The security system at the Park Plaza Mall is state of the art. Provided by Secure-Tronics Unlimited, three high-tech robots patrol the mall, one robot on each floor. The robots are equipped with tasers and tranquilizer guns. They are programmed to use non-lethal means to stop and detain intruders. Anyone who is authorized to be in the mall will have a security ID that they will need to show to the robot to be allowed to go on their way. At midnight the entire facility is in shutdown and steel doors close all the mall entrances and exits. The mall stays in shutdown until six the next morning.
The first night the robots are to be used there is a major electrical storm. Lightning hits the main computer located on the roof of the mall and short circuiting the robots. The robots start up all on their own and kill the two technicians in the computer room. The killer-bots then begin their patrol of the mall. The first person they run into is a janitor, Walter Paisley (Dick Miller). He gets electrocuted by one of the robots.
The furniture store in the mall is being run by Greg Williams (Nick Segal), Mike Brennan (John Terlesky) and Ferdy Meisel (Tony O’Dell). With their boss on a business trip the guys decide that it would be a good idea to have a party in the store. They are expecting Suzie Lynn (Barbara Crampton) and Linda Stanton (Karrie Emerson) to join the fun. Suzie works at a restaurant in the mall. Since they need another girl to make things even, Suzie convinces new employee Alison Parks (Kelli Maroney) to come to the party. Also invited to the party are Rick Stanton (Russell Todd) and his wife Linda (Karrie Emerson).
The couples split off and find spots to be alone. Although they are attracted to each other, Ferdy and Alison just met so they watch TV and talk. It doesn’t take long for the killer-bots to realize that there are people in the mall.
“Chopping Mall” was released in 1986 and was directed by Jim Wynorski. It is an American science fiction horror movie. The movie was produced by Roger and Julie Corman. Julie and her baby daughter, Mary Tessa Corman have bit parts. They play a mall shopper with her baby.
Unlike most slasher style movies, the killer here is a robot and not a homicidal maniac. I was surprised with this movie. I expected the killer to be a machete wielding maniac or something similar. Instead, we get three cool looking killer robots. Five robots were constructed for the film. Three were used in the movie to patrol the mall and two were back-ups in case something went wrong. The robot voices were done by director Jim Wynorski.
There are lots of little nods to other horror and science fiction movies of the past. Character names are taken from the names of horror and science fiction characters as well as directors of some of these films, especially Roger Corman films. The movie also has some surprise cameos near the beginning. In particular, Paul Bartel, Mary Woronov and Dick Miller.
It ended up being a lot of fun. Plus, someone’s head gets blown off.
Much of the movie was filmed in the Sherman Oaks Galleria.