MovieMonday.com - Remote Control with Kevin Dillon, Deborah Goodrich, Christopher Wynne, Frank Beddor, Jennifer Tilly, Bert Remsen

Techno Films

Remote Control (B)

STARS...
Kevin Dillon, Deborah Goodrich, Christopher Wynne, Frank Beddor, Jennifer Tilly, and Bert Remsen.

PLOT SUMMARY...
A new Sci-Fi video, that arrives at video stores, turns those who watch it into killers.

QUICK SCAN...
This film could be compared to "Megaville". The footage we see of the alien Sci-Fi video, in black and white, with all kinds of silly, "futuristic" gizmos, is quite entertaining and a highlight of the film. The FX in this film, particularly of explosions in a video factory, are quite good.

DIRECTOR: Jeff Lieberman
YEAR & RATING: 1988 (R)

BEST BETS:

Videodrome

Lawnmower Man
SYNOPSIS...
A new Sci-Fi video, called REMOTE CONTROL, arrives at a local video store. Soon it becomes very popular.

Various people, who rent the video, become violent killers. A teenager, who works at the video store, and the store's manager are accused of murder, going on the run. More video induced deaths occur.

The teen and a lady friend blow up the factory that manufactures the video. They also go around town to various video stores, homes, and a rock club, destroying the remaining copies of the deadly video.

Review:

Writer/Director Jeff Lieberman's, REMOTE CONTROL, takes a fresh premise and turns it into a fun, though somewhat silly, Sci-Fi film that sends up the alien invasion movies of the 1950's.

Kevin Dillon ("The Blob") is a young guy, named Cosmo, who works in a video store. He helps store manager, Georgie (Christopher Wynne) set up a futuristic display, complete with rotating antenna and mirror like front, promoting a new video, called REMOTE CONTROL.

Soon the REMOTE CONTROL videos become the most popular in the store. Unfortunately, watching the video turns you into a murderer. The brief part of the killer video that we see, before the various viewers go murderously crazy, supposedly was made in the 50's. The black and white footage of the video's couple from the future, with wild, hairdos and clothes, and using silly, futuristic devices is a hoot. It's also my favorite scene in the film, so I didn't mind seeing it repeatedly.

The acting, by lead Kevin Dillon, in particular, as well as his antagonist Victor (Frank Beddor) is nothing to write home about. However, neither was alot of the acting in the 50's Sci-Fi flicks REMOTE CONTROL satirizes, so this is a minor quibble.

The Special Effects, courtesy of Special Effects Supervisor, Jerry Williams, are decent. Particularly impressive are a series of huge explosions at the video factory.

Director Of Photography, Timothy Suhrstedt, aided by some clever 50's style home and office environments, courtesy of Production Designer Curtis Schnell, delivers some delightful neo-50's pastel imagery.

Costume Designer, Daniel Paredes, is responsible for the futuristic clothes, both in the alien-produced killer video, as well as on the backs of some of the contemporary characters. Paredes costumes contribute to the overall fun.

The Music, by Peter Bernstein, is in the eerie, "Outer Limits" style. In the context of this film, it's entirely appropriate.

Writer/Director Lieberman's Screenplay has some entertaining dialogue. At one point, Dillon and store manager (Wynne) are talking about Dillon's ex-girlfirend. Wynne remarks, "If I had a girl with half the tits Delores had, I'd marry her in second." Dillon remarks, "Georgie, you don't marry tits." Good point.

REMOTE CONTROL will be fairly watchable for Sci-Fi fans who like their films tongue in cheek. Viewers who are fond of the alien invasion Sci-Fi flicks of the 50's, such as "Invasion of the Body Snatchers", will be particularly entertained. REMOTE CONTROL is a great way to kill time!

REMOTE CONTROL offers killer Sci-Fi entertainment!

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Remote Control (B)
	STARS... Kevin Dillon, Deborah Goodrich, Christopher Wynne, Frank Beddor, Jennifer Tilly, and Bert Remsen. PLOT SUMMARY... A new Sci-Fi video, that arrives at video stores, turns those who watch it into killers. QUICK SCAN... This film could be compared to "Megaville". The footage we see of the alien Sci-Fi video, in black and white, with all kinds of silly, "futuristic" gizmos, is quite entertaining and a highlight of the film. The FX in this film, particularly of explosions in a video factory, are quite good.
DIRECTOR: Jeff Lieberman YEAR & RATING: 1988 (R) BEST BETS: Videodrome Lawnmower Man	SYNOPSIS... A new Sci-Fi video, called REMOTE CONTROL, arrives at a local video store. Soon it becomes very popular. Various people, who rent the video, become violent killers. A teenager, who works at the video store, and the store's manager are accused of murder, going on the run. More video induced deaths occur. The teen and a lady friend blow up the factory that manufactures the video. They also go around town to various video stores, homes, and a rock club, destroying the remaining copies of the deadly video.
Review: Writer/Director Jeff Lieberman's, REMOTE CONTROL, takes a fresh premise and turns it into a fun, though somewhat silly, Sci-Fi film that sends up the alien invasion movies of the 1950's. Kevin Dillon ("The Blob") is a young guy, named Cosmo, who works in a video store. He helps store manager, Georgie (Christopher Wynne) set up a futuristic display, complete with rotating antenna and mirror like front, promoting a new video, called REMOTE CONTROL. Soon the REMOTE CONTROL videos become the most popular in the store. Unfortunately, watching the video turns you into a murderer. The brief part of the killer video that we see, before the various viewers go murderously crazy, supposedly was made in the 50's. The black and white footage of the video's couple from the future, with wild, hairdos and clothes, and using silly, futuristic devices is a hoot. It's also my favorite scene in the film, so I didn't mind seeing it repeatedly. The acting, by lead Kevin Dillon, in particular, as well as his antagonist Victor (Frank Beddor) is nothing to write home about. However, neither was alot of the acting in the 50's Sci-Fi flicks REMOTE CONTROL satirizes, so this is a minor quibble. The Special Effects, courtesy of Special Effects Supervisor, Jerry Williams, are decent. Particularly impressive are a series of huge explosions at the video factory. Director Of Photography, Timothy Suhrstedt, aided by some clever 50's style home and office environments, courtesy of Production Designer Curtis Schnell, delivers some delightful neo-50's pastel imagery. Costume Designer, Daniel Paredes, is responsible for the futuristic clothes, both in the alien-produced killer video, as well as on the backs of some of the contemporary characters. Paredes costumes contribute to the overall fun. The Music, by Peter Bernstein, is in the eerie, "Outer Limits" style. In the context of this film, it's entirely appropriate. Writer/Director Lieberman's Screenplay has some entertaining dialogue. At one point, Dillon and store manager (Wynne) are talking about Dillon's ex-girlfirend. Wynne remarks, "If I had a girl with half the tits Delores had, I'd marry her in second." Dillon remarks, "Georgie, you don't marry tits." Good point. REMOTE CONTROL will be fairly watchable for Sci-Fi fans who like their films tongue in cheek. Viewers who are fond of the alien invasion Sci-Fi flicks of the 50's, such as "Invasion of the Body Snatchers", will be particularly entertained. REMOTE CONTROL is a great way to kill time! REMOTE CONTROL offers killer Sci-Fi entertainment!