4 out of 5

Director: John Landis

After John Landis’s disappointingly goofy first entry, Family was both a welcome return and a highlight for the series, As Ive commented on some of the other episodes, the main thing the series lacking was a sense of balance – most directors didnt seem to know how much horror to bring in to play to balance out a short films worth of plot and creeps. Landis successfully finds this blend for Family, during which homely George Wendt talks to his family of skeletons which he keeps cleaned and maintained in his cheerily-decorated suburban house. Okay, creepy, but maybe no problem… except that George (playing a character named Harold Thompson) did kill people to get these skeletons, and occasionally decides to replace his family members with new ones. Just so happens a new hubbie and wife moved in next door, and Harold has his eyes on her… Family has some surprisingly good effects that make for some good gross out moments as well, and layers things in a way that keeps you interested in whats what. It gets a little eye-rolling during the epilogue, but regardless: this is what a 60 minute horror movie – by a MASTER of the genre as per the title – should be.