Tonight Masters of Horror returns to Showtime with an all-new episode, the first of many episodes to come tonight’s is directed by none other than Tobe Hooper, also joining the list of directors for this season are John Carpenter, Dario Argento, Brad Anderson, Joe Dante, Ernest Dickerson, Mick Garris, Stuart Gordon, Tom Holland, John Landis, Peter Medak, Rob Schmidt, and Norio Tsuruta. Some of the greatest directors to ever grace the silver screen have come together for another season of fear on the small screen and Showtime is bringing it to us all. With Mick Garris behind the helm of creative genius he also graces us with his presence behind the camera once more as well as some of the other great returning for the second season. So don’t miss a single terrifying moment it all starts tonight at 10PM EST/PST. Episode synopses as follows:

“The Damned Thing” by R.C. Matheson. – 10/27/2006 An unknown monstrous force descends upon a small Texas town, turning husband against wife, brother against sister, parent against child. Tortured by his own tragic past, Sheriff Kevin Reddle (SEAN PATRICK FLANERY) must overcome his horrific rage if he is to restore order.  MARISA COUGHLAN and TED RAIMI also star in this apocalyptic tale of terror. 

Tobe Hooper (“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “Poltergeist”) is set to direct.

“Sounds Like” by Brad Anderson- 11/17/2006 Quality control supervisor Larry Pearce (CHRIS BAUER) spends his days monitoring the nuances of his tech support staff’s telephone conversations… listening is his life.  However, when grief over his son’s death leads to a supernaturally heightened sense of sound, Larry is forced to take violent action to silence the horrific cacophony in his head. Its “The Tell-Tale Heart” meets “The Conversation” in this tale of psychological terror based on Mike O’Driscoll’s short story.  LAURA MARGOLIS also stars.  Brad Anderson (“The Machinist,” “Session 9”) is set to direct.

“Pelts” by Matt Venne. –   12/1/2006 Fur trader Jake Feldman (MEATLOAF) knows that you can’t make a coat without breaking a few animals’ necks.  In his pursuit to make the perfect fur coat to win over a woman, Feldman steals supernatural raccoon pelts that violently turn against those that covet them.   “The skin trade” gets a whole new twist in this Giallo-style adaptation of F. Paul Wilson’s short story.  JOHN SAXON also stars.
Dario Argento (“Suspiria,” “Terror at the Opera”) is set to direct.

“Pro-Life” by Drew McWeeny & Scott Swan – 11/24/2006 A near-accident on an isolated mountain road lands young Angelique (CAITLIN WACHS) in a nearby women’s health clinic.  As her fervently anti-abortion father Dwayne (RON PERLMAN) and his well-armed three sons attempt to “liberate” Angelique, she discovers that the only thing more dangerous than her would-be saviors is the demonic seed growing within her.  MARK FEUERSTEIN and EMMANUELLE VAUGIER also star.
John Carpenter (“Halloween,” “The Thing”) is set to direct.
“The Screwfly Solution” by Sam Hamm. – 12/8/2006 Based on the short story by Raccoona Sheldon, a deadly virus infects the nation, transforming men into psychotic killers who attack every woman that crosses their paths. A suburban housewife and her teenage daughter embark on a treacherous journey to survive, but how can they protect themselves from an entire gender gone mad?  JASON PRIESTLY and ELLIOT GOULD star. Joe Dante (“The Howling,” “Gremlins”) is set to direct.

“The V Word” by Mick Garris. -11/10/2006 When two teenage boys break into a mortuary in hope of seeing a dead body, the macabre punishment visited upon them will far outweigh their crime.  Instead of fulfilling their morbid curiosity, the boys are attacked by a rampaging vampire (MICHAEL IRONSIDE) and must ultimately decide whether to sacrifice themselves or survive as bloodthirsty killers. Ernest Dickerson (“Bones,” “Demon Knight”) is set to direct.

“Valerie on the Stairs” by Mick Garris. – 12/29/2006 At a commune for aspiring novelists, Rob Hanisee (TYRON LEITSO) discovers that there are fates worse than literary anonymity when he is visited by a strange apparition.  Beautiful, naked and covered with supernatural ooze, Valerie might be the muse that Rob has always searched for — or the manifestation of a much darker force. Blood and death follow Rob across the tenuous line between life and art.  CHRISTOPHER LLOYD also stars in this adaptation of Clive Barker’s original screen story. Mick Garris (“Riding the Bullet,” “The Stand”) is set to direct.

