Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Munchies Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 6, 2019

In 1987, every video store in America had a poster for “Munchies” displayed somewhere. It was the VHS-era version of a Hidden Mickey, with the provocative image of a tiny monster looking up a model’s skirt becoming a spotting game for some, giving producer Roger Corman the kind of title exposure he craves. It’s not entirely surprising to learn that the film doesn’t quite live up to the promise of its one-sheet, but that was Corman’s thing during the 1980s, making promises with artwork that the features could never live up to (e.g. “Barbarian Queen,” “Galaxy of Terror”). “Munchies” was created to cash-in on the global success of 1984’s “Gremlins,” with Corman alum Joe Dante using his B-movie education to create a summer triumph, skillfully merging horror and comedy into an irresistible multiplex event. The knock-off wasn’t as fortunate, though it does have Tina Hirsch making her directorial debut, fresh off her time editing “Gremlins,” giving her the upper hand when masterminding a low-budget replication. Hirsch strives to craft her own vision for hellraising creatures up to no good, but there are limits to Corman-financed magic, and they are found quickly in this mediocre endeavor.

Hoping to discover evidence of alien activity during a dig around the Machu Picchu area, Simon (Harvey Korman) finds something else during his exploration. Joined by his son, Paul (Charlie Stratton), Simon comes across a tiny monster in a Peruvian cave, quickly snapping up the creature, nicknamed Arnold, and bringing it back to his rural Californian town. Simon has a twin brother, Cecil (Korman), who’s determined to dominate various food and beverage market with tainted goods, believing in the value of recycled toxic waste. Quickly turning Arnold into a household pet, Paul accidentally exposes the miniature beast to the pleasures of modern civilization, which soon creates chaos as the Munches begin to multiply and scatter, forcing Paul and girlfriend Cindy (Nadine Van der Velde) into action, trying to contain the critters with help from local cop Eddie (Charlie Phillips).

“Munchies” isn’t shy about hiding its inspiration, finding posters for “Gremlins” found in the background of a few shots, while the Munchies’ preferred method of travel is a stolen AMC Gremlin, used during a mid-movie sequence where the beasts tear around local roads, menacing other drivers with games of chicken, eventually graduating to firearms. Completing the rip-off trifecta is a supporting turn from Van der Velde, who appeared in 1986’s “Critters,” making her something of a veteran when it comes to the Great Tiny Creature Wars of the 1980s. “Munchies” doesn’t deny anything, which is refreshing, giving itself over to the routine of fantasy monsters finding their way into everyday life, which, to Corman and Hirsch, means taking the action into rural California, imagining a land of specialty stores run by Cecil, which offers some mild commentary on the homogenization of U.S. businesses, overseen by a particularly corrupt individual.

Cecil is introduced as the bad guy in “Munchies,” showcasing his villainy with terrible hair and a mustache, while he oversees an empire of poisonous products, including wine cooler and beef jerky (commercials for his offerings are scattered throughout the feature). However, Paul is really the creep of the screenplay (credited to Lance Smith), offering nothing but a whiny attitude around his father, also harboring a desire to move to Los Angeles and become a comedian, sharing his dismal sense of humor during the movie. Paul is irresponsible, showing little concern about leaving Arnold alone in the house (to keep the creature busy, he offers him a pornographic magazine to read), which immediately results in pandemonium, giving Hirsch opportunities to showcase the Munchies in destruction mode, eventually murdering Cecil’s loathed stepson. The madness is truly Paul’s fault, but he’s presented as something of a hero in “Munchies,” joined by Cindy as they figure out a way to stop the Munchies, also discovering their power to multiply, with new monsters growing from the chopped parts of a fallen Munchie. The magic here is loosely defined, tying into Incan myth, but the film isn’t big on definition, playing fast and loose with characterizations and monkey business as the stars of the show break out and begin destroying everything in sight.

Munchies Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.84:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Munchies" shows some level of care for a largely forgettable picture. As with many New Concorde releases, a new master has been created in recent years, giving the movie a nice HD appearance that quite good with colors. Primaries are compelling, with bright reds and yellows, playing up the cartoonish appearance of sets and costuming, which also provides a lively range of hues. Skintones are natural. Detail is consistent, with proper coverage of facial surfaces and textured clothing. Munchies retain their furry appearance and rubber specificity, presenting a clear look at monster regeneration. Delineation is acceptable, with a few darker stretches found during the viewing experience. Grain is fine and filmic. Cinematographic limitations are found, including time around the 46:00 mark, with damaged footage blurring parts of a lake confrontation between swimmer and Munchie.

Munchies Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Technical strangeness also emerges during the 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix. Again, "Munchies" wasn't made with the utmost care, finding levels occasionally missing proper balance. Around the 16:00 mark, levels noticeably increase for a scene before returning to normal, and it happens again around the 52:00 mark. These are small incidents, and perhaps unavoidable, but intelligibility is never threatened. Dialogue exchanges are open for study, with comedic extremes comfortable, while Munchie muttering is easy to follow, identifying all the odd accents the monsters use. Scoring is supportive, giving slapstick entanglements proper emphasis, leading with a thin synth sound. Sound effects aren't always defined, but this appears to be an inherent issue. Some surges of hiss are detected along the way.

Munchies Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Deleted Scene (2:28, HD) appears to be the original opening for "Munchies," introducing the wrath of the little monsters in a prologue that details Spanish conquistadors looting a Peruvian cave, coming into contact with the magical creatures. While information found in the scene would've been useful in the picture, it's clear the idea was tossed due to its violent content.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:59, HD) is included.

Munchies Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Munchies" doesn't have the imagination of "Gremlins" or the spirit of "Critters." It's not as thoughtfully made or invested in thrills. It's more of a comedy, and a pretty crummy one at that, often relying on Korman to come up with silliness, making the poor guy carry the picture with little success. Munchie antics include ogling ladies, smoking, and speaking English, and there's a reasonable sequence where the creatures take over a miniature golf course, finally finding a kingdom that's built to their scale, but such inspiration is only found in fits. Hirsch strives to fashion a proper "Gremlins" event, but she's often left with very little to work with, finding puppetry rudimentary and performances broad, trying to create a wild party with second-hand decorations. "Munchies" is often caught in a low-budget stranglehold, presenting scattered energy instead of a snowballing good time with a new round of teeny ghouls and their obsession with upskirt voyeurism.