The Video Dead (1987)

Directed by Robert Scott
90 Minutes (unrated) / Embassy Home Entertainment / Cropped from 1.85:1 to full screen

A brother (Jeff, Rocky Duvall) and sister (Zoe, Roxanna Augesen) move into a new home while their parents are overseas, but they don't know the television in the attic killed the previous owner. A man who tracked the TV across the country tries to warn them of the danger, but is blew off as some crazy salesman.

Jeff befriends a neighborhood girl, but soon afterward zombies lurking from nearby woods kill her parents. The Texan who tried to warn the siblings arrives again for another attempt, but Zoe and the distraught girl doubt the man's assertions. That is until the girl is kidnapped and taken into the woods by one of the undead. With the horrors of the "video dead" apparent, it's now up to Jeff and man to finally end the reign of terror. Will they succeed?

Decent indie horror comedy that's perfect Saturday night popcorn fodder. The small cast of mostly one-offs is surprisingly solid, especially Augesen who gets to bust out her final girl chops. The film never quite gets boring, but there's a huge gap in logic in the latter half that really hurts the proceedings if given a second thought. I'm not going to spoil it, but it radically alters the outcome for absolutely no reason. Also even though I'm not usually critical of such things; the conclusion seems a little too much of a downer considering the lite tone.

Scott's direction isn't much to speak of, but the burnt zombie make-up and dash of splatter is certainly welcome. Check it out, but it's ultimately a work of diminutive charms, despite the classic "must rent" box art.

Film: 5/10
VHS Picture: 7/10
VHS Sound: 5/10