Chopping Mall
| Chopping Mall | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Jim Wynorski |
| Produced by | Julie Corman |
| Written by | Jim Wynorski Steve Mitchell |
| Starring |
Kelli Maroney Tony O'Dell John Terlesky Russell Todd Karrie Emerson Barbara Crampton Suzee Slater Nick Segal |
| Music by | Chuck Cirino |
| Cinematography | Tom Richmond |
| Edited by | Leslie Rosenthal |
| Distributed by | Concorde Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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77 minutes 95 min (original release) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $800,000 (estimated) |
Chopping Mall (originally and also known as Killbots) is a 1986 American science-fiction horror film directed by Jim Wynorski and produced by Julie Corman. Starring Kelli Maroney, Tony O'Dell, John Terlesky, and Russell Todd, the plot focuses on three security robots turned rogue and killing teenage employees inside a shopping mall after dark.
While not commercial or critical success, the film has gained a cult following over the years.
Park Plaza Mall has just installed a state-of-the-art security system which includes security shutters across all exits and three high-tech security robots programmed to disable and apprehend thieves using tasers and tranquilliser guns. Four couples consisted of Rick and Linda, Greg and Suzie, Mike and Leslie, and Ferdy and Allison decide to have a party in one of the furniture stores where three of them work. After hours, all of them (with the exception of Alison and Ferdy) begin to have sex, drink, and party inside the furniture store.
Outside, a lightning storm strikes the mall several times and damages the computer controlling the security robots, resulting in them killing their technicians and a janitor before going on regular patrol in the now-empty mall. Mike and Leslie leave the furniture store and are killed outside by the robots, and the others begin to separate after witnessing this. The men break into a sporting store to arm themselves with firearms, whilst the girls take gasoline and flares from an automotive store. Utilizing a propane tank, the men blow up and seemingly destroy one of the robots. While the men set up the mall elevator as a booby trap, the robots ambush the girls and manage to ignite Suzie via shooting her gasoline canister, killing her. Greg sees this, and unsuccessfully tries to shoot the robot before Rick drags him away.
The teenagers, now regrouped, rig the elevator trap on the second robot, destroying it. They then hide out in the restaurant where Allison works. Inside, Greg confronts Allison and Linda about leaving the air ducts and soon exhibits rage due to Suzie's death, going far as pulling his gun on Ferdy when he intercedes on Allison's and Linda's behalf. Rick manages to calm him down, and Ferdy suggests destroying the robot's main control centre in hopes that it would shut them down. As the group agrees on this, they head to the control center located on the mall's third floor. Greg is soon killed by the remaining robots by being tossed over the railing and falling to his death three floors below. While on the run, they also find the first robot recovered after its earlier defeat.
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Wikipedia