Bug Buster
A 1998 comedy horror film about giant cockroaches attacking a California town.
Bug Buster is a 1998 American comedy horror movie directed by Lorenzo Doumani. It is the only film credited to screenwriter Malick Khoury. In the United Kingdom, it was distributed as *Some Things Never Die*.
The story takes place in the California lakeside town of Mountview. After the mayor applies a hazardous substance to safeguard a local plantation, the town comes under attack from a deadly species of oversized cockroach. Following several deaths, the mayor recruits an eccentric pest control expert named General George S. Merlin to protect the residents.
The cast includes Randy Quaid as General George S. Merlin, Brenda Epperson Doumani as Dr. Laura Casey, Katherine Heigl as Shannon Griffin, James Doohan as Sheriff Carlson, George Takei as Dr. Hiro Fujimoto, Meredith Salenger as Veronica Hart, David Lipper as Steve Williams, Doug Jones as The Mother Bug, and Tom Willett as Band Member.
Critics and audiences gave the film almost universally negative reviews. However, some viewers appreciated it as a homage to 1950s monster movies. Robert Pardi of *TV Guide* noted that "this modestly budgeted effort has a certain low key charm."
In the United States, the film was released on VHS and DVD on April 13, 1999, by DMG Entertainment, with a second release in 2000. It was reissued on DVD on February 13, 2007, by Majestic Entertainment.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Lorenzo Doumani
- Producer
- Christian E. Dirkes / Lorenzo Doumani / Steven R. Stevens
- Writer
- Malick Khoury
- Starring
- Randy Quaid / Brenda Epperson Doumani / Katherine Heigl / James Doohan / George Takei
- Music
- Bobby Caldwell / Sidney James
- Cinematography
- Hanania Baer
- Editing
- Lawrence J. Gleason
- Distributor
- DMG Entertainment
- Released
- 1998
- Runtime
- 93 minutes
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The film is set in the lakeside town of Mountview, California, where the mayor uses a potentially dangerous substance to protect the local plantation. This action leads to an attack by a lethal species of large cockroach, which kills several inhabitants. The mayor then enlists eccentric pest exterminator General George S. Merlin, played by Randy Quaid, to stop the creatures.
The cast includes Brenda Epperson Doumani as Dr. Laura Casey, Katherine Heigl as Shannon Griffin, James Doohan as Sheriff Carlson, and George Takei as Dr. Hiro Fujimoto. Doug Jones portrays The Mother Bug. The film received almost universally negative reviews, though some viewers appreciated it as a throwback to 1950s monster films.
Reader's Guide
Bug Buster is notable primarily as the only known film written by Malick Khoury and for featuring a cast that includes Star Trek actors James Doohan and George Takei. Its reception was almost universally negative, but it has a small cult following among those who enjoy low-budget monster movies. Robert Pardi of TV Guide noted that 'this modestly budgeted effort has a certain low key charm.' The film was released on VHS and DVD in the United States in 1999 by DMG Entertainment, with a subsequent DVD release in 2007 by Majestic Entertainment. Its alternate UK title, Some Things Never Die, reflects its theme of enduring, if not critically acclaimed, genre cinema.
Did You Know?
- In the United Kingdom, the film was released under the title Some Things Never Die.
- The cast includes James Doohan and George Takei, both known for their roles in Star Trek.
- Doug Jones played The Mother Bug in the film.
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