''Remote Control'' is a 1988 American science fiction romantic comedy film written and directed by

Jeff Lieberman Jeff Lieberman (born October 16, 1947) is an American film director and screenwriter, known for his cult horror and thriller films ''Squirm'' (1976), '' Blue Sunshine'' (1978) and '' Just Before Dawn'' (1981). Biography Jeff Lieberman was bor ...

, and starring Kevin Dillon as a Los Angeles video rental clerk who discovers that his store is circulating a VHS tape of a 1950s sci-fi film programmed by aliens to brainwash viewers, causing them to commit murders. Lieberman's screenplay combines elements of

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, action films and science fiction with satirical humor. Lieberman did not direct another theatrical feature film for sixteen years, until '' Satan's Little Helper'' in 2004.

Plot

A video store clerk (Kevin Dillon) stumbles onto an alien plot to take over Earth by brainwashing people with a faux 1950s science fiction movie. The movie is being rented from the video shop where he works. He and his girlfriend track the production of the fake movie to a movie studio under the control of aliens. They must race to stop the aliens before the tapes can be distributed worldwide.Stanley, John (2000) Creature Feature: 3rd Edition

Release

In 1988, the film was passed uncut with a 15 rating by the BBFC.

Reception

'' TV Guide'' gave the film one out of five stars, saying: "It doesn't know whether it wants to be a spoof or a thriller; because of its indecision, it fails on both levels."

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reviewed the film favorably, writing, "This clever little

b-movie A B movie or B film is a low-budget commercial motion picture. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified films intended for distribution as the less-publicized bottom half of a double featur ...

is another example of why Jeff Leiberman is a cult favorite in certain genre-movie circles. His script puts a distinctly 1980's twist on the old alien-invasion premise, cleverly managing to make home video seem menacing as he builds up a solid combination of action, sci-fi and

elements. Lieberman's direction is unflashy but effective, building tension throughout and frequently offsetting the dark elements of the script with satirical humor." In Creature Feature, John Stanley gave the movie two out of five stars, but noted its commentary on video and what it does to people's minds.

Home release

Sometime after its theatrical release, International Video Entertainment on VHS. A second release occurred in 1990 under the Avid Home Entertainment label. In 2013, a 25th Anniversary edition was released on Blu-ray and DVD by director Jeff Lieberman. It has become something of a collector's item.

References

External links

* {{Jeff Lieberman 1980s science fiction films 1988 films Films shot in Los Angeles American science fiction films Films directed by Jeff Lieberman 1980s English-language films 1980s American films