Remote Control (1988 film)
| Remote Control | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Jeff Lieberman |
| Produced by |
Scott Rosenfelt Mark Levinson |
| Written by | Jeff Lieberman |
| Starring |
Kevin Dillon Deborah Goodrich Christopher Wynne Frank Beddor Jennifer Tilly Bert Remsen |
| Music by | Peter Bernstein |
| Cinematography | Tim Suhrstedt |
| Edited by | Scott Wallace |
Production company |
Don Nafia |
| Distributed by | The Vista Organization |
Release date | April 7, 1988 |
Running time | 85 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Remote Control is a 1988 film directed and written by Jeff Lieberman. The film stars Kevin Dillon as Cosmo, a video rental clerk who discovers that his store is circulating a VHS tape of a 1950s science fiction film that has been programmed by aliens to brainwash viewers, causing them to commit murders. Lieberman's screenplay combines elements of thriller, horror, action films and science fiction with satirical humor. Lieberman did not direct another film until 17 years later, when he directed Satan's Little Helper in 2004.
Plot
A video store clerk stumbles onto an alien plot to take over Earth by brainwashing people with a bad 1950s science fiction movie. He and his friends race to stop the aliens before the tapes can be distributed worldwide.
Release
In 1988, the film was passed uncut with a 15 rating by the BBFC.[1] In 2013, a 25th Anniversary edition was released on Blu-ray and DVD by director Jeff Lieberman.[2]
Critical reception
TV Guide gave the film one out of five stars, writing that the film "doesn't know whether it wants to be a spoof or a thriller; because of its indecision, it fails on both levels."[3]
Allmovie reviewed the film favorably, writing, "This clever little b-movie is another example of why Jeff Leiberman is a cult favorite in certain genre-movie circles. His script puts a distinctly 1980's twist on the old alien-invasion premise, cleverly managing to make home video seem menacing as he builds up a solid combination of action, sci-fi and horror/thriller elements. Lieberman's direction is unflashy but effective, building tension throughout and frequently offsetting the dark elements of the script with satirical humor."[4]
References
External links