TerrorVision

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Horrorphile - October 2007

TerrorVision

October 11th 2007 01:20

Here’s a real blast from the past! They don’t make ‘em like this anymore. They didn’t make ‘em like this even when this was made! In fact this little intergalactic trash-gem is off the radar! TerrorVision (1986) is one of those so bad, it’s hypnotizing flicks. But then, it always knew it was rotten, it just liked to smell that way from the start.

It was made by ultra-prolific and notoriously cheap and trashy production house Empire Pictures, a super low-budget company (although perhaps not as nasty or subversive as Troma Pictures) that was formed in the mid-80s by producer Charles Band, vomiting up such ghastly fare as Ghoulies, Troll, Crawlspace, Breeders, Soriority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama, and dozens of others.

Gerritt Graham as swingin' Stanley Putterman

TerrorVision and H.P. Lovecraft’s From Beyond (also 1986, in fact Band produced thirteen movies that year!) are easily light years ahead of the rest of the cosmic crap Empire Pictures shat out. But both movies are very much an acquired taste. You need to swill TerrorVision around the inside of the mouth with a bottle of Heinie and a big packet of BBQ Cheezels.

TerrorVision Diane Franklin and Jon Gries

Jon Gries as O.D. and Diane Franklin as Suzy

I was introduced to TerrorVision while I was at university. Me and a few like-minded mates - for reasons unknown - decided to rent the movie, and watched it blitzed out of our minds. It was outrageously hilarious! In our fried minds it was an instant cult classic, and demanded repeat viewings, especially with all its quotable lines. The references to Heineken beer (odd for an American movie) and swinging couples (how retro-progressive!), the uber-kitsch interior and costume design, and the slimey-gooey special effects made it a wicki-wacky treat-and-a-quarter!

The hungry beast from Planet Pluton

Obviously written and designed as both a spoof and homage to B-grade 50s sci-fi and horror movies, writer/director Ted Nicolaou also toyed with the classic American suburban family, turning them into a wholly dysfunctional self-indulgent comic disaster. The self-absorbed and dim-witted parents, Raquel (low-budget indie queen Mary Woronov) and Stanley (Gerritt Graham) Putterman, the ex-military loose cannon Grampa Putterman (Bert Remsen), the loud Cyndi Lauper wannabe teenaged daughter Suzy (Diane Franklin, from Amtyville II: The Possession, 1982), and her younger brother, the curious gung-ho Sherman (Chad Allen).

Bert Remsen as Grampa and Chad Allen as Sherman

With only a few other notables in the cast; Suzy’s thick-as-a-brick metaller boyfriend O.D. (Jon Gries), late night horrorathon television host, the monstrously big-breasted Medusa (ex-porn performer Jennifer Richards), Raquel and Stanley’s swingin’ invites Spiro (Alejandro Rey) and Cherry (Randi Brooks ... older folk might remember her extraordinary figure featured prominently in Dr. Hook's early 80s sleazy clip Baby Makes Her Blue Jeans Talk), and alien humanoid Pluthar (William Paulson). But not forgetting the huge and hungry beast, expelled from the sanitation department on planet Pluton.

Special effects make-up and the creature design are courtesy of legendary ex-Roger Corman protégé John Carl Buechler and his Mechanical and Makeup Imageries company; basically very silly looking latex foam appliances and buckets of slime and goo. But hey, in TerrorVision, they work wonders! Go the hungry beast!

Mary Woronov as Raquel, Stan, Cherry (Randi Brooks) and Spiro (Alejandro Rey)

So, what in Jupiter is TerrorVision about? The Puttermans have a hideously plush pad (emphasis on the word hideous). Stanley wants his television receiver dish fixed so he can enjoy all the creature comforts of cable and beyond. But it’s Saturday night, so it’s swinging night. He and his wife go to pick up a horny couple, while daughter Suzy goes to pick up her new boyfriend, leaving crazy, shell-shocked Grampa and grandson Sherman to surf the TV. Unbeknownst to them an alien in energy form from planet Pluton as infiltrated the house via the satelitte reciever. It materializes through the TV sets and is very hungry.

Jennifer Richards as lewd Medusa

That’s all you need to know. Now rush out and find a copy of this ludicrously stupid and undeniably cheesy sci-fi-horror romp (it’s currently unavailable on DVD, so an old VHS tape is what you’re looking for). Despite the title it’s not scary in the slightest, but there is something curiously weird and vaguely unsettling about the whole thing, kinda like remnants of a strange and silly dream. The jokes come in fits and bursts, but the humour is apparent throughout.

William Paulson as Pluthor from planet Pluton

I never noticed the credits when I first used to watch it, but TerrorVision was made in Italy with an Italian shooting crew (Empire Pictures’ studio is based there), adding a perverse Euro feel to this American-looking, distinctly lurid splurge. TerrorVision is over-the-top, in every department, in the baddest possible taste. A PG film perched precariously on the “adult” shelf. Savour it like a fine vinaigrette.

Here's the original trailer:

And here's Grampa's gooey demise (French dub):

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews

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Comments

11 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by KylieW

October 11th 2007 02:20

Celebrity Obsession

I've never heard of this film. But I'm going to track it down. I had the biggest crush on Chad Allen in the 80's!!!

Love the pic of OD and Suzy......so tragically 80's!

Comment by Damo

October 11th 2007 03:00

Bryn

The depths of hell must be in your video shop.
Mine no longer stocks tape. Only DVDs.
The eighties were such a strange time that we all moved on from. Now I know why.
'Grandpa...Grandpa...Grandpa!'

Yep, the latex monstrer got him.

Comment by Bryn

October 11th 2007 05:05

Horrorphile

Kylie, this cheesefest is right up your alley! Seek and ye shall find!

Damo, I remember video stores having BETA tapes as well as VHS ... you too?

Comment by Mr Nice Guy

October 11th 2007 13:48

Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory

Bryn

I remember going to the Drive-In with 3 mates and seeing this . . .

It's everything you've said and less!

MNG

Comment by Bryn

October 12th 2007 00:09

Horrorphile

Nice Guy, wow, a drive in with TerrorVision, you couldn't ask for more!!! Actually, I'd ask for added cheese in my burger! LOL

Comment by Cibbuano

October 17th 2007 00:30

Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak

this looks hilarious. Mary Woronov and Randi Brooks? What a deal!

Comment by Bryn

October 17th 2007 01:28

Horrorphile

Cibby, yeah, it's the best kind of trash! But no titties I'm afraid ...

Comment by J.Frank

February 26th 2008 01:08

Unbelivably great flick!

A masterpiece! Go out and get this!

Comment by Bryn

February 27th 2008 07:00

Horrorphile

J.Frank, glad this one floats yer boat! Cheers!

Comment by lisa lou

March 12th 2008 08:46

oh my god. i dont know what made me think of it, but i googled chad allen in the hopes i could find this movie, not remembering the name.

they used to show this on u.s.a. when i was a kid! i freaking loved it! that monster is soooooo scary, i honestly dont think i could come up with a scarier looking monster, ever. so over the top!

thank you so much for taking the time to post this. the youtube videos were a blast from the past.

awesome.

Comment by Bryn

April 9th 2008 03:45

Horrorphile

Hi LIsa,
glad I could provide you with the cosmic blast!
Seems someone has taken down the clips from youtube ... oh well.

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