The Stuff (1985): Cast & Plot
The Stuff is a 1985 comedy horror film directed by Larry Cohen, starring Brooke Adams as Stuff Commercial Spokeswoman, Abe Vigoda and Michael Moriarty. It runs 1 hour 26 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 26m (86 min)
- Director
- Larry Cohen
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Larco Productions
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Stuff About?
The premise of The Stuff without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Amalgamated Dairies hires former FBI operative David Rutherford, now an industrial saboteur, to investigate the mysterious dessert known as “the Stuff.” The product’s irresistible flavor is wiping out ice‑cream sales, yet no one knows its ingredients or how it’s made, and crowds line up eagerly to buy it.
The Stuff Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- satire
- industrial spy
- small town
- conspiracy
- addiction
- consumerism
- ice cream
- boy
- infiltration
- cult film
- poetic justice
- investigation
+38 more Show fewer
- supermarket
- mine
- militia
- tanker truck
- ghost town
- title spoken by character
- mutation
- parasite
- tv commercial
- explosion
- fire
- army
- dynamite
- motel
- businessman
- factory
- dog attack
- industrial sabotage
- radio station
- child in jeopardy
- former fbi agent
- gas station attendant
- dysfunctional family
- foot chase
- military officer
- megalomaniac
- crooked businessman
- dark comedy
- reference to the food and drug administration
- spanking
- boy wearing underwear
- bare chested male
- zombie
- right wing extremist
- african american
- tighty whities
- black market
- chase
The Stuff Cast & Characters
Brooke Adams leads the cast as Stuff Commercial Spokeswoman, with Abe Vigoda as Stuff Commercial Spokesman and Michael Moriarty as David 'Mo' Rutherford. Directed by Larry Cohen; 32 actors are credited in all.
- Director Larry Cohen
-
Brooke Adams as Stuff Commercial Spokeswoman - Abe Vigoda as Stuff Commercial Spokesman
-
Michael Moriarty as David 'Mo' Rutherford - Scott Bloom as Jason
Also Starring in The Stuff
· 28 more- Garrett Morris 'Chocolate Chip' Charlie W. Hobbs
- Andrea Marcovicci Nicole Kendall
- Paul Sorvino Colonel Malcolm Grommett Spears
- Patrick O'Neal Fletcher
- Alexander Scourby Evans
- Mira Sorvino Factory Worker (uncredited)
- Danny Aiello Vickers
- Rutanya Alda Psychologist
- Patrick Dempsey Underground Stuff Buyer (uncredited)
- Eric Bogosian Supermarket Clerk (uncredited)
- Laurene Landon Stuff Commercial Spokeswoman
- Brian Bloom Jason's Brother
- James Dixon Postman
- Tammy Grimes Stuff Commercial Spokeswoman
- John Newton Howard
- James Dukas Gas Attendant
Show all 32 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Adrianne Sachs Studio Aide
- Ann Dane Hostess
- Heidi Miller Girl in Franchise
- Peter Hock Miner
- Catherine Schultz Waitress
- Nicolas De Toth Griswald
- Brad Rijn Supermarket Clerk (uncredited)
- Clara Peller Stuff Commercial Spokeswoman
- Russell Nype Richards
- Gene O'Neill Scientist
- Robert Frank Telfer Jason's father
- Colette Blonigan Jason's mother
More from Larry Cohen
More films directed by Larry Cohen, best-rated first: It's Alive, God Told Me To, Pick Me Up and Original Gangstas.
The Stuff Plot Summary
What happens in The Stuff from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Quarry workers in Georgia stumble upon a white cream-like substance bubbling from the ground. Marketed as The Stuff, this mystery product is sold to the public in containers that resemble ice cream or yogurt, and it is said to be delicious, utterly addictive, and without calories. Despite little understanding of what it really is, The Stuff becomes a nationwide phenomenon, spreading through towns and households with astonishing speed. The more it circulates, the more people crave it, and the product’s glossy, friendly image hides a growing unease about its origins and its growing grip on everyday life. One night, a young boy named Jason, Scott Bloom, discovers that The Stuff might be alive.
Full summary
The whole story of The Stuff, scene by scene
The Stuff Videos
4 videos: 4 clips.
- Clip Midnight Snack
- Clip Enough is never enough
- Clip TV Advert
How Well Do You Know The Stuff?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the mysterious white cream-like product marketed to the public?
Cars in The Stuff
35 cars on screen, including the 1978 Checker Taxicab and the 1964 Chevrolet C-Series.
-
1978 Checker Taxicab Important role -
1964 Chevrolet C-Series Important role -
1983 Ford Thunderbird Important role -
1984 Lincoln Town Car Stretched Limousine Important role
The Stuff Also Known As
22 alternative titles, including “The Stuff. In-natural” and “La substància”.
- Also known as
-
- The Stuff. In-natural
- La substància
- La cosa
- La sustancia maldita
- Stuff - Ein tödlicher Leckerbissen
- Stuff - Il gelato che uccide
- In-natural (The Stuff)
- A Coisa
- Pěna zabiják
- Substancja
- Вкусная дрянь
- Mördande dessert
+10 more Show fewer
- Pomahnitala pena
- Kampen mot dødsmikroben
- Murhaavaa mössöä
- Веществото
- 异形大灾难
- 제3의 공포
- ザ・スタッフ
- 異形大災難
- ไอศครีมเขมือบโลก
- Substance
Seen The Stuff?
Movies Like The Stuff
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Ice Cream Man, Top of the Food Chain and The Item.
The Stuff FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Stuff, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Stuff?
The Stuff runs 1 hour 26 minutes (86 minutes).
When was The Stuff released?
The Stuff was released on March 30, 1985.
Who directed The Stuff?
The Stuff was directed by Larry Cohen.
More films by Larry Cohen Who is in the cast of The Stuff?
The Stuff stars Brooke Adams as Stuff Commercial Spokeswoman, Abe Vigoda as Stuff Commercial Spokesman and Michael Moriarty as David 'Mo' Rutherford, among 32 credited actors.
Does The Stuff have a post-credit scene?
No. The Stuff has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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