History Film / ROTOR

* RedHerring: Steele tells Coldyron that since apparently part of Coldyon's mind was [[BrainUploading used in R.O.T.O.R.'s brain]] he will have "to use his weakness" to defeat it. That never happens, and comes off as just a RuleOfCool statement.

* AcronymConfusion / TheyJustDidntCare: The acronym R.O.T.O.R. is sometimes explained as 'Robotic Tactical Operations '''Research'''', but other times it is 'Robotic Tactical Operations '''Reserve''''.

* YouKeepUsingThatWord: The film doesn't seem to know "C.O.D." means "cash on delivery".

''R.O.T.O.R.'' was written, produced, and directed by Cullen Blaine Houghtaling, who had previously worked mainly as a storyboard artist for Saturday morning cartoons. It was released in 1987, quick on the heels of ''[[Film/RoboCop1987 RoboCop]]''. It started getting a reputation as classic trash, making the rounds of bad movie sites such as [[http://www.jabootu.com/rotor.htm Jabootu]]. In 2013, it was featured in an episode of ''WebVideo/BestOfTheWorst'', where its cheesy charms were revealed to a new generation of B-movie enthusiasts. In 2014 the film became the subject of a comedic commentary by RiffTrax. After languishing in obscurity for a quarter of a century, ''R.O.T.O.R.'' continues to languish, but not in quite as much obscurity as before.

''R.O.T.O.R.'' was written, produced, and directed by Cullen Blaine Houghtaling, who had previously worked mainly as a storyboard artist for Saturday morning cartoons. It was released in 1987, quick on the heels of ''[[Film/RoboCop1987 RoboCop]]''. In 2013 it was featured in an episode of ''WebVideo/BestOfTheWorst'', where its cheesy charms were revealed to a new generation of B-movie enthusiasts. In 2014 the film became the subject of a comedic commentary by RiffTrax. After languishing in obscurity for a quarter of a century, ''R.O.T.O.R.'' continues to languish, but not in quite as much obscurity as before.

* Metaphorgotten: Many, but Coldyron's threat to "make more noise than skeletons making love in a tin coffin" is a masterpiece of confusing analogy.

* RoboCam: R.O.T.O.R.'s POV is represented by a handheld camera shot with inverted colors and crosshairs in the middle of the frame.

** Sonya is shown stopping her car at a gas station to call the police, which suggests that she doesn't have any on-board means of communication. In a later scene, she steals a car with a C.B. radio in it. This is necessary so that Coldyron can communicate with her, but it raises the question: why didn't Sonya use the C.B. radio to call for help instead of exposing herself to the killer by parking and using an outdoor payphone?
** How does Sonya find a car with a C.B. radio installed? Why does the random car she find even have one? How does Coldyron know what frequency to find her on it?

** Sonya is shown stopping her car at a gas station to call the police, which suggests that she doesn't have any on-board means of communication. In a later scene, she suddenly has a C.B. radio in her car. This is necessary so that Coldyron can communicate with her, but it raises the question: why didn't Sonya use the C.B. radio to call for help instead of exposing herself to the killer by parking and using an outdoor payphone?

-->'''[[BestOfTheWorst Rich Evans]]:''' They had to establish the prairie, so they could establish the farm, so they could establish the farmhouse, so they could establish the kitchen counter.

** Coldyron claims to have 'crippled' R.O.T.O.R.'s motorcycle. Meanwhile R.O.T.O.R. zips away at full speed, totally unscathed by Coldyron's bullets.

* '''EstablishingShot: TheMovie!''' Especially during the “Thursday morning” section, where the film dawdles over the picturesque minutiae of Coldyron's ranch house, his mildly zany morning routine, and his commute to work.

-->'''Mike:''' The movie [[Film/PhoneBooth Phone Booth]] had fewer phone calls!

* [[CoversAlwaysLie Posters Always Lie]]: Look at the trope image.

* PoliceAreUseless: Sorry, ma'am. If the killer robot is out of our jurisdiction, we can't lift a finger to help you.

* BondOneLiner / IronicEcho: 'Justice delivered. C.O.D.'

* EightiesHair: Mullets... mullets everywhere.

