TerrorVision (1986)

This is a movie I've kind of been wanting to see. I am ready to add this to my list of personal favorites after watching it for the first time, so I know they did some stuff right. While it's still fresh in my mind, there are some things I definitely want to say. First off, I am extremely surprised that this doesn't seem to have a cult following to it. "TerrorVision" is a great film that should have definitely achieved cult status. From the start (after some credits set to music by Siouxsie and the Banshees imitators!), this has a definite John Waters look and feel. When the fast-paced story moves into grotesque monster territory, it gets even better. And, regardless of how goofy it is, I dig the commentaries the filmmakers are sprinkling all throughout this movie, the main one of all being the most obvious: television giving birth to monsters. This is definitely one of those wild movies that gets weirder and more bizarre as it moves along. As for people quoting favorite lines from Bert Remsen's "Gramps" character, I love it when he refers to MTV as a secret conspiracy to rot the brain. "TerrorVision" wasn't as gory as I've heard, relying more on gooey FX than gory ones, but there are no complaints here. I love this, it was a real upper of a flagrant horror satire. I am so glad I saw this, and I would give it no less than a definite 9 on a scale of one to ten. In fact, I'm tempted to give it a full 10.

Fmovies: well, i saw some comment's on the film's music. the band who wrote and performed all the themes are an l.a "art" punk band called: "the Fibonaccis", the movie soundtrack is almost impossible to get. those fibonaccis guys are really one of it's kind, play some strange mixture of lounge and punk music, with obvious 50's, 60's retro, like the movie itself. and for the movie, i just love it, light, cheesy entertainment, with lot's of weird stuff and a monster who ate'em all. it is just plain simple and clear that this is intended bad taste. and unlike some other "the worst the better" trash flicks, this one just works great. o.d character is kicking ass, and the "this is food, this is rocknroll" scenes are over the top. the set that in this case is the family's house is a mess, in a good way of course. it seems like the movie is being taken in some futuristic period of time, with a sixties mood in it. a world where everyone is in to party's, late t.v, and cooool cars.

TerrorVision is one of the most original B-Films ever made. A very sexy Elvira type woman named Medusa, a heavy metal dude named OD, plenty of awesome FX and alien monsters. Ted Nicolaou directed this horror/sci-fiction/comedy. Movies like this need to be released. I swear, I have seen some HORRIBLE films make the DVD jump. Why in the hell can't TerrorVision? Its an absolute crime. A CRIME I tell you! But wait! Now, you too can help. Yes, thats right. There's now a petition to get TerrorVision on DVD once and for all! It is located at PetitionSpot.com. I'm having trouble posting the link for it, so if it doesn't work go to google or petitionspot and look fr the TerrorVision DVD petition. Come on, go sign it and help!

TerrorVision fmovies. Sherman Putterman is your standard alien monster film kid who has seen a monster but can't get anyone else to believe him. His grandpa (Bert Remsen in the film's best performance) is a survivalist promoting his lizard tail jerky product (the perfect food because lizards' tails grow back and you can eat it again) and hiding out in his well-stocked fallout shelter.

If it were possible for a complete parody to be called original, "Terrorvision" (1986) would be the first to qualify. This is another cheap Albert and Charles Band (Empire Studios) production, but is not as mindless as something like "Redneck Zombies" and even has a bit of lyrical (yet very silly) charm. Everyone involved is obviously having a good time and the creature is much like something Richard Carlson would have encountered in a 1950's sci-fi film, but with much more slime. Not until "The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra" would there be a more self-aware genre parody. Although rated "R" because of some off-color humor, it would not be worth denying middle schoolers the pleasure of viewing this film because the overall style and effect is best appreciated by that age group.

Sherman's swinging parents are Gerrit Graham (who played superstitious car salesman Jeff in "Used Cars") and Mary Woronov ("Eating Raoul").

1980's teen queen Diane Franklin plays Sherman's sister Suzy and Jon Gries (of "Pretender" fame) is her boyfriend "O.D." who is really into heavy metal music. Franklin is almost unrecognizable in her mid-1980's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" look.

Although the parody is primarily directed at the excessive cuteness of "ET", "Terrorvision" also goes after Elvira and Vampira with a similar late night horror show hostess called Medusa who wears a wig of snakes, has two enormous talents, and manages a host(ess) of semi-explicit puns.

