10 Things to Know About 'C.H.U.D' (1984)

10 Things to Know About CHUD Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers - Released August 31st, 1984

10 On November 29th, 1977

Posters for CHUD show where the inspiration for this weird sci-fi horror film came from. The poster text reads:

On November 29th, 1977 The New York Times reported that large colonies of people were living under the city… The Times was incorrect. What is living under the city is not human.

C.H.U.D is under the city.

Some posters rewrote the copy to “A recent article in a New York newspaper.” Whether this was due to the New York Times asking them not to use the paper to promote the movie or because newspapers rejected the copy promoting the Times.

We can confirm, there was a New York Times story on people living underground in New York City but the story features no Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers, just sad, neglected homeless people.

9 Intended for Release in 1983

An announcement for CHUD was sent to newspapers around the country in March of 1983.

The article reads:

FUTURE SHOCK: Just when you thought it was safe to go back on the streets… Hollywood’s coming up with a movie called “CHUD,” described as the tale of a breed of underground toxic waste terrorists that menace the Big Apple. John Heard and Daniel Stern are going to be brave and star in the project with producer Andrew (“Harrad Experiment”) Bonime and director Dough(?) Cheek, described as an urban Jaws. They hope to have it ready for Christmas release. CHUD? Oh, yes, it stands for “Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers.”

8 Actually…

Production on CHUD almost began in November 1980. According to an August 10th, 1980 gossip column by Cappy Hall Whitesell, producer Andrew Bonime was finally given permission to shoot CHUD beginning in November of 1980.

7 CHUD Was Subject to Protests

New Yorkers were none too happy with CHUD. Again, according to Whitesell’s 1980 column, the making of CHUD had been subject to protests. New Yorkers were concerned, having heard the premise was related to homeless people living under the city, that the movie would portray the City of New York, and especially poor neighborhoods, in a negative, or criminal light.

6 The Mayor of New York City Intervened

With the protests against CHUD, produce Andrew Bonime had to plead his case for filming permits all the way to the New York City Mayor’s office. Mayor Ed Koch finally gave Bonime the go ahead to make CHUD entirely in New York City.

5 That Didn’t Happen

Financing fell through on the 1980 start of CHUD. The Hollywood Reporter reported that the film was set for production in November of 1980 with famed exploitation director Richard Compton directing. Financing however, fell through before production could begin and the film fell into development hell.

4 IMDB Has No Idea When CHUD Was Filmed

IMDB has a notable flaw in that it doesn’t fact check user edits. Thus we have CHUD supposedly having been filmed in June of 1984. Considering that the movie was released around the country on August 31st, 1984, it’s highly unlikely that shooting occurred in June of 1984.

3 Actual Filming Dates

We will correct IMDB on the site once this article is live because we now know that Principal Photography on CHUD was completed in early October of 1983, per trade paper reports.

2 CHUD Joins the Criterion Collection

On April 1st of 2011 The Criterion Collection pulled a prank on fans by announcing that CHUD was being added to The Criterion Collection, even going as far as releasing cover art and giving it a spine number, a traditional part of a Criterion Collection release.

It was clearly an April Fool's gag but over-eager CHUD fans were quick to celebrate and then express disappointment. They would wait five years before the cult 80s monster flick would get a special edition release. \

1 Arrow Video Does it for The CHUD's

In 2016 Arrow Video took up the cause of CHUD and released a 2 disc collectors edition of CHUD. The release features both a directors cut and the original theatrical cut of the beloved cult hit.