PopHorror Let's Get Scared
It is hard to believe that it has been 35 years since the cult classic, TerrorVision, was released on Valentine’s Day in 1986! The film was written and directed by Ted Nicolaou (Subspecies 1991, Bad Channels 1992). The movie stars Diane Franklin (Better Off Dead 1985, The Amityville Murders 2018), Mary Woronov (Chopping Mall 1986, Warlock 1989), Gerrit Graham (Chopping Mall 1986, Child’s Play 2 1986), Chad Allen (The Bad Seed 1985), Jon Gries (Napoleon Dynamite 2005) and Bert Remsen (Dead Ringer 1964). TerrorVision centers around the Putterman family getting a new television satellite, but unfortunately for them a passageway for an alien monster is created.
In celebration of TerrorVision’s 35th anniversary, Diane Franklin was happy to answer a few questions in regards to the flick. She shares her thoughts on the ’80s style of her character, the film’s cult following, and so much more. It’s totally awesome!
PopHorror: To me, Suzy’s costuming in the film was a morph of ’80s Madonna and Rainbow Brite. How fun was it wearing all those outfits?
Diane Franklin: It was fun when I got the script because I knew Suzy Putterman was a punky girl. They described Suzy’s look as Cyndi Lauper-ish. The director wanted to put together all these ’80s tropes with the dialogue for Suzy being Valley Girl (1983) with the costuming being a combination of edgy but feminine. I had never played a character like that before, so I was so excited about the wardrobe.
The hair and makeup we discovered in the moment. They had to put a wig on me because my hair was short from shooting Better Off Dead (1985). They put a blonde wig on me and then added some color in. The hairstylist thought one wig just wasn’t enough, so another one was put on and then another. There was a wig on a wig on a wig, and then all the color was added on. It was that kind of creativity that made Suzy.
That’s what is great about doing indy films because you don’t have to get all this approval. Rather, you just have to get the director to agree. I do think it is interesting you say Rainbow Brite as that didn’t exist in her creation. Suzy is really a combination of Madonna, Cindy Lauper, and Valley Girl. Those were my worlds.
PopHorror: I was pretty young when the movie came out, so Rainbow Brite was in my world. She is very colorful and cheery like Suzy!
Diane Franklin: Oh that makes sense. I was in my 20s when I did TerrorVision. It was just a fun character to play.
PopHorror: Suzy’s reaction to the Alien Monster was he is “so barfy.” What was your reaction?
Diane Franklin: That it was just incredible and so cool because it was a real monster and not a green screen. I will give you a description of how this was. We shot in Rome on a sound stage, but as you know, the film doesn’t take place in Rome. It takes place in America. Every time we shot, we had to turn the air conditioning off, and we were all covered in these costumes. It was summer time, so we were all dying from this heat. The monster would sweat this goo from the heat. It was so funny!
When I first saw the monster, I thought it was more adorable than I thought it would be. He was just so cute! It was like five feet tall, covered with goo, and just adorable.
PopHorror: What has it been like to see TerrorVision gain such a cult following?
Diane Franklin: We all thought the film was going to be a hit when it came out because there wasn’t anything like it. All the actors got the joke that it was supposed to be a parody of the ’80s. Unfortunately, the ’80s hadn’t caught up everywhere yet, so people didn’t get it.
The film disappears, but then starts coming back on VHS, DVD and Blu-ray. I didn’t think it was going to come out and stay out, even though I loved the film. Then all of a sudden, I am at a convention and this guy comes up with a TerrorVision t-shirt and wants it signed. I was like, “What? I want one!” He went on to tell me how this film has such a cult following. I was so excited that people rediscovered it and are getting the joke. I am grateful that people are still watching the film today.
PopHorror: Do you have any funny or interesting stories from the set of TerrorVision?
Diane Franklin: That is a good question. In my first book, Diane Franklin: The Excellent Adventures of the Last American French-Exchange Babe of the 80s, there is a chapter on TerrorVision if people want to check it out. I have to say there is this one scene that we shot inside the studio, but it was an outside scene that was filmed inside. It is the one scene where I get out of the car and run to the front door. That was a very interesting scene because that was my first time shooting an outdoor scene that was indoors. It was so weird to be dressed in those outfits in this surreal outside inside set.
I would have to say Jonathon Gries and I had a great time shooting the movie. It was hard sometimes keeping a straight face during filming because some of the scenes are just so hilarious and over the top. It was fun watching each other do this.
I am just really surprised, amazed, and happy that people have discovered it. It makes me smile.
PopHorror: My last question is: do you have any upcoming projects? I know you were working on a third book, right?
Diane Franklin: I have a movie called Waking Nightmare that is still to come out, but I don’t have a release date yet. That is a horror film. I have a movie that is going to come out that is a secret project that I am not able to talk about but hopefully it will come out this spring. There is a movie called High Holiday that is a comedy with Cloris Leachman. Its unfortunate she won’t get to see it. It is a Christmas movie, so it probably won’t be out until the end of the year. Right now. people can check out Amityville Murders on Starz and a short film, The Fire Nebula, on Amazon Prime.
I am still working on the Better Off Dead book, but because of the pandemic, I wanted to wait to put it out. It should be out later this year, so for anyone that is a fan of Better Off Dead, this is my tribute to that film. It is going to be wonderful! It is from the heart and is going to have great photos and stories. I am excited about it!
PopHorror: I am excited about it, too! It is one of my favorite non-horror films.
Diane Franklin: I am so glad you say that! I did that in the ’80s, so for you to say that now is the best. It is great that it lives on.
PopHorror: Thank you for letting me take some of your time. You have a wonderful day.
Diane Franklin: Absolutely. You have a wonderful rest of your day.
Make a date this Valentine’s Day to watch TerrorVision on its 35th anniversary! Stay tuned to PopHorror for all your news, reviews, and interviews.
