TerrorVision – Nostalgia Central

1 9 8 4 (USA)
7 x 10 minute episodes

Not to be confused with the 1985 feature film of the same name, this low-budget American horror anthology series of very short (10 minutes) stand-alone stories covered standard horror premises such as vampires, monsters in the toy cupboard, and murder victims refusing to stay dead.

Cincinnati-based co-producers Dilly Segal (who produced the Mr Magoo cartoons and such series as Sea Hunt, The Cisco Kid and Highway Patrol for the overseas market back in the 1950s) and Terry Hamad (owner of Instant Replay Video Productions) had originally planned to package 156 separate 10-minute episodes for stations to link together into 52 half-hour shows.

Despite picking up the bronze medal in the TV Adventure category at the 27th annual International Film and TV Festival of New York in November 1984 for the episodes ‘Rosemary’s Lot’ and ‘A Cold Day in July’, only seven episodes were eventually produced, using local actors and Cincinnati locations.

Rosemary’s Lot

The hand of a mad murderer (Hugh Hodgin) who used to work at pathologist Rosemary’s (Lynn Ritchie) laboratory many years ago becomes the latest addition to her gory collection of specimens. But then the hand plays a hand!

The episode was directed by Michael Murray, former producing director of Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.

A Cold Day in July

After they argue over their lack of money, butcher Ernie Skolinik (Ken Strunk) is threatened by his nattering girlfriend, Sandra (Nikki Waite), who says she will tell Ernie’s partner the truth about his gambling debt. When she does so, Ernie locks them both in the deep freeze. But revenge comes in the form of a cold shower. The episode was directed by Terry Hamad.

One of a Kind

Aspiring model Brenda (Lynette Perry) responds to a “Models Apply Within” advertisement in a local shop (called ‘One of a Kind’) – and is magically transformed into a fashion mannequin and packed into a crate.

The Closet Monster

Ethan Keegan (Jonathan Gabriel) is nagged by his mum (Terry Iten) to clean out his toy cupboard. But Ethan knows there is a monster in there.

His mother refuses to believe him – until she meets the monster (Bill Depaolo) first hand.

Final Edition

Whilst Madeline (Margaret Johnson) tries to work at home one evening, she gets the feeling she is not alone. She puts her anxiety down to paranoia – but then reads something in the newspaper.

The Craving

After breaking a tooth while eating, a fat, greedy man named George Greenfield (Bill Reilly) spends all day trying to get a dentist appointment.

But when he finally gets to the surgery, the dentist’s friendly attention leads to some terrifying consequences.

While under anaesthetic in the dentist’s chair, he has a nightmare that the dentist (Ron Darian) and assistant (Kim Merrill) are vampires.

As George leaves the dentist’s office, viewers see the name on the dentist’s door – Dr A Cula.

Reflections of a Murder

Dishonest lawyer Terry (Will Buchanan) is embezzling money from the firm.

When his partner Mark (Raymond Brandt) threatens to expose him to the board, Terry shoots him.

Now every time Terry looks in the mirror, he is haunted by the reflection of the man he murdered.