VHS Review: Chains (1989)

Chains (1989)
Director: Roger J. Barski
Stars: Rengin Altay, Michael Dixon and John L. Eves


There should be a whole subgenre to the typical Thriller called the “wrong turn” movie. I’m not talking about the horror franchise but rather the story of white suburbanites talking a wrong turn into an area usually populated by minorities.

I can think of three other movies off the top of my head that fit this general synopsis, and Chains is one of them. Two couples on a double date make a wrong turn into a neighborhood controlled by a gang called the Chains.

It’s just their luck that they literally run into a member of a rival gang on the run from the Chains. Stupidly they give him a ride for a few blocks before kicking him out. He somehow convinces the group to abandon their car and flee on foot?

The gang member leads them to a large warehouse, where they think they’re safe. A lot of time is spent by the two couples complaining about their situation and petty bickering between them. This causes them to make too much noise signaling to the Chains where they are.

From here on out it follows the formula set forth by Carpenters “Precinct 13” pretty closely but to compare the two would be ridiculous. Gang members make their way in, the suburbanites fight back, a few of the main characters die in what are supposed to be shocking moments, and at the end one of the characters gets pushed over the limit and does something she would never do.

What we have here is a typical 80’s thriller, full of clichés from the period. Some are downright funny like the multicultural gang members that look to be in their thirties. The fact that the warehouse not only had large amounts of explosive chemicals, but one of the women knew how to mix them into bombs!

Yes this movie is pretty damn stupid, but I love it. There is just something about this era of filmmaking I love; I even find turkeys like this endearing.  The funny thing is if this movie were to be made today with a small budget, shot digitally, and performed by actors of the same caliber I would turn my nose up at it. I guess there’s something real to be said about nostalgia.