Movies - Chopping Mall

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	Movies - Chopping Mall

Chopping Mall was released March 21, 1986 under the title Killbots. When first released, the film did poorly. After some time, it was re-released as Chopping Mall. The re-release did do better (It's been said the the Killbots poster was partly to blame).

The film was directed by Jim Wynorski and written by Jim Wynorski and Steve Mitchell. It was filmed mostly at Sherman Oaks Galleria, with occasional set shots (the paint store, for example). The film did not star anyone major, though possibly the most well known of them all (at least at the time of it's release) is Kelli Maroney (who some may remember from Night of the Comet).

There are at least two different versions of the film. The TV cut has some extra footage added (including a small homage to Attack of the Crab Monsters). This is one of those rare occurrences where the TV edit has a significant amount of footage (more than a few seconds) not shown in the theatrical version. This footage comprises extended scenes of ferdy and Allsion watching TV, some L.A. aerial overhead footage, and an extention of a later scene of Ferdy and Allison together. This version is not available to buy from any official source.

The movie was finally released on DVD in 2004 after years of the VHS being out production. Sadly, the video/audio quality is poor, since the movie was mastered from the Lightning Video VHS master. A bit more info on this can be found in the trivia section.

Plot synopsis

Park Plaza Mall has just installed a state of the art security system, which includes three high-tech security robots.

Four young couples decide to have the wildest all night party of their lives. They all stay after hours at the mall, drinking, partying, and having sex. It just so happens though that this is the night the security system malfunctions (due to several lightning strikes to the security computer). The robots turn into killbots.

Cast

Kelli Maroney - Alison Parks
Tony O'Dell - Ferdy Meisel
Russell Todd - Rick Stanton
Karrie Emerson - Linda Stanton
Barbara Crampton
- Suzie Lynn
Nick Segal - Greg Williams
John Terlesky - Mike Brennan
Suzee Slater - Leslie Todd
Paul Bartel
- Paul Bland
Mary Woronov
- Mary Bland
Dick Miller
- Walter Paisley
Gerrit Graham
- Technician Nessler
Paul Coufos - Dr. Simon
Robert Winley - Mr. Todd

Trivia

Cameo: Paul Bartel- the same character he played in Eating Raoul (1982), another Roger Corman production.

Cameo: Dick Miller- the same character he played in A Bucket of Blood (1959), another Roger Corman production.

Cameo: Mary Woronov- the same character she played in Eating Raoul (1982), another Roger Corman production.

A movie poster of another Jim Wynorski film, The Lost Empire, is seen in the background of many shots in the restaurant.

Kelli Maroney did most of her own stunts.

The Killbot claws were made from plastic toy grippers adapted with electric solenoids

Director Jim Wynorski provided the voices of the three Protector robots.

The film's negative was tied up in legal limbo, so the Lion's Gate DVD edition of the film was mastered from a Lightning Video VHS master.

The horror movie that Allison (Kelli Maroney) and Ferdy (Tony O'Dell) are watching in the furniture store is Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957), another Roger Corman movie.

Goofs and Mistakes

Plot holes: Throughout the entire movie, people can be seen walking around in the background on different floors of the mall, even though it's supposed to be closed.

Continuity: When the guys leave the gun store, they stand around and talk for a minute. During this scene, Ferdy alternates between holding his revolver with two hands and holding it with one hand and a propane tank in the other.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Chopping Mall ]

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