Cover Art

Credits

Director: Mick Garris Stars: Christopher Lloyd, Matt Frewer, Missy Crider, Raphael Sbarge, Silas Wier Mitchell Writer: Mick Garris Country: USA

Now let's not forget his more recent forays into horror. His TV series Masters of Horror has caused a massive stir worldwide, with fans clamouring for more episodes by directors such as Dario Argento, John Carpenter and Stuart Gordon, and who can blame them. In some cases it is the only work some of these guys have done in years!!

Somewhere through all this 'horror love', though, is Quicksilver Highway.

Quicksilver Highway looks to have been a precursor to Masters of Horror, with Garris taking the directors role, and presenting works of (you guessed it) Stephen King, and Clive Barker. It does seem, however that a kibosh must have been put on the TV show, and instead, this uneven mashed potato of an anthology movie was released instead.

Quicksilver Highway tells of the mysterious Professor Quicksilver (Christopher Lloyd), a traveller and carny who likes to regale anyone who listens to tales that may effect their lives. The first half of the movie features a young bride (Missy Crider) abandoned by her new husband (Raphael Sbarge) who has made his way to a local town to get assistance with their broken down vehicle. Quicksilver stops by in his seemingly dimensional transcendental caravan where he offers her a bite to eat and tells her the tale of The Chattery Teeth, where a travelling salesman (Sbarge again) is attacked by a hitchhiker, Bryan Adams (Silas Wier Mitchell), only to be rescued by a set of wind up toy metal teeth.

…and no, I am not kidding.

The second tale has Quicksilver hosting a sideshow tent, when he is presented with pickpocket extraordinaire Charlie (Matt Frewer) who has decided to use his attraction as a place to hide out for a few minutes. Quicksilver tells him the tale of The Body Politic, where Doctor Charles George's (Frewer again) hands decide they need to be released from the oppressive attachment of his body, and try not only to cut themselves off, but also get other hands to join the revolution.

Of course each of the tales ends with a well telegraphed twist ending that involve the characters that are being told the stories.

I certainly hope that Garris was working on a micro budget with this piece, because the entire production feels cheap. Christopher Lloyd's role as the mysterious Quicksilver was inspired, but to get him to play Uncle Fester in drag makes no sense. When Lloyd does creepy, he can be quite menacing, but in this role he comes across uncomfortable and awkward.

The first tale, The Chattery Teeth, is based on a Stephen King tale. There was really no way to make this story seem like a good one. Killer wind up toy teeth? King, please, and Garris, or whoever made the decision to use this daft tale, probably deserves a slap as well. I will say though, that Veronica Cartwright as a trailer trash roadside diner owner was a real treat!

The second story, The Body Politic, based on the Clive Barker story of the same name from 'The Books of Blood' had so much potential. As a story it is certainly not one of Barker's best, but in the right directorial hands it could have been an interesting tale of revolution. Alas the second you hear the hands spur others to 'Join the revolution' in a cartoon-ish voice, this episode loses all its credibility. Matt Frewer plays the slimy pickpocket well, so well in fact that his 'doctor' character is kind of hard to take…which is a shame.

Presented in Dolby Stereo and while there is nothing wrong with it, it is nothing to write home about either.

Nothing!

This is an average TV adaptation of two of horrors legendary writer's more average tales. It should have been a gore-fest, ended up being a bore-fest. Avoid like a horny mule with herpes.