[7]

John Goodman stars as a schlock filmmaker previewing his latest atomic horror flick during the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The script by Charlie Haas draws clunky parallels between the real life threat of nuclear destruction and the crass aims of exploitation filmmakers. I love exploitation horror, but trying to make out like it’s doing humanity a favor is a bit of a stretch. Director Joe Dante (The Howling, Gremlins) still succeeds in making a loving, even scholarly, homage, particularly in scenes from the movie within the movie — half man, half ant… it’s “Mant!”