You know, a lot can be said for giving
some things a second chance. When FAMILY, John Landis' season two
entry into the Masters of Horror arena, first aired on SHOWTIME I was
sitting in front of my TV watching and quickly bored of the whole
thing. I didn't even bother to review it at the time. The screener
disc for the DVD showed up and because I remembered the episode I
just stuck the disc on my stack of get to it when you can discs
and quickly forgot about it. Well the other night I was sorting
through the stack and happened across the disc and though what the
hell and into the player it went.
I don't know what the hell I was
thinking that night it aired because FAMILY is one kick ass package.
George Wendt is AMAZING as Harold the unassuming neighbor who is
helpful and friendly by day and a murdering freak by night. He has a
family of skeletons that he dresses up and poses as his wife and kid
and he has recently decided to add more members to his family. As we
meet Harold he is bringing Grandpa home as he is pouring acid over a
dead body that is in a tub in the basement. That acid is burning the
flesh off the body leaving only a perfect skeleton.
A new family is moving in next door and
Harold has his eye on the pretty wife. Through a series of events
Harold enters the life of the young couple with his mind set on
making the young beauty his new bride.
Landis deftly leads us through the
strangeness that is suburbia and delivers a twist ending that is just
completely out of this world. Consider this one a must see episode.
Here is the official synopsis from
those freaks over at Anchor Bay / Starz Media:
Its a beautiful day in suburbia
where mild-mannered bachelor Harold Thompson (George Wendt of CHEERS)
is happily at work in his basement building the perfect family. But
when a young couple moves in next door, Harold sets his sights on the
sexy young wife (Meredith Monroe of DAWSONS CREEK). In a sunshine
world of picket fences and manicured lawns, is it ever possible to
know what gruesome plans are percolating in the minds of your
neighbors? Matt Keeslar (SCREAM 3, ROSE RED) co-stars in this grisly
black comedy with a killer twist from Director John Landis (AN
AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, ANIMAL HOUSE) and Writer Brent Hanley
(FRAILTY).
Features:
Still Gallery
Original Storyboards
Audio Commentary featuring writer
Brent Hanley
Director Bio
Screenplay (DVD-ROM), Also on DVD
Skin and Bones: The Making of
Family
Terror Tracks: Mastering the Family Score
FAMILY is available now anyplace fine
horror is sold.
