Most physical media collectors gravitate to Via Vision Entertainment due to the heavy output of various Blu-ray and 4K titles, particularly from their very popular sub-label, Imprint Films. However, I’ve always appreciated the effort behind releasing the content ‘you probably haven’t heard of’ such as Monsters – an anthology TV series which is out now on DVD!
Monsters feels half improvised and half compromised. Neither a network staple nor a public access contender. It’s a scrappy little show that gave a lot of working actors a televised gig. There are naturally a few familiar faces like Gina Gershon, Steve Buscemi and Lili Taylor, while veteran performers such as Fritz Weaver, Darren McGavin and Soupy Sales throw some weight behind program’s low budget.
In similar fashion to the more popular Twilight Zone and Night Gallery, the darker side of the human psyche is explored in very visual manner, from the grotesque physical manifestation of callousness and guilt in The Face to the eternal price of infidelity in Love Hurts. However, several episodes aren’t the most well thought out and will genuinely leave you puzzled, whereas some fun with genre mashups like Jar – which combines film noir with an old monster movie concept.
Despite the shortcomings, every episode features disgustingly fantastic work from Academy Awad winning effects artist Dick Smith, which does give the show an edge and if you’ve come to watch for that very reason, then you won’t be disappointed. Monsters is cult-classic television with modern-day fables of terror and suspense that’ll fill your tank with nightmare fuel.
VIDEO AND AUDIO
Monsters first came to DVD in 2014 through a U.S. distributor Entertainment One, a relatively small outfit compared to the boutique labels. Via Vision’s edition, which is economically packaged in a thick 38mm case that were a common sight in the early 2000s, will still set you back 89.95 and is a direct port from its U.S. counterpart.
Considering how obscure this television series is, I wasn’t all that surprised by the video quality, which is somewhere between VHS and standard definition DVD, but the standard 4:3 image is watchable of course, and sound in Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo carries a lot of volume.
Monsters is cult-classic television with modern-day fables of terror and suspense that’ll fill your tank with nightmare fuel.
Monsters is available to purchase online at Via Vision Entertainment while stocks last.
MONSTERS
(1988-1991, director: Various)
★★★½
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direct dvd screen captures
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