Actors: Nigel Havers, Martin Clunes, Sophie Ward, Kevin McNally
Directors: Lawrence Gordon Clark, Bob Mahoney, Rob Walker
Number of discs: 2
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Synapse Films
DVD Release Date: December 11, 2012
Run Time: 265 minutes
Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars
“Look Deeper into the Face of Fear”. That is a very effective and very haunting tagline, especially when looking at this extremely eye-catching and eerie box art. This television series was very short five episode horror anthology that aired in the UK back in 1995. This is the first time that these episodes have seen the light of the day in the U.S., thanks to the amazing Synapse Films. It is weird but something about 80-90’s TV anthologies, this have this unique aspect to them. I was a big fan of “Monsters”, “Friday the 13th: The Series” and “Freddy’s Nightmare” growing up and this series fits in well with that. This series starred many of Britain’s leading actors at the time including Nigel Havers (“Chariots of Fire”), Martin Clunes (UK’s “Men Behaving Badly”), Sophie Ward (“Young Sherlock Holmes”) and Kevin McNally (“Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise). “Chiller” obviously has a very English feel behind it but that is where the charm comes form.
Here is the official premise for each episodes included: PROPHECY: When a group of friends hold a séance in the basement of a London cafe, they each receive a prophecy. Five years later, the frightening prophecies begin to come true. TOBY: Ray and Louise Knight tragically lose Toby, their unborn baby, in a car accident. Louise soon discovers she’s pregnant again, but a routine scan reveals she is not… even though her body feels like she is! HERE COMES THE MIRROR MAN: A social worker helps a young homeless man but may die trying, when she discovers her predecessor was murdered under mysterious circumstances. THE MAN WHO DIDN’T BELIEVE IN GHOSTS: Richard Cramer, a professional de-bunker of the paranormal, moves into Windwhistle Hall with his family, only to find themselves involved in a series of unexplained events and accidents. NUMBER SIX: In Helsby, a small Yorkshire town, police search desperately for a child killer. Tied somehow to an ancient Druidic site, this killer may strike again at the next full moon.
Horror fans should not miss a chance to own this episodes on DVD for the first time. This show shows it age a little but still has some good spook factor behind it. The make-up effects hold up well as well. The only thing I wish is that if there were more episodes to this series. They just don’t make good horror anthology anymore and now there is plans to reboot “The Twilight Zone” (again), which doesn’t interest me at all. Since it will be made for THE CW and turned into another “Twilight” or “The Vampire Diaries”. These episodes do look nice for this two-disc DVD set. They are not completely restored but they are presented well and makes me want to go back and re-watch other great 80’s/90’s horror anthologies. There are no special features included on this release besides the episodes but to be honest, I was left satisfied enough just with the episodes for this release.