Masters of Horror - "Family"

[KingVoyeur]

Ok, so I wasn't very fond of John Landis' last entry into the MoH series, Deer Woman, but he has completely won me back with what has to be one of the best entries in the series so far.

Family takes the idea that you can never really know your neighbors and runs with it. A young couple (Matt Keeslar and Meredith Monroe) move into what seems like the perfect suburbian neighborhood and quickly make friends with a single salesman across the street (George Wendt). However, he's not as sane as he would have them believe, but then again, they've got a secret as well.

The main focus of the story is Wendt's character and his insanity, which is done in a very interesting way, putting you in his shoes, letting you see and hear what he "sees". His "family" (made up of people he's murdered, used acid to clean the skeletons in a VERY gory process, then dressed up and arranged in the upstairs den) are alive in his eyes, and he treats them like they were the typical American family. At first all we see are skeletons, but then real people step in and we watch Wendt's character interact with them, providing for some very creepy moments, since we know what they really are. Especially chilling is Wendt putting his "daughter" to bed and falling asleep beside her (aka a skeleton!).

The writing is excellent, with horror, gore, suspense, and comedy are all very well-balanced. The acting is great, and kudos to Wendt for creating a very likable guy, one you'd like to live next door to, just so long as he doesn't decide to add you to his "family".

Note: Contains what has to be the only "shoving a tiny surgical camera up someone's nose and into their throat and watching them scream from the inside" in film history. Honestly, I have no idea how they did it, it looks completely real. Can't wait for next week!

KV's Grade: A