Medium Rare is an unfinished 1987 American dark comedy film directed and written by Paul Madden. It stars Burt Young, Lainie Kazan, and Brad Dourif.^[1]

Harry Costas (Burt Young), a retired pornographic film producer, is determined to shut down a new series of adult films featuring his wife’s original character, Helga. Possessive of both her legacy and image, Harry insists he still holds the rights to anything made in her name.

At home, Helga (Lainie Kazan) is focused on her dream of singing at the Mink Lounge—despite the fact that she can’t sing. The couple lives in a lavish suite with their two poodles, Alfie and Fifi. Helga adores them as her “babies,” while Harry openly despises them—a feeling which seems mutual.

To sabotage the new film’s production, Harry instructs his assistant, Mole (Richard Assad), to destroy the studio’s equipment without hurting anyone. They hire two brothers, Timmy and Mitch Malone (Alex Winter and Brad Dourif), paying them $200 for the job.

Mitch serves as the getaway driver while Timmy and Mole handle the sabotage. However, things go horribly wrong when, instead of drilling into the main video unit, they accidentally drill through a bed—killing two actors mid-scene.

(The movie cuts away with Mitch fleeing the scene after checking on Timmy and Mole. Later, it's mentioned that Timmy is dead, though his exact cause of death is never shown—likely due to the film's unfinished production. In context, it’s possible that Mole, who has been shown to be violent, killed Timmy so there would be no witnesses, and upon seeing him murder his brother Mitch fled).

In the aftermath, Mitch and his girlfriend Rosie go to the Costas’ home and threaten to go to the police. When Harry’s bribe fails, he opts for a more direct solution. While Harry is on the phone with Mole trying to decide what to do about Mitch Malone, Helga accidentally kills Fifi by attempting to dry her off in a microwave. Harry tries not to laugh as Helga cries on his shoulder, telling her it was an easy mistake to make.

Later, while Helga is sleeping after being heavily dosed by her doctor, Harry loses his temper and places the other poodle inside the microwave, setting it to “Medium Rare.” Rather than killing the dog, this setting scrambles its brain, making it docile. This gives Harry an idea on how to silence Mitch.

Harry and Mole intercept Mitch at his music gig before he can meet with the police. They trap him and repeat the process—placing his head in the microwave and setting it to “Medium Rare.” Harry is able to get the microwave to run without the door being shut by jamming a screwdriver in the door latch. Rosie later finds Mitch alone in his dressing room, nearly catatonic.

Detective Hill (Al Ruscio), who has been working on the case of the adult film murders, and Doctor Kyle (Timothy Leary) begin studying Mitch. He appears unable to speak and, like the poodle, is mentally scrambled and passive. The doctor says his nervous system has been exposed to terrible trauma. Electrical shocks seem to briefly restore parts of his memory—his ability to play the guitar, his love for Rosie, and his anger at Harry and Mole—but doesn’t reverse the damage. Rosie gives her statement to the police and they are allowed to return home to their trailer. While there, Mitch is shocked by a toaster and, after making love to Rosie, he leaves the house to track down Mole.

Helga’s friend Ruth (Joanne Baron) is visiting and comforting her. While Helga is in the bath, Ruth and Harry begin having sex against a window. Alfie the poodle, having just bitten a wire and been shocked, attacks Harry. In the chaos, Harry accidentally pushes Ruth through the window, and she falls to her death. Alfie tries to attack Harry again but also falls out the window and is then run over by a car. Detective Hill becomes suspicious of Harry’s involvement—not only in Ruth’s death but also in the incident at the porn shoot.

Dr. Kyle, examining Alfie’s body, determines that the dog’s brain is fried except for the primordial reflex center, which controls basic impulses related to food, survival, and sex. He theorizes that electric current triggers these primal drives.

Meanwhile, Mitch tracks down Mole and, displaying what appears to be superhuman strength, stabs him with a bottle opener in front of Mole’s girlfriend (Symie Dahut). She later identifies Mitch as the killer to Detective Hill and Dr. Kyle.

Mitch begins wandering the streets and eventually sneaks into the Costas’ suite. He finds Helga in a drug-induced sleep and watches her until Harry returns home. Mitch hides under the bed as Harry and Helga talk.

Harry hires two hitmen (Sy Richardson and Grand Mixer DXT) to kill Mitch. Both the hitmen and police stake out Mitch and Rosie’s trailer, though neither group notices when Harry sneaks home. Back at the trailer, Mitch and Rosie cuddle.

At the police station, Alfie is revived by electroshock. Rosie brings Mitch to the station—followed by the hitmen. After another shock, Mitch heads off to get revenge on Harry, with the assassins still trailing him.

Helga is performing at the club when Mitch is shocked by a short-circuiting guitar. He plays over Helga’s singing before collapsing—possibly shot by the hitmen, though it’s unclear. Detective Hill is present as the club descends into chaos. Rosie picks up a gun dropped by one of the hitmen, who are somehow apprehended amid the police raid (though this isn’t clearly shown).

Later, Helga threatens to divorce Harry (the reason isn’t explicitly shown—possibly because she blames him for what happened at the club). Harry confesses to her what he did to Alfie, and she attacks him. Rosie then bursts in with a gun, but Helga wrestles it away. Harry grabs the gun in the struggle and threatens both women. Meanwhile, at the police station, Mitch is shocked again—possibly by a thunderstorm. He grabs Alfie and jumps out a window. Back at the suite, Harry ties up Helga and Rosie, threatening to shoot them both. After Harry punches Rosie to silence her, Mitch bursts in with the poodle. He bends the gun with his bare hands and overpowers Harry, ultimately sticking his head in the microwave and pressing “Medium Rare.” He releases Harry when Rosie appears distressed. Detective Hill and Dr. Kyle arrive.

In the final scene, Helga sings while a dazed, smiling Harry listens placidly. On the road, Rosie snaps a picture of herself and Mitch, both smiling and happy, as they prepare to get married in Reno.

• Burt Young as Harry Costas
• Lainie Kazan as Helga Costas
• Brad Dourif as Mitch Malone
• Brenda Bakke as Rosie
• Al Ruscio as Detective Hill
• Timothy Leary as Doctor Kyle
• Alex Winter as Timmy Malone
• Sy Richardson as Marv
• Grand Mixer DXT as Roscoe
• Richard Assad as Mole
• Frances Bay as Gertrude
• Richard Green as Lou
• Larry Storch as Willie
• Joanne Baron as Ruth
• Symie Dahut as Waitress (Mole's Girlfriend)
• Mel Welles as Doctor
• George Ortuzar as Dr. Kyle's Assistant
• Lou Cutell as Desk Sargent

Made in 1987, Medium Rare wasn't released until March 15, 2010. While the final product has a complete story, it is not all edited together, leaving gaps.

The producer, Limelight (based in LA), went out of business shortly after the film was completed. The intended distributor, Ideal Communications in London, also folded. A subsequent distribution deal with Kushner/Locke fell through when that company also declared bankruptcy. ^[2]