by Chris Wright, MoreHorror.com

If you're in the mood for classic 80's cheese and a good time, tune in to “Terror Vision!” I found this rare gem in a thrift store for 50 cents. I looked it up online and it is fairly difficult to get a hold of. Some background on this movie is that it is a Charles Band Production. The name Charles Band rings a bell as he is the creator of Full Moon Entertainment. At this time he was also in the VHS business with Media Home Entertainment as well as Wizard Video. It was first released by a little known distributor called “Lightning Video.” From my past experience, I have had a very difficult time getting a Lightning Video VHS to work on my VCR. Surprisingly this one plays perfectly!

The plot of this movie is fairly simple. The Putterman family installs a state of the art satellite dish in their backyard. To their dismay, a far off galaxy beams a monster that comes through the satellite in to their home. That sounds horrible doesn't it? Surprisingly this movie perfects the art of cheesiness. I have watched this twice and it never gets old. This really estranged yet comical family thinks the youngest boy in the house Sherman is lying when he says there is a monster in the house.

This monster slowly snacks on some of the family members in the meantime! One of the funniest scenes I have ever witnessed in all of horror movies is when Sherman and his older sister Raquel walk in to the bedroom. What do they see in the bedroom? They see another couple, their parents underneath the sheets with their legs underneath moving constantly. I laugh every time when the Grandpa (whom has already been eaten at this point) comes out and merely says “Can't you see we're busy!” Those sounds disturbing but check it out, that makes me laugh hard every time I see it!

The special affects aren't terrible from Empire Pictures (Known for their cheesy movies from Charles Band). The monster does look somewhat fake but it doesn't turn you off at all. Sherman and Raquel’s boyfriend “OD” try to train the beast but of course it backfires as this monster loves to eat people! The music is top notch 1980's and very wonderful. Even the opening and closing credits just scream 1980's to you. The Fibonaccis perform the music for the movie. The acting is over-done on purpose and surprisingly works. There is also an almost Elvira type character named Medusa that is hosting a horror TV show at night that they try calling in to as well as an intergalactic cop who is trying to beam the monster back to their planet.

The end of the movie comes as the Putterman siblings are trying to save the planet! We find out this “Hungry Beast” is a house pet on their planet as well! The intergalactic being is killed by Medusa when she arrives after being called in about the monster (to which she is a fake and doesn't even believe in this stuff).They cannot figure out how to use the ray gun and the movie concludes with the monster creating a whirlwind to get them all eaten up. The final scene is the monster dressed up as Medusa leaving in a taxi saying “Come on come on make it snappy!” This movie is truly funny and a fantastic way to relax. I highly recommend this and I can't help but give it a 5 out of 5 stars! It has a 5.1 on IMDB. Do not take this movie seriously and I think you will highly enjoy it.

“Terror Vision” (1986)

Directed By: Ted Nicolau

Written By: Ted Nicolau

Diane Franklin (Suzy Putterman), Gerrit Graham (Stanley Putterman), Mary Woronov (Raquel Putterman), Chad Allen(Sherman Putterman), Jon Gries (OD), Bert Remsen (Grandpa), Jennifer Richards (Medusa)