In the beginning of the movie we see a man give a demonstration about this new security system that he has set up in this mall. It seems that he has employed some robots to do what security guards use to do. We as the viewer know this is not going to be a successful venture. Movies involving computers or robots in the 1980 were always going to be a recipe for disaster.
     There is a bad storm and for some reason the robots go haywire. Meantime we have a big party brewing for later on with some of the teenagers working in the mall. One is a new teenager to the area and she is persuaded to tag a long. We know since there are no stars in the movie she will be the smart one. Seems that furniture stores in malls double as hotels for teenage parties at night. A pretty good idea if you are a teenager who works at a relatives furniture store.  
     Well of course there are 4 boys and 4 girls. Kelly Maroney the new girl in town gets paired off with the male nerd character. They like each other, they remain content looking at TV while their friends are cavorting Now this is from Teenage horror movie 101. The couple who has sex first or is involved in taking drugs or drinking too much are the first to get killed. And the formula is in effect here. Seems one of the girls want a cigarette and asks her boyfriend to leave the store and get some out of the machine. She bares her breast and right then and there she was doomed. We know as viewers the kill bots are already causing havoc. 
      The boyfriend gets killed and the girlfriend goes looking for him and while the other teens at the party witness her screaming on seeing her boyfriend they also witness her grizzly death. All hell breaks loose from then on. I am not going to spoil it and tell what happens. Just hold on to your seats. The movie doesn't stop to take a breathe for a second. 
     This movie has the majority of the typical 80s horror cliches.  But in spite of that,  I do enjoy this movie.  With not so typical good acting and just a ridiculous story this is a movie that you can just sit down and enjoy easily.

7.5/10