* FanNickname: The crew at RedLetterMedia christen Coldyron 'Back Problems' in reference to his irritability, clenched jaw, and wincing expression.

* ParodyRetcon: Some fans insist this film was supposed to be a comedy, which doesn't explain the marketing and poster.

* SequelHook: After Coldyron is shot, his papers are sent to his nephew, an aspiring roboticist who seems intrigued by his uncle's research and willing to continue his work.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: Huge car phones, mullets, and a hysterical pessimism about street crime? It must be the eighties.

* FauxlosophicNarration: Coldyron's quote from Milton.

* AppliedPhlebotinum: 'The metal itself can learn, remember, and teach itself. It doesn't need motors, gears, and tubes.'

-->'''Bill Corbett''': 'Detective ''Mango?!'' Is this a JimmyBuffett mystery?'

--> '''Redneck:''' 'Hey, faggot city cop!'

-->'''[[BestOfTheWorst Rich Evans]]:''' 'They had to establish the prairie, so they could establish the farm, so they could establish the farmhouse, so they could establish the kitchen counter.'

-->'''[[BestOfTheWorst Jay]]:''' 'This is like a Zucker Brothers gag!'

* InsaneTrollLogic: 'The difference between a hero and a villain is the amount of compensation they take for their services. At our pay grade, I'd say we're heroes.'

-->'''Shoeboogie:''' 'Once you go red, you never get out of bed!'

* LampshadeHanging: 'What do you think this is, some low-budget sci-fi flick?'

* MeaninglessMeaningfulWords: 'We're all prognosticators of the future. And since our particular purpose of vision belongs to the creed of law enforcement, we open inroads into tomorrow, in ways and means of those who would serve and protect justice and order.'
* OmnidisciplinaryScientist: Coldyron's nephew is studying at the 'science department' of Oxford University.

-->'''Mike:''' 'The movie [[Film/PhoneBooth Phone Booth]] had fewer phone calls!'

** Coldyron says that he has never met Dr. Steele, and their dialogue makes it clear that they are meeting for the first time. But at a certain point, Coldyron says, 'Remember what I said at R.O.T.O.R.'s christening?' Why would Steele remember, if she and Coldyron had never met before?

--> '''Mike:''' 'So they were years away from having a ready product, but already nailed down recreating the past just by looking at stuff.'

-->'''Bill:''' 'Are we going to be tested on the specific times everything is happening?'
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: When Coldyron informs Willard the funny robot that R.O.T.O.R. has escaped, Willard immediately announces his resignation.

-->'''Kevin:''' 'She's alerted a cop that can't help her that she'll be driving south away from the murderer or maybe toward him in some kind of vehicle.'
* TechnoBabble: 'Is there some good vibration to its molecular tonality that you can utilize?'

--> '''Mike:''' 'It's like if Lex Luthor had Superman cornered with a kryptonite gun, then decided to trade it for beans.'

* ZombieGait: R.O.T.O.R. sometimes walks normally, but whenever he is pursuing someone on foot, he shifts to a slow, stiff-limbed shuffle, as if to remind the audience that he is a robot.
--> '''Kevin:''' 'He's in casual attack mode.'

* ShoddyKnockoffProduct: Of such films as TheTerminator and especially RoboCop, which premiered earlier the same year.

* {{Anvilicious}}: The dialogue never lets the audience forget that ''R.O.T.O.R.'' is a film with deep moral themes.
--> '''Roboticist:''' 'Well, who are we who create such a thing? Heroes ''and'' villains?'
--> '''Coldyron:''' 'Were we playing God, breathing life into our artificial Adam?'

* FilmingForEasyDub: A lot of dialogue is dubbed over exterior shots of cars driving.

''R.O.T.O.R.'' was written, produced, and directed by Cullen Blaine Houghtaling, who had previously worked mainly as a storyboard artist for Saturday morning cartoons. It was released in 1987, quick on the heels of RoboCop. In 2013 it was featured in an episode of BestOfTheWorst, where its cheesy charms were revealed to a new generation of B-movie enthusiasts. In 2014 the film became the subject of a comedic commentary by RiffTrax. After languishing in obscurity for a quarter of a century, R.O.T.O.R. continues to languish, but not in quite as much obscurity as before.