TERRORVISION (1986)

Written & Directed By: Ted Nicolau 
Cinematography: Romano Albani 
Editor: Thomas Meshelski 
Production Design & Art Direction By: Giovanni Natalucci 

Cast: Chad Allen, Diane Franklin, Mary Woronov, Gerrit Graham, Jon Gries, Bert Remsen, Alejandro Rey, Randi Brooks, Jennifer Richards 



Stan installs satellite TV for his family, but, soon, he picks up a signal from another planet and his television system becomes the gateway between the 2. A creature comes to his apartment and only their son Sherman sees it, but his parents don't believe the boy.
The poster for this movie was designed before the script was written.

Don’t know exactly where this film came from but it is a tripped out ride. That takes satirization to the extreme. As it seems to be an attack on the values and trends of the 1980’s culture at the time. Which this is definitely a product of, As well as a kind of dissection if the nuclear family. While also being an alien invasion film.

Everything in the film is over the top from the grotesque monster design. To the houses design and interior. The daughter and her boyfriend’s extreme punk look, the parents being swingers and the grandfather being a survivalist before they were really known by more of the population. We watch as they and anyone who comes to their house on that evening is killed off.

The film is more comedic overall then horrific. Though for all the laughs or attempted stabs at humor the film has a surprisingly downbeat ending, but it goes Along with the film’s absurdist atmosphere. As this is definitely more a cult movie that seems made to be but also tries not to be as it has an innocence and is definitely campy.

The gross practical special effects might be cheap looking but they are effective and kind of unsettling that after awhile you admire them Somewhat as they are impressive for what they are working with. Even if the film’s mood comes off at times as cheesy, gross, nasty and downright dirty. Yet it barely if ever feels offensive. As it seems to bring up every fad of the time.

This film feels more made for kids or maybe teenagers for how ridiculously bad the material is. That it feels intended to go straight to home video of the time. Yet the subject matter it hits upon is too adult. So that the movie comes across as more science fiction cult film rather then horror. In fact it feels for like a new wave type style and film.

Watching it now. other then the fashions. The movie starts off kind of boring until the killing starts. For something so wild the film might be surprisingly slow or dull at times. If not on it’s wavelength. 

There is no way you can actually take any of this seriously. As it isn’t scary it is more shocking for it’s violence and grotesqueness.

Especially when involving a family and children, but it seems more an artifact and a satirical look in an avant garde way of the then modern times and prediction of what would came to be socially in a way. While being a practical effects showcase and monster movie.

The ending has a interesting twist that you don’t See coming. That is shockingly macabre.

Grade: D+