Retrospect of '80s Horror Film: CHOPPING MALL (1986)

It's interesting that I find myself viewing this film for the very first time on its 25^th anniversary as I've always been aware of its existence due to the eye-catching poster. Of course, if I had known that the ever beautiful Barbara Crampton ("Re-Animator" and "From Beyond") was a star I would have seen the film years ago. So, I'm going to look at the film through the eyes of had I seen the film in the '80s.

Had I seen "Chopping Mall" in the '80s I would've loved the idea of a bunch of sexually exploitative teens getting chased around a mall during closing time by killer robots. The '80s were filled with these types of cookie cutter slasher/horror films and I'm sure that the added presence of killer robots was what set this film apart from the rest.

I have a soft spot for '80s horror films as I grew up with them and they have had a more profound effect on my love of horror than any other decade because I grew up loving horror simply based on whether or not it had an effect on me or not. Having gone to film school and studied films and film theory I'm a little more critical of films that have been made in the '90s and beyond but the '80s generated films that I just loved because they were entertaining. This is a reason why such films as "The Evil Dead" and "C.H.U.D." and "Night of the Comet" and "Slugs" and "The Nest" and "Alligator," to name a few. These are films that may not be the strongest in terms of story and execution but they are among some of the most entertaining films I grew up on and each have their own little charm.

Audiences who do not have a fond remembrance of '80s horror films will probably not enjoy this film but if you remember the '80s like I do and enjoyed the horrors that were released then "Chopping Mall" will be right up your alley.