Larry Cohen’s cult marketing satire takes elements from “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” and results in an entertaining, paranoid horror-comedy typically blessed by Michael Moriarty’s off-kilter energy as a leading man. Cohen evidently has a limited budget to play with here, but as usual he makes economical choices with the movie’s effects and instead heightens the importance of the dialogue, which is charmingly delivered by an engaged, compelling cast. Unfortunately the movie loses focus by the last 30 minutes and becomes a strange comedy of sorts involving military antics, but on the way there “The Stuff” is a nifty little winner.
Rating: ★★★ (out of 5)
