Oh. So, I decided that this year, even when I watch multiple movies on the same day, I am going to give them each their own post unless they are obviously related by theme or sequels and the like. It makes it easier for me to come back and find a particular movie if I need to.
Chopping Mall (1986)
Ok. I'll admit it. I like this movie. It is goofy and weird. Plus, it has a strong cast, including the always-fantastic Barbara Crampton. Back in the mid-80s, that was usually enough to get me to watch a movie. Plus, it has Dick Miller in it, and he is always fun to have in a flick. As is Kelli Maroney of Night of the Comet fame.
The premise is dirt-simple. The mall has a new security system in the form of three Daleks Killbots Protector Robots. Lightning strikes the mall, messing up the computers, and the robots go on a killing rampage. The plot is essentially the same as Jurassic Park.
It's not high art, but it is a lot of fun.
The teens/young adults are not the typical victims. I mean, they are partying in the mall after hours, but that is hardly typical horror movie bait. I mean, yeah, they are all having sex and the women walk around in various stages of undress, but again, that is really just 80s-typical. I mean, who hasn't run through a mall in their underwear, amiright?
This one also has scenes that are basically an (overt) homage to Rambo, but here it makes sense.
Filming took place in a real mall with a few shots at Roger Corman's studios.
The cast is great and above your normal horror movie fare. Of course, everyone in this cast has been in multiple horror flicks, and honestly it looks like they had a good time. I know that Barbara Crampton is a big fan of this movie.
I watched "In Search of Darkness: A Journey into Iconic '80s Horror" prior to all of these so I could get a better idea of what to watch. Barbara Crampton talks about filming at night after the stores close and needing to wrap up before they all open. And she loves the kill where Leslie Todd's (played by Suzee Slater) head gets lasered and explodes. Note: some online sites say it was Crampton's character, "Suzie Lynn," who gets lasered; I think that's because the character's and actor's names get confused. And both are blonde. And most likely, people were not paying attention.
There are a lot of horror movie Easter Eggs in this one too, which is a lot of fun.
Jackson, IL Connections
Jackson, IL is based on a real place, Jacksonville, IL. It has worked out great for me so far except for one little problem. Jacksonville, IL did not (and still doesn't) have a mall. So I had to invent one. It doesn't look like the one here. Though the pizza guy here may have helped me figure out who Sal was (and an old boss I had when I worked at Pizza Hut myself), there is still a lot to like about this movie.
I have always wanted to do an adventure in an old mall with zombies. Zombies. Kill-bots. About the same thing.
NIGHT SHIFT has zombies covered, and if you want kill-bots, then Thirteen Parsecs has you covered.
I might need to write up Lincoln Square Mall now.
October Horror Movie Challenge 2026
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