On DVD: Masters of Horror: Family

Directed By John Landis

Starring George Wendt

This entry into the Masters of Horror series won't push the envelope of the horror genre, and since it's John Landis I wouldn't expect it too.  Now before you fire off that email I'm not saying Landis isn't a groundbreaking director because he is.  What I'm saying is as far as horror goes Landis is more likely to go for a laugh than to shock you or step across a line drawn by those who came before him.

The Movie

Family feels like a top notch entry in the classic Creepshow series that ran on HBO.  It has that 80's comic book schlock feel to it that permeated the best of that series.  The mission of Masters of Horror is to give filmmakers a million bucks to do whatever they want, and while some filmmakers such as Takeshi Miike had trouble actually doing just that it feels like John Landis got to do exactly what he wanted with this installment.

A young couple moves to the suburbs to get away from the frenetic pace of the big city.  One night after some excessive drinking they crash their truck into the mailbox of their neighbor across the street.  The next morning when they wake up they find the damage has already been repaired.  So being neighborly they invite their neighbor Harold played by George Wendt over for dinner.

What the couple doesn't know is that Harold likes to kidnap women and melt them down to their skeletons in his basement and he is looking for a replacement for his current wife who is driving him crazy.  So, of course he sets his eyes on the wife of his new neighbor.

I've always thought there was something inherently creepy about the suburbs, the perfectly manicured lawns and cookie cutter houses.  That's why I love films like the original Stepford Wives that play on that creepiness.  While the climax of Family is a bit predictable Landis captures that creepiness and uses it to make the episode fun to watch even if you have predicted the ending.  George Wendt gives a solid performance of this quirky character and even brings in just a bit of Norman Bates to the film.  Maybe some of Wendt's dialogue free appearance in Motel Hell actually had some influence on him for this film.  Now that would be a fun double feature, Masters of Horror Family and Motel Hell!

Here's the thing about Family, it's not a classic, and it doesn't cover new ground for Landis.  It in fact feels like a lost Landis episode of Creepshow, but it is entertaining and well executed.  If you're a fan of Creepshow or Tales From the Dark Side then you'll really enjoy Masters of Horror: Family.

7/10

The Video

The anamorphic widescreen transfer for Family features lifelike flesh tones, solid black levels, and good detail.  There is just a bit of grain in darker scenes and overall the episode feels soft.  It's better than most television series transfers we see but not a demo disc by any means.

7.5/10

The Audio

There are two mixes available on the disc, a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix and a standard Dolby 2.0.  Obviously if you have the equipment to utilize it the 5.1 mix is the way to go.  In the 5.1 mix most of the episode is a front loaded affair with all the audio coming from the center or front speakers but in a few important scenes the rear speakers kick in making those scenes feel much more immersive and effective.  Either mix offers solid balance and distortion free dialogue with the score, effects, and dialogue all well mixed.

8/10

Packaging and Bonus Features

The single disc release of Family comes in a standard amaray case housed inside a textured slipcover.  The artwork is as quirky as the movie itself and is effective in hinting at what the film is about.  I'll just go ahead and say right away that the bonus features on this disc and on most of this season's releases so far have been disappointed in comparison to the stellar extras put together for season one.  There's just not enough here, but let's take a look at what we have.

First up is a commentary with the screenwriter.  He discusses how he came up with he idea and how Landis collaborated with him to tweak the script.  The most interesting tidbit of information he shares is that he really wanted William H. Macey for the part that eventually went to George Wendt.

Skin and Bones: The Making of Family is a brief featurette covering the making of the film.  While this featurette does offer a few interesting interviews overall it just feels shallow.  As is common with these types of promotional shorts there's too much time spent back slapping each other by the cast and crew.

Terror Tracks: Mastering the Film's Score is a seven minute featurette covering the score of the film.  It turns out that Landis went to school with the composer and they have a strong collaborative working relationship.  A large portion of this featurette was spent discussing how nearly all of the music was done on a computer.

Other than the above there's a text bio for John Landis, a still gallery, and the screenplay on DVD-ROM.  While none of what's here is completely horrible it all seems like it just scrapes the surface of what could have been done.  There's not even a featurette covering the special effects!

5/10

Masters of Horror Family is a fun film that you'll enjoy but it's not likely to make a long lasting impression.

Overall (Not an Average) 6.5/10

The Movie 7/10

The Video 7.5/10

The Audio 8/10

The Packaging and Bonus Features 5/10

Overall (Not an Average) 6.5/10

-Stephen Lackey