“The Black Cat” by Stuart Gordon & Dennis Paoli. Edgar Allan Poe (JEFFREY COMBS), out of ideas and short of cash, is tormented by a black cat that will either destroy his life or inspire him to write one of his most famous stories. Stuart Gordon (“Re-Animator,” “Dagon”) is set to direct.

“We All Scream for Ice Scream” by David J. Schow. Years ago, a youthful prank by a gang of kids known as the West End Bunch went seriously wrong. Now grown up and a parent himself, former West-Ender Layne Banixter (LEE TERGESON) witnesses the friends of his youth systematically murdered by their own children, who have inexplicably turned against them. In order to save his family, Layne must face long-buried fears and the realization that sometimes the sins of the fathers are visited upon the son.  WILLIAM FORSYTHE also stars in this adaptation of John Farris’ short story. Tom Holland (“Fright Night,” “Child’s Play”) is set to direct.

 

“Family” by Brent Hanley. – 11/3/2006 The Fullers (MEREDITH MONROE and MATT KEESLAR), a young married couple, move to a new town and discovers that their neighbor, Harold Thompson (GEORGE WENDT), is not what he seems.  He putters away at his hobbies; however, his passion is anything but innocent.  The Fullers will soon know what evil lurks in the depth of suburban basements. John Landis (“American Werewolf in London,” “Thriller”) is set to direct.

“The Washingtonians” by Jonathon Schaech & Richard Chizmar. After his grandmother’s funeral, Mike (JONATHON SCHAECH) discovers an artifact in her basement could re-write the history of our nation.  Interpreting clues that suggest George Washington was in fact an insatiable cannibal; Mike must protect his family and escape from a band of loyal Washingtonians, hungry for human flesh and willing to protect our founding father’s secrets at any cost.  SAUL RUBINEK also stars in this adaptation of Bentley Little’s short story. Peter Medak (“The Changeling”) is set to direct.

“Right to Die” by CREDITS TO BE DETERMINED. Her flesh has been charred and her body remains comatose, but from a strict medical perspective, Abby is still alive.  Beset by guilt, her conflicted husband Cliff (MARTIN DONOVAN) is determined to get a court order to cease her pain.  Her condition worsening, she repeatedly flat-lines and is revived.  But each time Abby’s body dies, her apparition grows stronger, violently attacking those that have taken advantage of her plight.  If Cliff pulls the plug, he’s next on the list.  This topical horror story takes a supernatural stand on the right-to-life debate. CORBIN BERNSEN also stars. Rob Schmidt (“Wrong Turn”) is set to direct. 

“Dream Cruise” by Naoya Takayama and Norio Tsuruta. Jack (DANIEL GILLIES), an American lawyer working in Tokyo, has fallen in love with the wife of his most valued client, Eiji. Despite Jack’s deep-rooted fear of the sea, he reluctantly accepts Eiji’s invitation to join the couple for a day trip on the Tokyo Bay. Pleasure turns to terror as they discover the watery destiny in store for each of them. RYO ISHIBASHI and YOSHINO KIMURA also star in this adaptation of Koji Suzuki’s short story. Norio Tsuruta (“Ringu 0: Bâsudei,” “Premonition”) is set to direct.

Confirmed Air Dates:Masters Of Horror: The Damned Thing 10/27/2006
Masters Of Horror: Family 11/3/2006
Masters Of Horror: The V Word 11/10/2006
Masters Of Horror: Sounds Like 11/17/2006
Masters Of Horror: Pro-Life 11/24/2006
Masters Of Horror: Pelts 12/1/2006
Masters Of Horror: Screwfly Solution 12/8/2006
Masters Of Horror: Valerie On The Stairs 12/29/2006
Masters Of Horror: #209 1/5/06
Masters Of Horror: #210 1/12/06
Masters Of Horror: #211 1/19/06
Masters Of Horror: #212 1/26/06
Masters Of Horror: #213 2/2/06

Masters Of Horror: The Damned Thing 10/27/2006Masters Of Horror: Family 11/3/2006Masters Of Horror: The V Word 11/10/2006Masters Of Horror: Sounds Like 11/17/2006Masters Of Horror: Pro-Life 11/24/2006Masters Of Horror: Pelts 12/1/2006Masters Of Horror: Screwfly Solution 12/8/2006Masters Of Horror: Valerie On The Stairs 12/29/2006Masters Of Horror: #209 1/5/06Masters Of Horror: #210 1/12/06Masters Of Horror: #211 1/19/06Masters Of Horror: #212 1/26/06Masters Of Horror: #213 2/2/06