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TerrorVision

  • 1986
  • R
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
8.3K
YOUR RATING
TerrorVision (1986)
A family's new satellite TV system starts receiving signals from another planet, and soon it becomes the passageway to an alien world.
Play trailer1:41
2 Videos
99+ Photos
Body HorrorDark ComedySatireSlapstickComedyHorrorSci-Fi

"TerrorVision" is a 1986 horror / science fiction movie; telling the tale of when a family's new satellite television system starts receiving signals from another planet, and soon it becomes... Read all"TerrorVision" is a 1986 horror / science fiction movie; telling the tale of when a family's new satellite television system starts receiving signals from another planet, and soon it becomes the passageway to an alien world."TerrorVision" is a 1986 horror / science fiction movie; telling the tale of when a family's new satellite television system starts receiving signals from another planet, and soon it becomes the passageway to an alien world.

  • Director
    • Ted Nicolaou
  • Writer
    • Ted Nicolaou
  • Stars
    • Diane Franklin
    • Mary Woronov
    • Gerrit Graham
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.6/10
    8.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Ted Nicolaou
    • Writer
      • Ted Nicolaou
    • Stars
      • Diane Franklin
      • Mary Woronov
      • Gerrit Graham
    • 84User reviews
    • 65Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos2

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:41
    Trailer
    TerrorVision
    Clip 2:02
    TerrorVision
    TerrorVision
    Clip 2:02
    TerrorVision

    Photos182

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 177
    View Poster

    Top Cast13

    Edit
    Diane Franklin
    Diane Franklin
    • Suzy
    Mary Woronov
    Mary Woronov
    • Raquel
    Gerrit Graham
    Gerrit Graham
    • Stan
    Chad Allen
    Chad Allen
    • Sherman
    Jon Gries
    Jon Gries
    • O.D.
    • (as Jonathan Gries)
    Bert Remsen
    Bert Remsen
    • Grampa
    Alejandro Rey
    Alejandro Rey
    • Spiro
    Randi Brooks
    Randi Brooks
    • Cherry
    Jennifer Richards
    Jennifer Richards
    • Medusa
    Sonny Carl Davis
    Sonny Carl Davis
    • Norton
    Ian Patrick Williams
    Ian Patrick Williams
    • Nutky
    William Paulson
    • Pluthar
    John Leamer
    • Chauffeur
    • Director
      • Ted Nicolaou
    • Writer
      • Ted Nicolaou
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews84

    5.68.3K
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    Featured reviews

    7claudio_carvalho

    Cult-Trash

    Stan (Gerrit Graham) installs a state-of-art satellite TV system for his dysfunctional family. However, he accidentally picks up a signal from another planet and his television system becomes the gateway between the two planets. A ravenous alien creature comes to his apartment and only their son Sherman (Chad Allen) sees the monster, but his parents do not believe in the boy.

    "TerrorVision" is a cult-trash from the 80´s and a highly entertaining sci-fi. The characters and the situations are hilarious but maybe the funniest scene is Medusa meeting the last hope to save Earth, Pluthar. My vote is seven.

    Title (Brazil): "A Visão do Terror" ("The Terror Vision")
    7Platypuschow

    TerrorVision: Campy horror comedy romp

    Terrorvision was one of those 80's cult classics that I never got round to watching until now, I went in expecting very little but came away quite amused.

    Telling the story of an extraterrestrial being beamed down to earth into a families satellite dish and running rampant with an unearthly hunger its a scifi comedy horror that actually entertains.

    With a host of familiar faces and a retro soundtrack this creature feature actually looks quite good considering its age. It reminded me of Critters (1986) and alike that the creators didn't take it all too seriously.

    Over the top, silly yet at the same time quite horrific this is a true 80's gem and a lot of fun.

    The Good:

    Great creature effects

    Likable cast

    All looks the part

    The Bad:

    Feels very dated in places

    Things I Learnt From This Movie:

    If you prank call the police they'll block your number

    Being "Greek" in the swinging world means you're gay
    one4now4

    Good ole fun

    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.
    7lost-in-limbo

    "Man, this is the dumbest movie I ever saw!"

    Charles Band and Albert Band's Empire pictures have made some fun productions and "Terrorvision" happens to be one of those inclusions. Wacky sci-fi horror comedy with a terrifically animated cast featuring Mary Woronov, Gerrit Graham, Diana Franklin and John Gries with vividly chintzy special effects by John Carl Buechler. The cartoon-like premise is quite original and mock-serious in its approach, which sees the Puttermans a suburban family getting a new satellite TV which draws in a hungry outer space monster (which looks great). This monster then goes about eating the family, by transporting its self from one TV to another. Everything is done in a comical manner and purposely so, from the flamboyant performances to the colourfully cheap sets and then the creatively grotesque make-up effects. It's downright goofy and surreal, but still far from light-hearted with it streaming with numerous oddball sexual innuendo (especially since Woronov and Graham are playing swingers) and an Elvira like character known as Medusa. Director Ted Nicolaou does a capable job. Diana Franklin is cute and Chad Allen is likable as the young boy who goes up against the beast. While short-lived, it's a constantly amusing tongue-in-cheek outing that's fairly unpredictable, while at the same time haphazard. Despite the fair share of hate, I found it hard not to like this camped-out medium.

    "What you looking at you creep".
    7singhlall

    Terrific horror comedy

    One of the underappreciated gems of the horror era in the 1980s. This is silly fun but ultimately enjoyable.

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    Related interests

    Jeff Goldblum in The Fly (1986)
    Body Horror
    Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Sian Clifford in Fleabag (2016)
    Dark Comedy
    Peter Sellers in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
    Satire
    Leslie Nielsen in The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
    Slapstick
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby (1968)
    Horror
    James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Sci-Fi

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director Ted Nicolaou and production designer Giovanni Natalucci scouted swingers' pads in Los Angeles in order to get ideas for the Putterman household.
    • Goofs
      When Pluthar is talking to Suzy and Sherman, his skin is glossy and reflective of light. Upon learning that the "beast has ingested earthlings," cutting back from Suzy and Sherman, his skin appears dull and muted.
    • Quotes

      [Grampa sits down to watch Medusa on TV]

      Grampa Putterman: I've said it before and I'll say it again, war stories and monster movies are educational. They're survival-oriented. They always neutralize the enemy in the end.

    • Connections
      Featured in Deadly Weapon (1989)
    • Soundtracks
      TerrorVision
      Written and Performed by The Fibonaccis

      Produced by Ron Goudie

      © 1986 Smell Brain / Amgine

      Administered by Bug Music

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    FAQ18

    • How long is TerrorVision?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 14, 1986 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Italy
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Truyền hình kinh hoàng
    • Filming locations
      • Rome, Lazio, Italy(studio interiors)
    • Production companies
      • Empire Pictures
      • Altar Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $320,256
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $320,256
      • Feb 17, 1986
    • Gross worldwide
      • $320,256
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 25m(85 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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