Admirable film.

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

'Terror in the Mall' ('TitM', 1998) DVD, can also be found under the title 'Dark Rain', 'Disaster at the Mall', or 'The Mall'. 'TitM' is a thoroughly watchable & entertaining production. An interesting premise/story & good acting carry this film in an interesting mold of the Disaster/Thriller mixed genres. A tighter script, more capable direction & better editing all prevent this film from being an excellent film. You can probably expect this to be remade into a blockbuster someday under better production. This film is recommended for die-hard fans of the Disaster genre and the curious Disaster/Thriller mixed-genre viewer. If this film is interesting, definitely consider 'Hard Rain' (or 'The Flood', 1998) DVD, a more compelling production of similar genre. For similar themes consider: 'Flood: A River's Rampage' (1997); 'Nippon chinbotsu' (or 'Tidal Wave', 1973/1975); 'Dawn of the Dead' (2004); 'Tidal Wave: No Escape' (1997); 'Dawn of the Dead' (1978); 'Typhoon' (1940); 'Tsunami' (2005) TV/DVD; 'Daylight' (1996); & 'Tsunami: The Aftermath' (2006) TV/DVD. Also consider: 'The River' (1984); 'Earthquake' (1974); 'The River Wild' (1994); 'The Towering Inferno' (1974); 'The Day After Tomorrow' (2004); 'Absolute Zero' (2005); 'Nippon chinbotsu' (or 'Tidal Wave', 1973/1975); 'Meteor' (1979); 'Twister' (1996); 'Volcano' (1997); 'Category 6: Day of Destruction' (2004); 'Dante's Peak' (1997); 'The Swarm' (1978); 'The Core' (2003); & 'Outbreak' (1995).

***************AVAST! THAR BE SPOILERS AHEAD!****************The big secret?? What a piece of CRAP! All I can say, is that it's an absolute tragedy that Mystery Science Theater 3000 is no longer in first run. This would have been ideal fodder for Mike and the Bots. Otherwise, don't waste your time, unless you're under the influence. The plot - implausible w/ holes like swiss cheese. The acting - well, let's just say that Joey Tribiani would be an improvement to the cast. The special effects....neither special or effective. (And boy, they sure dried off fast after that elevator escape!) Once again...MST3K where are you?!?3/10 for it's farce potential. (Guilty pleasure...the very cute bald guy w/ the very sexy accent!!)

The movie opens at an unbelievably false-looking cardboard model of a new mall. I could almost make out the tiny model figures next to the match-stick crane - just like they might have made on Blue Peter (you have to be a Brit to get that comment).From there it was downhill - a burst dam, an escaped convict, a new mall, an overexcited singer, and the local sheriff's wife (who for some unknown reason was in the mall the day before it opened. Good job she turned out to be a doctor too though...), a large toxic methane leak from underneath the mall which somehow managed to be strongest right by the generator... good job that everyone had managed to escape by the time it all blew up, eh?Towards the end of the film, it stopped raining. I assume this was a coincidence as it didn't have any relevance to the plot. Just happened to not be raining the day they filmed that scene.Even given the amusement factor of the poor acting, diabolical effects and pathetic script - I still can't give it higher than 1/10.

From what I could gather, the mall had flooded and an escaped killer had kidnapped everybody. Then, as if things weren't ridiculous enough, there was leaking methane about to blow the place sky-high. Am I being cynical, or was the plot just a tiny bit implausible?