TerrorVision (1986)/ The Video Dead (1987) (Bluray/DVD Combo Review)
Directed By: Ted Nicolaou (Terrorvision) Robert Scott (The Video Dead)
Starring: Gerrit Graham, Mary Woronov, Chad Allen
Rated: R/Region: A/1×78/Number of dics: 2
Available from Scream Factory
A civilization on a distant planet has found a way to solve its garbage problem: turning it into energy and beaming it into outer space. A flaw in this system is found when the signal is accidentally picked up on Earth by the Putterman Family’s home satellite dish. While this would ordinarily be just another mess, this particular transmission contains a hungry trash monster that quickly begins snacking on the Puttermans and their guests. Only young Sherman Putterman has any clue what is going on, but nobody will believe him. Is there any hope for the Earth?
TerrorVision is our first feature on this combo that can be described in the solo word, “Fun”. Here we have very elaborate characters. Most of these people do things that will annoy the heck out of you, but then something happens and it also makes you laugh. Add into all of that a giant monster wanting to eat everything in sight and its hard not to have fun while watching this movie. This is 100% 80s cheese with very unlikeable characters, but it’s all ok due to it being all by design.
The film does hit a slight drag during the half way point, but I find that it is only a speed bump in an otherwise fun and enjoyable experience. We get plenty of goo and gore to hold over lovers of practical effects and the movie is a nice dose of 80s horror comedy cinema. This isn’t by any means a film that will fall under the classic banner, but it isn’t dull as a whole and makes up for a good time. Plus, I can’t help but praise the way our monster looks here in HD. TerrorVision is a good time if nothing else.
– Commentary with writer/director Ted Nicolaou and actors Diane Frank and Jon Gries
– Monster on Demand: The Making of TerrorVision
– Poster and Still Gallery
Two teenagers move into their new house before their parents arrive, and discover flesh-eating zombies walking straight off the television screen. The cheese runs high in this lost horror comedy from the 80s. Now thanks to the fine folks at Scream Factory we have this movie here looking the best it has ever looked and ever will look.
You can pretty much toss any long term zombie rules you might know out the window for this one. These zombies don’t run, but they do believe they are alive or try to act as close to it as they can. Shooting them in the head and chopping them up doesn’t seem to do much good either. If you want to kill these zombies you have to either trap them in a place together, which in return makes them go mad and eat themselves. Or you have to use the power of the basic mirror to show them their own reflections and use it to trap them inside the TV. It sounds really good and it does have its moments. But it’s also extremely goofy and filled with bad acting. However, given the case of The Video Dead I strangely have no problem with that.
I really don’t know if some of the stuff and dumb actions of the cast here is intentional or just part of some smart film making that has been so cleverly done that it’s fooled movie watchers for generations. Like for example, the character of Jeff really has the hots for a girl named Ann. At one point Ann is taken by a zombie and Jeff doesn’t really make an effort to make a save. He just assumes she’s done for and decides to wait till the next day to attempt to save her. What sense does that make? This movie is filled with a lot of that sorta stuff. It also has its moments of good gore. I think it would be OK to say this movie seems to be in the same class as Troll 2. That means it is one of those films that is soo bad its good. So bad it’s good, but bad in the most fun way possible for certain.
– Commentary with writer/director/producer Robert Scott, editor Bob Sarles, and make-up effects creator Dall Hall .jr
– Commentary with actors Roxanna Augesen & Rocky DuVall, production manager Jacques Thelemaque, and makeup assistant Patrick Denver
– Pre-Recordead – An Interview with make-up effects creator Dall Hall .jr and makeup assistant Patrick Denver
– Behind-the-Scenes Still Gallery
– Poster and Still Gallery
