That Opening Scene WHY?
The ‘80s horror scene gave us some wild, offbeat gems, and The Stuff is one. This is a movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously but also doesn’t go full parody. It sits in that weird, sweet spot where it’s self-aware but still plays its premise straight. And what a premise it is: a mysterious, addictive substance is bubbling up from the earth, and people just start eating it. The Stuff begins with an old man stumbling upon some white goo seeping from the ground. And what does he do? The most logical thing in the world. He sticks his fingers in it and eats it. The opening scene sets the tone for the entire movie. The Stuff is not going to give you deep character arcs or airtight logic, but it also does not try to trick you into thinking it is some serious thriller either – that sweet spot.
The Kid, the Parents, and the Weirdest Dinner Rules
At one point, a kid realizes The Stuff isn’t what it seems, but his parents are already hooked. In a completely rational (I’m joking) parenting move, they send him to his room and demand he eat an entire container of it. Now anyone who has been a defiant kid or is a parent knows this won’t happen. Naturally, he fakes them out and gets rid of it. The lead character in this movie, Mo Rutherford, comes in to save this kid as he flees from his stuff possessed and pursuing parents. Mo pulls up, the kid jumps in, and it’s off to the airport for a flight to GA. Now, keep in mind, Mo doesn’t know this kid and the kid doesn’t know him. There are so many things wrong with this. Back in the ‘80s, stranger danger was somewhat of a suggestion. I remember those days.
Industrial Espionage and Creepy Commercials
Mo Rutherford is an investigator hired to uncover the secrets behind The Stuff, which means the movie actually has a corporate sabotage subplot. The idea of spies infiltrating companies to steal secrets might sound like a movie trope, but it happens more than people realize. The aspect of The Stuff was particularly appealing to me because I spent several years leading a team that protected against these people. I can’t dive too far into the details but, at one point a fellow had taken a manual home that had several secrets. After being fired and threatening the HR department, we had to send the boys in blue and legal teams to his pad to be sure he understood that that book was coming back, one way or the other. Companies with secrets really don’t tread lightly with theft of intellectual property because it can easily put them out of business.
The marketing for The Stuff in The Stuff is also insane. The commercials in the film range from weirdly seductive to downright unsettling. One features a woman with an unnervingly creepy voice. If I saw that ad in real life, I’d be convinced the product was a cult recruitment tool and, you can bet that I wouldn’t be buying any. Another was a commercial that had models in fur trench coats and bikinis strutting down a runway under neon signs. Something about fur trench coats, bikinis, and ‘80s neon just screams perfection. I won’t lie, visually, that whole sequence was cool. Finally, there’s a wall mural on the side of a building (which is clearly fake) that features a lady eating The Stuff. This too is wild, way over the top, and fits perfectly in The Stuff both in theme and cheesiness.
Random Observations – Because It’s a Blog by Invisible Katana Artwork
The Stuff has so many little details that stand out. First, I noticed a Doberman Pinscher with a deep black and mahogany coat (which happens to be the exact color combo I hope my future Doberman will have). That’s if I can ever own another dog – I love my Rottweiler, and you can check out his Instagram here. I’m no dog trainer but, I know that it’s best to not assume a dog is friendly and if you pet one then pet it underneath not overtop – especially with a guardian breed.
There’s a vintage radio station booth with carpeted walls and stacked cassette tapes. A couple of scenes feature a killer office with red chairs, gold ashtrays, and a stuffed polar bear. I fully intend to have a polar bear and a suit of armor in my office one day. I’m going to have some chairs by a dope fireplace too. Oh yeah, there’s also one of the green glass banker lamps that is floor height too. I prefer a desktop version of this but, the taller model was a new one for me.
The Stuff had some awesome filming locations, including a castle-like building, an old-school KFC and McDonald’s (with the classic playground!), and a collection of vintage Mack and Chevy trucks. It was odd but pleasant to see these fast-food chains. The McDonald’s didn’t have the burger character but an odd tree instead. Most attractive to me though was the KFC sign – it was one of the giant chicken bucket ones. I wish I’d run across one of them somewhere one day. You can read the specifics of the vehicles that I mentioned here and check out the weapons here. Believe it or not, there were some of my favorite guns in The Stuff – Walther P38 pistols and Tommy Guns, yeah (in a James Cagney voice)!
Neon, Conspiracies, and Cheesy Horror
At one point, a character makes a comment that “…sometimes it’s easier to believe lies than the truth.” That line felt way too real for today’s world. The Stuff also touches on how the media manipulates people, and how quickly the masses do exactly what the media says do. There’s even a mention of communism infiltrating from within the country. This is an idea that conspiracy theorists are currently tossing around. The Stuff had some decent special effects that were cheesy in the best way and at sometimes grotesque. Some effects even made my stomach turn a little. Not because it was realistic, but just because of how bizarre it was. You’ll just have to watch The Stuff for yourself and see what you think I suppose.
Closing Out My Thoughts on The Stuff and Would I Watch It Again?
Big question – would I watch The Stuff again? Yes, but not in a sit down and seriously focus on it way. This is the kind of movie that works best as background noise or something to have on while you’re working on a project or just want some nostalgic weirdness playing in the background. A friend described The Stuff as The Blob meets Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and honestly, that’s a perfect summary. I have blogged on The Blob before, and you can read that one here. I had no idea that there was such fandom around The Blob. I really want to go participate in the theatre run one day. Invasion of the Body Snatchers is one on my list but, I ain’t got around to it yet.
If you dig odd ‘80s retro cheesy movies, The Stuff is a good one to watch. Every now and then you watch one of these old movies and it is good. Of course, the tradeoff is those super hard to sit through why I wasted my life ones – I’ve seen and blogged on both kinds. You’re invited to follow my art journey on social media, visit my website, read more of my blogs on odd films, and consider supporting and buying my art here. Peace.