Monsters
Monsters is a syndicated horror anthology series which originally ran from 1988 to 1991 and reran on the Sci-Fi Channel during the 1990s. As of 2011, Monsters airs on NBC Universal's horror/suspense-themed cable channel Chiller in sporadic weekday marathons. In a similar vein to Tales from the Darkside, Monsters shared the same producer, and in some ways succeeded the show. It differed in some respects nonetheless. While Tales sometimes dabbled in stories of science fiction and fantasy, this series was more strictly horror. As the name implies, each episode of Monsters featured a different monster which the story concerned, from the animatronic puppet of a fictional children's television program to mutated, weapon-wielding lab rats. Similar to Tales, however, the stories in Monsters were rarely very straightforward action plots and often contained some ironic twist in which a character's conceit or greed would do him in, often with gruesome results. Adding to this was a sense of comedy often lost on horror productions which might in some instances lighten the audience's mood but in many cases added to the overall eeriness of the production.
Insights
Plot Summary
A team of scientists is sent to investigate a remote alien invasion that is slowly consuming the Earth. As they delve deeper into the unknown, they must confront not only the extraterrestrial threat but also their own fears and insecurities. The fate of humanity hangs in the balance as they race against time to find a way to stop the relentless advance of the monsters.
Critical Reception
Monsters received a mixed to negative reception from critics upon its release. While some praised its atmospheric tension and creature design, many found the plot underdeveloped and the pacing uneven. Audiences were similarly divided, with some appreciating its B-movie charm and others finding it lacking in scares and substance.
What Reviewers Say
- Praised for its unique creature effects and moody atmosphere.
- Criticized for a convoluted plot and underdeveloped characters.
- Seen as a cult classic by some for its genre blending, but often dismissed as forgettable by others.
Google audience: Google users generally found the film to be a decent, albeit flawed, sci-fi horror offering. Many appreciated the visual effects and the concept, but a significant portion felt the story didn't quite deliver on its potential and that the acting was inconsistent.
Fun Fact
The film's director, Tommy Lee Wallace, also famously directed John Carpenter's 'Halloween III: Season of the Witch' and served as an editor and production designer on several other John Carpenter films, including 'Halloween' and 'The Thing'.
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