The real star is an alien house pet whose mutation into a hungry beast forced its owners to send its atoms out into space. The film begins on a distant planet where this mutated pet is being processed at the mutated creature facility. A stray planet causes the creatures atoms to deflect through space until it finally is sucked down to earth by Sherman's father's new satellite dish.

By the middle of the film the monster has chewed and sucked its way through most of the family and their friends when Sherman, Suzy, and OD have an "ET" moment with it. The monster can mimic anyone it has eaten so the other cast members have a couple of post- demise scenes.

8 (or more) out of 10 for those of us who like this particular genre. Otherwise it just may not be for you. If you like good comedy timing, some great lines and a well put together cast of characters then this one is for you. The story is pretty original. A stray transportation beam is accidentally caught by the Putterman family's el-cheapo satellite receiver and a large stray pet alien dog-like creature materialises inside the Putterman mansion. The Putterman's are swingers and leave to meet and later invite the 'Man's Man' Spiro, a muscular Greek gay to their residence. While their gone, we meet the kids, grandpa and the pet-thing. The kids try and train the alien pet who unfortunately isn't normal, even to alien standards and proceeds to eat friends, relatives and almost anyone who drops by.

Parts of the film remind me of Eating Raoul, The Big Bus and a little bit of Bucakroo Banzai as it plays like a cartoon. The main theme (Terrorvision) is really catchy. All in all, a movie that you are bound to watch again, just to re-experience some great lines and scenes.

Holy Sh*t. This might be the most perfect film ever made.

It's definitely the best worst film you'll ever see.

The sanitation department on the planet Pluton has accidentally sent a rogue beam of waste towards the planet Earth. And it just so happens to hit the Putterman family's new satellite dish...unleashing an insatiable monstrous beast into their television transmissions.

To counter this mistake, the alien sanitation worker has been sending a warning to the satellites of Earth, telling them of his error, and what they must do in order to protect themselves- disconnect all their television and satellite systems for 200 years. Though, everybody just thinks it's part of some sort of bizarre sci-fi movie.

Only the doomsday prepper grandpa- who sells lizard tail jerky (the truly replenishable food supply)- and his grandpa's boy grandson, Sherman, are paranoid enough to take the ominous warning seriously...and they are fully equipped for the job.

While his parents are out swinging (and I don't mean dancing...), and his sister is out with her punk rocker boyfriend...the monster beams itself out of their TV, and into their home...eating grandpa and the TV repair guy. Leaving Sherman to fend for himself.

He does call for help...but everyone just thinks he's crazy...a liar...or off his meds...

The monster continues to move in and out of the house...as the mom and dad bring their new "Greek" swinger friends back to their swinger's paradise. However, they are all eaten by the monster- who is then able to crudely mimic their form.

His sister and her boyfriend return a short while later...and actually manage to make friends with the monster...even starting to train him.

Apparently, seeing OD's (her sister's boyfriend) studs calms the monster, because it reminds it of someone who cared for it when it was young.

They also use TV to keep it entertained and somewhat submissive.

It eventually gets to the point where they are planning to cash in on their "ownership" of the monster, by putting it on television. But, long before that has a chance to happen, it goes to commercials...and the monster loses it's cool. Eating OD in the process.

Now, they know it is way too unstable to keep around as a pet, or for show. So, alls that is left is to destroy it...if they can...

I said it before, but I'll say it again...this is cheese perfected.

Every character in this film is awesome. From the as*hole TV repair guy; to the promiscuous mom and her sex driven husband; the blonde bimbo and her bisexual partner- who is more into Sherman's dad, than mom; OD and Sherman's badass sister, with her sexy 80's hair-do; the doomsday prepper grandpa; Medusa...but especially, little Sherman, whose grown up in a very sexually explicit environment...around a lot of guns.

The acting and dialogue in this are pure cheese...but in the best possible way. So many great one-liners, like: "Holy Tomato!", "This is the dumbest movie I ever saw."...and my personal favourite, "this dude's into metal!!!".

The monster is also pretty sweet. Has lot's of extendable appendages, with which to attack people.

And the way it kills and consumes it's victims is really quite imaginative. It extends a claw which it uses to inject something into it's victims, causing them to dissolve into a green go, that is then licked up by t