TerrorVision
Encyclopedia
TerrorVision is an American horror
-comedy film
released in 1986
.
The film was directed by Ted Nicolaou
, produced and written by Albert
and Charles Band and composed by Richard Band
, all of whom would go on to found and work with Full Moon Features
in 1989. TerrorVision was made by Empire International Pictures
, the production company owned by Charles Band prior to Full Moon.
in his backyard, his family ends up getting a lot more than just ESPN
. Unfortunately for Stanley, his satellite is a perfect receptor for a load of extraterrestrial garbage that just happened to be converted into energy and zapped into his backyard: a hideous, two-ton alien blob with eyes and a never-ending appetite.
Only Sherman Putterman sees the menace of the alien blob. Try as he might to warn his family, Mom and Dad are too busy swinging
with another couple and totally 80s sister Suzy is going out on a date with her heavy metal
boyfriend O.D. It is not until the alien creature materializes out of their boob tube and gobbles up Mom and Dad before Sherman is forced to recruit his sis, his psychotic, lizard-loving Grampa, and a busty late night horror host
, Medusa, to bring an end to the beast's homicidal smorgasbord and finally turn off that TV!
Unfortunately, they do not, as it all ends in total disaster.
in 1986.
In addition to Richard Band's
original score, several songs (including the movie's theme) were contributed by Los Angeles
art rock
band The Fibonaccis
. TerrorVision was hoped to bring more attention to the group, but the movie (and ultimately the soundtrack) failed. Now out of print
, a copy of the soundtrack is considered to be slightly valuable.
The track listing was as follows::
theatrically in the United States
by Empire Pictures in February 1986. It grossed $320,256 at the box office. The film received extremely negative reviews from critics, upon theatrical release. It currently holds a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes
.
Despite the connections to distributor Full Moon Features
, TerrorVision has yet to see a DVD
release. However, in 2007, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
released a widescreen version of the film on Showtime, fueling speculation that a DVD release may be possible in the near future.
As of December 10, 2010, the movie is available on the Netflix
Streaming platform.
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
-comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
released in 1986
1986 in film
-Events:*April 12 - Actor Morgan Mason marries The Go-Go's Belinda Carlisle.*April 26 - Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger marries television journalist Maria Shriver.*May - Actress Heather Locklear marries Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee....
.
The film was directed by Ted Nicolaou
Ted Nicolaou
Ted Nicolaou is an American film director, screenwriter and producer.After graduating from the University of Texas film program, he joined the crew of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre as a sound recordist...
, produced and written by Albert
Albert Band
Albert Band born Alfredo Antonini , was an American film director and film producer. He was the son of artist Max Band, father of filmmaker Charles Band and of film composer Richard Band. He is the grandfather of Alex Band and Taryn Band.-Biography:Band escaped from Paris to the United States with...
and Charles Band and composed by Richard Band
Richard Band
Richard Howard Band is a composer of film music. He has scored more than 70 films, including From Beyond, which won the award for Best Original Soundtrack at the Catalonian International Film Festival in Sitges Spain...
, all of whom would go on to found and work with Full Moon Features
Full Moon Features
Full Moon Features is a motion picture production and distribution company headed by B-movie veteran Charles Band. It is known for the direct-to-video series Puppet Master and Subspecies, as well as the innovative VideoZone featurette at the end of films through 1989 to 2000.-Full Moon...
in 1989. TerrorVision was made by Empire International Pictures
Empire International Pictures
Empire Pictures was a small scale theatrical distribution company that was formed in 1983 by Charles Band.The company produced a number of low-budget horror and fantasy features including Trancers and The Dungeonmaster...
, the production company owned by Charles Band prior to Full Moon.
Plot
When Stanley Putterman installs a brand new, state-of-the-art satellite dishSatellite dish
A satellite dish is a dish-shaped type of parabolic antenna designed to receive microwaves from communications satellites, which transmit data transmissions or broadcasts, such as satellite television.-Principle of operation:...
in his backyard, his family ends up getting a lot more than just ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
. Unfortunately for Stanley, his satellite is a perfect receptor for a load of extraterrestrial garbage that just happened to be converted into energy and zapped into his backyard: a hideous, two-ton alien blob with eyes and a never-ending appetite.
Only Sherman Putterman sees the menace of the alien blob. Try as he might to warn his family, Mom and Dad are too busy swinging
Swinging
Swinging or partner swapping is a non-monogamous behavior, in which both partners in a committed relationship agree, as a couple, for both partners to engage in sexual activities with other couples as a recreational or social activity...
with another couple and totally 80s sister Suzy is going out on a date with her heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
boyfriend O.D. It is not until the alien creature materializes out of their boob tube and gobbles up Mom and Dad before Sherman is forced to recruit his sis, his psychotic, lizard-loving Grampa, and a busty late night horror host
Horror host
Horror hosts are a particular type of television presenter, often tasked with presenting low-grade films to television audiences. This tradition is primarily American, though there have been a few international hosts over the years.-Film Packages:...
, Medusa, to bring an end to the beast's homicidal smorgasbord and finally turn off that TV!
Unfortunately, they do not, as it all ends in total disaster.
