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 starred in several iconic films, but one of his projects from 1991, Nothing But Trouble, isn’t just unsuccessful as a comedy—it’s genuinely unsettling. If you’ve never heard of it or seen it, that’s understandable. Despite being frequently shown on cable TV back then and featuring an all-star cast including Chevy Chase, Demi Moore, and John Candy, the movie remains largely forgotten and not for a good reason.
Reflecting on the film now, the memories are less about humor and more about its eerie atmosphere—not only because of the poor script. Written and directed by Dan Aykroyd himself, the film gathered some of the biggest movie stars of the era. Chevy Chase was fresh from the success of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, considered one of the best holiday movies ever made. John Candy had recently appeared in Home Alone, and Demi Moore was coming off the hit Ghost. Earlier that year, Aykroyd had acted in My Girl.
Given such a successful lineup, it’s surprising how disappointing Nothing But Trouble turned out to be. The story is straightforward: Chevy Chase and Demi Moore’s characters are on a road trip and stumble upon a bizarre and isolated town called Valkenvania.
"I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve never seen it. 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."
"Now, when I think back, 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 unsettling tone and lack of genuine comedy turn what was meant to be a dark comedy into something closer to nightmare fuel.
Cast and Context
- Dan Aykroyd: Writer, director, and actor
- Chevy Chase: Star of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
- John Candy: Known for Home Alone
- Demi Moore: Previously in Ghost
- Dan Aykroyd also acted in My Girl earlier that year
The presence of such big names makes the film’s failure to deliver laughs even more striking.
Plot Overview
The story follows two travelers who, while on a road trip, arrive in Valkenvania—a strange and isolated town that sets the stage for the unsettling events that follow.
Author's summary: Despite its star-studded cast, Nothing But Trouble fails as a comedy and leaves viewers with an eerie, unsettling experience instead of laughs.
Would you like the tone to be more casual or formal?