Product Details

• Actors: George Wendt, Meredith Monroe, Matt Keeslar, Haley Guiel, Kerry Sandomirsky
• Directors: John Landis
• Writers: Brent Hanley, Mick Garris
• Producers: Adam Goldworm, Andrew Deane, Ben Browning, John W. Hyde, Keith Addis
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: Unrated
• Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
• DVD Release Date: April 17, 2007
• Run Time: 58 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000KJTFB6
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #72,885 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  #24 in	Movies & TV > Cult Movies > Anchor Bay Horror Store > Masters of Horror
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• For more information about "Masters of Horror - Family" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

John (An American Werewolf in London) Landis directed this blackly amusing and gruesome story from the second season of the Masters of Horror anthology TV series about a lonely serial killer's search for the perfect Family. George Wendt offers the lion's share of the chuckles--and the chills--as a seemingly normal suburbanite whose sweater-vest-and-groomed-lawn exterior conceals his true nature as a bloodthirsty murderer who kidnaps and butchers strangers in an attempt to assemble a flawless nuclear family; Meredith Monroe and Matt Keeslar are the neighbors who catch his eye as possible new additions. No stranger to mixing horror and humor, Landis' bloody blend is more successful than in his previous MoH outing, Deer Woman, thanks in part to the lead actors and writer Brent Hanley's script, which features one of the nastiest denouements this side of E.C. Comics. The DVD includes commentary by Hanley, making-of featurettes on the production and the score, a still gallery, and the original script in DVD-ROM format. --Paul Gaita

Product Description

It’s 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 nextdoor, Harold sets his sights on the sexy young wife (Meredith Monroe of DAWSON’S 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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In my top 3 of all MOH episodes, August 1, 2007

By	Monkdude (Hampton, Virginia) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This was just an amazing episode from a hit or miss series. The acting by George Wendt was brilliant. There are many twists, some come very early on, but the final one caught me way off guard (which is hard to do). Family is much better than last seasons Deer Woman, though I enjoyed that one as well. I hope John Landis tops this one next season.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The best family is a dead family, June 18, 2007

By	Simon (Brampton, ON) - See all my reviews

This entry in the Masters of Horror series is basically a suburban play on the movie 'Psycho.' George Wendt of 'Cheers' fame is your average, polite neighbour who is secretly killing people and setting up their skeletons as his own 'family.' When a new couple moves in down the road, he becomes obsessed with the hot wife and decides to add her to his collection.

'Family' mixes elements of horror, suspense, and satire. I agree with other reviewers that it doesn't ever focus enough on one element to truly standout in that category, but it's still an engaging tale with a strong script and good direction. The acting is solid, and it's fun to see George Wendt take on this kind of role.

A nice effort from John Landis. Check it out.

8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If the guys from "Cheers" only knew what Norm was doing in his personal time, February 5, 2007

By	Captain Insanity (NY) - See all my reviews

The first scene in John Landis's second effort is dynamite.
I don't want to ruin it for you, but you'll cheer. (I did)
Grandpa's bath has never gotten him so clean.
The special effects in that scene alone, make this flick worth a purchase.

George Wendt stars as the quaint, neighborhood psychopath who collects family members, cleans 'em off, and dresses their skeletons up.
Its a perfect family that he hand-picked himself.
He converses with them, as he goes about his day,
and they respond via his hallucinations.
Problem is, is that he's tired of his hand-picked wife,
and he wants to replace her with his new neighbor.

Out of all the episodes I've seen this second season,
this is one of the best.
It has great make-up effects,
a straight-foward story,
believable characters,
a soundtrack that actually gives some insight into Mr.Psycho's past,
Add to that, a dash of humor,
a scoop of terror, and a few sprinkles of horror.
And you get a sundae topped with a twist ending that you won't see coming
(that is unless someone already told you there's a twist ending.)
(Ooops! Sorry about that)

Unlike "Deer Woman" this one wasn't particularly funny,
and it certainly wasn't horrific,
and yet it still worked as a whole.
Would I recommend it? - Definitely
Would I watch it more than twice? - Probably not.
Although I would watch that first scene multiple times.

It was good, but it wasn't great.
Worth a purchase at only $10 (especially if you haven't seen it yet.)
Watch it on showtime demand if you don't want to spend the 10 bucks.
Either way, it's an enjoyable way to kill an hour.

MORAL OF THE STORY: You can pick your friends,
but you can't pick your family.
Unless of course you have chloroform.
In which case, you can pick anyone you want.