Parasite (1982)

March 12, 1982 (US) • Horror, Science Fiction • 85m

Overview

Paul Dean has created a deadly parasite that is now attached to his stomach. He and his female companion, Patricia Welles, must find a way to destroy it while also trying to avoid Ricus & his rednecks, and an evil government agent named Merchant.

Director

Charles Band

Writers

Frank Levering, Michael Shoob, Alan J. Adler

Top Billed

Robert Glaudini

Keywords

dystopia

Where to watch

Free / Included

Rent

Buy

Top Billed Cast

Robert Glaudini

Dr. Paul Dean

Demi Moore

Patricia Welles

Luca Bercovici

Ricus

James Davidson

Wolf the Merchant

Al Fann

Collins

Tom Villard

Zeke

Scott Thomson

Chris

Cherie Currie

Dana

Vivian Blaine

Elizabeth Daley

Joanelle Romero

Cheryl Smith

Captive Girl

James Cavan

Buddy

Crew

Charles Band

Director

Lesley Neufeld

Costume Design

Stan Winston

Creature Design

Robert Howland

Set Decoration

Johanna Ray

Casting

Allan A. Apone

Special Effects Makeup Artist

Brad Arensman

Editor

Peter Tothpal

Hairstylist

Karen Kubeck

Makeup Department Head

K.C. Scheibel

Set Decoration

K.C. Scheibel

Assistant Art Director

Lance Anderson

Creature Design

Chris Howell

Stunts

Frank Levering

Writer

Susan Jeter

Production Assistant

Mac Ahlberg

Director of Photography

Michael Shoob

Writer

Douglas J. White

Special Effects

Alan J. Adler

Writer

Charles Band

Producer

Richard Band

Original Music Composer

Stan Winston

Special Effects

Pamela B. Warner

Art Direction

Debra Dion

Production Coordinator

Peter Manoogian

First Assistant Director

Reviews

Wuchak

⭐ 6/10

November 30, 2024

**_Run-of-the-mill post-apocalyptic mayhem in desolate SoCal distinguished by the female cast_**

A doctor/scientist in post-nuclear America (Robert Glaudini) heads to a remote desert town north of Los Angeles to find a way to eliminate a new strain of parasitoid. He runs into a gang of desperate delinquents (led by Luca Bercovici) and teams-up with a young woman (Demi Moore). But a government-linked “merchant” is on his trail (James Davidson).

“Parasite” (1982) is a ‘B’ flick by Charles Band that only cost $800,000, which would be $3 million today (factoring inflation). It takes the chestburster scene from “Alien” and mixes it with the milieu of the TV flick “Where Have All the People Gone,” as well as “Mad Max,” along with the gang thugs of “The Warriors” and bits of “Gargoyles.” While it lacks the bigger budget artistry of “Alien” and “Mad Max,” it’s more thrilling than the mundane “Where Have All the People Gone,” albeit more comic booky. Still, I’d watch it any day over Roddenberry’s lousy “Genesis II.”

This was Demi’s second movie, which she called the worst film she’s ever done in a 2019 interview. It was likewise Cherie Currie’s second movie, after “Foxes,” although she didn’t go on to cinematic success like Moore. (For those not in the know, Cherie was the lead singer of The Runaways from 1975-77). I shouldn’t fail to mention Natalie May, who’s notable as the petite early-teens girl, Shell. She appeared in three movies at the time before dropping out of acting, except for giving it another stab a decade later in three episodes of a UK TV series.

“The Hidden” came out five years later and was obviously influenced by this. It’s obviously the better film but, then, its budget was five times greater.

The flick runs 1 hour, 25 minutes, and was shot in the dry hills northeast of Los Angeles at Piru and Agua Dulce (Vasquez Rocks) with a 40-minutes drive between the two.

GRADE: B-

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Recommended Movies

Interstellar

The Matrix

Fight Club

Dune

Status

Released

Original Language

Budget

$800,000

Revenue

$7,000,000

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Parasite (1982)

Frank Levering, Michael Shoob, Alan J. Adler

Where to watch

Top Billed Cast

Crew

Reviews

Wuchak

Recommended Movies

Interstellar

The Matrix

Fight Club

Dune

Status

Original Language

Budget

Revenue

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