There's A '90s Dan Aykroyd Movie That's Supposed To Be A Comedy, But I Think It's Nightmare Fuel
I'll never view hot dogs quite the same after watching this. In the 1980s, Dan Aykroyd starred in some of the decade's best films, but one movie stands out—not as funny, nor as a dark comedy—but genuinely terrifying: 1991's Nothing But Trouble.
If you’ve never heard of it or seen it, you’re not alone. The film aired often on cable back then, and despite its underwhelming quality, it featured an all-star cast including Chevy Chase, Demi Moore, and John Candy. I've reluctantly watched it more times than it deserves.
The Star-Studded Cast and Their Recent Successes
Looking back, the movie evokes horror more than humor, and it’s not just due to poor writing. Dan Aykroyd, who also wrote and directed the movie, assembled four major stars of that era:
- Chevy Chase, fresh off National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, one of the best Christmas movies ever made.
- John Candy, who had just appeared in Home Alone.
- Demi Moore, coming from the hit film Ghost.
- Dan Aykroyd himself, who starred earlier that year in My Girl.
It’s puzzling how such a successful group of actors reunited for a movie as disappointing as Nothing But Trouble.
Basic Plot
The story is straightforward: Chase and Moore’s characters take a road trip, only to stumble upon a mysterious and eerie backwater town named Valkenvania.
"It was on cable a lot back then, and given that it has an all-star cast that also included Chevy Chase, Demi Moore, and John Candy, I will reluctantly admit I’ve watched it more times than it deserves."
Author’s summary: Despite its cast of 1990s stars, Nothing But Trouble fails as comedy and is remembered more for its unsettling atmosphere than laughs.