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 apart—not for laughs or dark comedy, but for being genuinely frightening: 1991’s Nothing But Trouble.
If you’ve never heard of it or seen it, that’s understandable. It aired often on cable back then, and despite its all-star cast, including Chevy Chase, Demi Moore, and John Candy, I admit to having watched it more times than it deserves.
A Star-Studded Cast in a Disappointing Film
Reflecting now, it’s not the humor I remember but the unsettling atmosphere—and the poor writing doesn’t help. The movie, which Dan Aykroyd also wrote and directed, gathered four major stars of the era:
- Chevy Chase was fresh off National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, widely regarded as one of the greatest Christmas movies.
- John Candy had just appeared in Home Alone.
- Demi Moore’s prior film was the acclaimed Ghost.
- Aykroyd had starred earlier that year in My Girl.
It’s remarkable to see such a successful group come together for a movie as underwhelming as Nothing But Trouble.
The Premise
The story is straightforward: Chase and Moore’s characters embark on a road trip and unexpectedly end up in a bizarre backwater town called Valkenvania.
“It was on cable a lot back then, and given that it has an all-star cast... I’ve watched it more times than it deserves.”
This film blurs the line between comedy and horror in a way that leaves a lasting, unsettling impression rather than laughs.
Author’s summary: Dan Aykroyd’s 1991 film Nothing But Trouble combines a stellar cast with unsettling horror elements, leaving a stronger impact through fear than laughter.