It’s been 35 years since lightning struck the Park Plaza Mall, causing the new state-of-the-art security system known as The Protectors to malfunction and go on a rampant killing spree on unsuspecting partying teens. Chopping Mall is a true representation of the cheesy ’80s horror genre we all love, so let’s take a look back and celebrate it’s birthday!
Chock-full of horror regulars like Barbara Crampton, Kelli Maroney, and Dick Miller, Chopping Mall followed the perfect formula for a successful killer robot film. Drunk and horny mall employees decide to stay after hours to party conveniently on the same night a lightning storm changes the security robots from stun to kill in a very reverse-Short Circuit kind of way. The robots take out the security guards and janitors, and a battle of teens vs. killbots ensues. Laser beams, exploding heads, Molotov cocktails and a rockin’ synth soundtrack from Chuck Cirino. What’s not to love?
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Chopping Mall was thought up when Julie Corman had a deal with Vestron Pictures (Slaughter High, Waxwork) and the company wanted a horror film that took place in a mall. Filmmaker Jim Wynorski was tabbed to write and direct and was given the budget of $800k to make it work. Knowing Roger Corman liked smaller budgets, he got to work. Even with the tight budget, the crew was able to create remote-controlled robots made from wheelchair frames and conveyor belts, and they looked great!
The film was originally titled Killbots, but after doing poorly at the box office upon release, the title was changed to Chopping Mall at the suggestion of a janitor. The original Chopping Mall poster art didn’t do the film any favors either, representing a more humanoid robot antagonist than the silly and stubby killbots we see in the film. Chopping Mall wasn’t really embraced by the horror community as a fan-favorite until it’s release on VHS and then DVD many years after its release.
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One of my favorite things about Chopping Mall, and this is the case with a lot of Corman productions, is how much fun it seemed like it was to make. All of actors are super invested in their roles, taking such a goofy premise so seriously. The silliness of the robots sneaking up behind people to slit their throats, combined with straight-faced hero characters dressing like Rambo to destroy them is just gold. Films where everyone seems like they’re having a good time are always a blast for the viewers.
The film resonates with the horror community so well that it even earned itself an episode in season 2 of The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs in 2020 on Shudder, in which Kelli Maroney shows up as a special guest. Waxwork Records released an amazing exclusive press for the score, which has been sold out for some time, but in the works for a 2021 re-release. Fright-Rags has its own Chopping Mall collection of apparel. People love this film!
If you’ve never seen Chopping Mall, I completely recommend it, especially if you’re all about those ’80s slashers or sci-fi horror. Yes, a certain level of expected cheese comes with it, but it absolutely adds to the charm. I say check it out and “Have A Nice Day!”
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