Imps* (1983)

Imps* is the kind of scrappy, anything-goes sketch-comedy time capsule that feels like you’ve stumbled onto a late-night cable oddity and can’t quite believe how cheerfully it commits to the bit. Instead of one long story, it fires off parodies and spoofs in quick bursts—absurd competitions, pop-culture riffs, and playful genre send-ups—giving you that loose, party-room vibe where the joke is the point and momentum matters more than polish. When it lands, it lands with the simple pleasure of seeing performers lean into silliness without apology, and there’s a genuine charm in how dated references become part of the fun. Fair warning: it’s very much of its era, with some mild sexual/nudity gags that may not be everyone’s taste, but if you enjoy sketch films as a sampler platter of weird laughs, this one earns its cult-curiosity status.

Imps* wants to be a rapid-fire, anything-goes sketch-comedy romp, riffing on pop culture with a “look how wild we can get” attitude and a cast that clearly showed up ready to play. The problem is the material often feels stretched past its natural punchline, with sketches that drag, jokes that announce themselves from a mile away, and a reliance on tasteless, nudge-nudge bits (including some mild-but-very-1983 sexiness) to fake momentum. If you love scrappy, low-budget parody and can enjoy the sheer weirdness of disconnected skits, you might find a few moments that land. But if you need sharp writing, clever satire, or even just consistent laughs, this is the kind of “comedy” that can feel like a long sit for very little payoff.