Cast
- Chad AllenChad Allen (actor)Chad Allen is an American actor. Beginning a prolific career as a child actor at the age of seven, Allen is a three-time Young Artist Award winner and GLAAD Media Award honoree, best known for rising to prominence as a teen idol during the late 1980s as David Witherspoon on the NBC family drama,...
as Sherman Putterman - Diane FranklinDiane FranklinDiane Franklin is an American actress.Before she got into acting, Franklin appeared in TV commercials for Coca-Cola, Trident, Jell-O, and Maxwell House coffee. She has worn a distinctive curly hairstyle throughout her career. Her first film role was in the 1982 film The Last American Virgin as Karen...
as Suzy Putterman - Mary WoronovMary WoronovMary Woronov is an American actress and writer. She is primarily known for her roles in independent and cult films. Woronov has appeared in over 80 movies, as well as numerous appearances in mainstream television series, such as Charlie's Angels and Knight Rider.-Early life:Woronov was born in the...
as Raquel Putterman - Gerrit GrahamGerrit GrahamGerrit Graham is an American actor and songwriter. He's appeared in such films as Used Cars, TerrorVision, National Lampoon's Class Reunion, and Greetings, where he worked with Brian DePalma for the first time...
as Stanley Putterman - Bert RemsenBert RemsenHerbert Birchell "Bert" Remsen was an American actor.-Life and career:Remsen was born in Glen Cove, New York, on Long Island, the son of Helen and Winfred Herbert Remsen. He played character roles in numerous films directed by Robert Altman, including: Brewster McCloud , McCabe & Mrs...
as Grampa Putterman - Jon GriesJon GriesJonathan Francis "Jon" Gries is an American actor, writer and director. He is also credited under the names Jon Francis and Jonathan Gries. He is known for his role in Napoleon Dynamite as Uncle Rico, and more recently as recurring character Roger Linus on Lost...
as O.D. - Jennifer Richards as Medusa
- Alejandro ReyAlejandro ReyAlejandro Rey was an Argentine actor. He immigrated to the United States in 1960, later became a U.S. citizen and gained his widest acclaim there.-Career:...
as Spiro - Randi BrooksRandi BrooksRandi Brooks is an American actress. In 1982, Brooks was in the Dr. Hook music video for the song "Baby Makes Her Blue Jeans Talk". Brooks played the role of the aspiring, beautiful enchantress Bethel, who by using any and all means, wanted to become Queen in the television series Wizards and...
as Cherry - Frank WelkerFrank WelkerFranklin Wendell "Frank" Welker is an American actor who specializes in voice acting and has contributed character voices and other vocal effects to American television and motion pictures.-Acting career:...
as Hungry Beast Alien (voice)
Soundtrack
The soundtrack to the film was released on Restless RecordsRestless Records
Restless Records was started in El Segundo, California in 1981 by Enigma Records and primarly released alternative, metal and punk records. Restless also licensed and released records from Bar/None Records, Metal Blade Records and Mute Records...
in 1986.
In addition to Richard Band's
Richard Band
Richard Howard Band is a composer of film music. He has scored more than 70 films, including From Beyond, which won the award for Best Original Soundtrack at the Catalonian International Film Festival in Sitges Spain...
original score, several songs (including the movie's theme) were contributed by Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
art rock
Art rock
Art rock is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, with influences from art, avant-garde, and classical music. The first usage of the term, according to Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, was in 1968. Influenced by the work of The Beatles, most notably their Sgt...
band The Fibonaccis
The Fibonaccis
The Fibonaccis were an American art rock band formed in 1981 in Los Angeles. The band consisted of songwriter John Dentino , Ron Stringer , Magie Song , Joe Berardi and later Tom Corey .-Overview:...
. TerrorVision was hoped to bring more attention to the group, but the movie (and ultimately the soundtrack) failed. Now out of print
Out of print
Out of print refers to an item, typically a book , but can include any print or visual media or sound recording, that is in the state of no longer being published....
, a copy of the soundtrack is considered to be slightly valuable.
The track listing was as follows::
- "TerrorVision" - The FibonaccisThe FibonaccisThe Fibonaccis were an American art rock band formed in 1981 in Los Angeles. The band consisted of songwriter John Dentino , Ron Stringer , Magie Song , Joe Berardi and later Tom Corey .-Overview:...
- "The Friends of Crime" - The Fibonaccis
- "Sack of Suit Suite" - The Fibonaccis
- "Advice to a Mutant" - The Fibonaccis
- "He Can't Stop Laughing" - The Fibonaccis
- Space Garbage
- Norton's Theme
- The Monster Materializes
- Gramps Bites the Big One
- Pluthar and the Kids
- Monster Attacks Sherman
- Spiro Gets Giacuzzed
- Bomb Shelter
- Officer Nupky's Bad Timing
- Susie and Sherman
- Good Morning All
Release
The film was given a limited releaseLimited release
Limited release is a term in the American motion picture industry for a motion picture that is playing in a select few theaters across the country ....
theatrically in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by Empire Pictures in February 1986. It grossed $320,256 at the box office. The film received extremely negative reviews from critics, upon theatrical release. It currently holds a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
.
Despite the connections to distributor Full Moon Features
Full Moon Features
Full Moon Features is a motion picture production and distribution company headed by B-movie veteran Charles Band. It is known for the direct-to-video series Puppet Master and Subspecies, as well as the innovative VideoZone featurette at the end of films through 1989 to 2000.-Full Moon...
, TerrorVision has yet to see a DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
release. However, in 2007, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
released a widescreen version of the film on Showtime, fueling speculation that a DVD release may be possible in the near future.
As of December 10, 2010, the movie is available on the Netflix
Netflix
Netflix, Inc., is an American provider of on-demand internet streaming media in the United States, Canada, and Latin America and flat rate DVD-by-mail in the United States. The company was established in 1997 and is headquartered in Los Gatos, California...
Streaming platform.