I'm one of those people who still gets a fuzzy sense of '80s nostalgia when I see the Empire International Pictures logo at the beginning of a film. Charles and Albert Band's notorious low-budget studio held a special place in my heart as a B-movie lovin' teen and many of their films, including this one, still have a decent cult following today. My fave Empire Pictures film will always be "Robot Jox," but "TerrorVision" is a borderline camp classic in its own right that is definitely worth a look for lovers of vintage '80s cheez. They don't make'em like this one anymore! Our plot, such as it is, concerns the comically over-the-top Putterman family, consisting of a swinging, sexually liberated Mom and Dad (played by Mary Woronov and Gerrit Graham), their imaginative son Sherman (Chad Allen), daughter Suzy (an oh-so-80s fashion victim who resembles a cross between Kelly Bundy and Cyndi Lauper) and the military-obsessed Grampa. The Puttermans have just installed a new satellite TV system which unfortunately gets its wires crossed with an alien planet's electronic mutant-disposal system, resulting in a googly-eyed, slimy, toothy monster being sucked into the Putterman's TV set through the dish. Eventually the bug-eyed critter manages to manifest itself outside of the TV set and begins munching on the Putterman family and their friends, much to the dismay of Sherman and Suzy, who attempt to stop the creature before it can devour the rest of the Earth. (Yikes!) The monster is hilariously goofy looking, the acting is intentional over the top mugging, and the set design is straight up '80s MTV inspired. Throw in a busty "Elvira" wanna-be TV horror host (here called "Medusa") for no good reason, add a brain-dead headbanger in a W.A.S.P. t-shirt (one of my favorite 80s bands; you hear their song "Tormentor" for about two seconds while the kids channel surf, prompting Grampa to rant about "moral decay") and you've got true Z-Movie heaven in a box.
"TerrorVision" is obviously not to be taken seriously, so if you're a "real" horror buff, just leave this one on the shelf and find another movie. However, if you have a sense of humor and don't mind seeing some genre stalwarts over-acting (on purpose) in a silly-on-purpose horror comedy that's one part "Howard the Duck" and one part "Little Shop of Horrors" then feel free to check out "TerrorVision."
"TerrorVision" is obviously not to be taken seriously, so if you're a "real" horror buff, just leave this one on the shelf and find another movie. However, if you have a sense of humor and don't mind seeing some genre stalwarts over-acting (on purpose) in a silly-on-purpose horror comedy that's one part "Howard the Duck" and one part "Little Shop of Horrors" then feel free to check out "TerrorVision."