There's A '90s Dan Aykroyd Movie That's Supposed To Be A Comedy, But I Think It's Nightmare Fuel
I’ll never see hot dogs the same way again. In the 1980s, Dan Aykroyd was part of some of the decade’s best movies. However, one film stands out—not for humor or dark comedy, but for pure creepiness: 1991’s Nothing But Trouble.
If you’ve never heard of it or seen it, that’s not surprising. It aired often on cable back then, and despite its all-star cast—including Chevy Chase, Demi Moore, and John Candy—I’ve watched it more times than it deserves. Looking back, what sticks with me isn’t the laughs but the unsettling, almost horrifying atmosphere, and that’s not just due to the poor writing.
All-Star Cast and High Expectations
The movie was written and directed by Dan Aykroyd and stars four of the era’s biggest names:
- Chevy Chase had just come off National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, regarded as one of the greatest Christmas films of all time.
- John Candy was fresh from starring in Home Alone.
- Demi Moore’s previous film was the hit Ghost.
- Aykroyd himself appeared in My Girl earlier that same year.
It’s hard to imagine a more successful lineup of actors returning to a movie as disappointing as Nothing But Trouble.
Plot Overview
The story is straightforward: Chase and Moore’s characters are on a road trip when they end up in the eerie, backwater town of Valkenvania.
"I don’t think of the laughs; I think of the horrors of the movie, and it’s not just the crummy writing."
The film’s mix of horror elements with dark comedy didn’t quite work, leaving an unsettling experience rather than entertainment.
Summary
Author's summary: Despite its star-studded cast and comedic intentions, Nothing But Trouble from 1991 delivers more unsettling moments than laughs, making it a unique if flawed film from Dan Aykroyd.