Alright, fellow tape travelers, dim the lights, maybe adjust the tracking just a hair, and let's talk about a slimy, squirmy little gem that probably burrowed its way into your VCR sometime back in '93: Tony Randel's gloriously gooey creature feature, Ticks (also known as Infested in some territories). Forget subtle psychological chills; this flick delivers exactly what the bold, lurid cover art promised – giant, mutant wood ticks juiced up on pesticide runoff and ready for a feast. And boy, did it deliver on the practical effects front.
This wasn't some blink-and-you'll-miss-it monster movie. Ticks knew its strength lay in showing you the monsters, up close and personal, in all their pulsating, clicking, blood-sucking glory.
Wilderness Therapy Gone Wrong
The setup is pure 90s B-movie comfort food. We've got a van full of troubled teens – the sensitive artist type Tyler (Seth Green, years before Austin Powers or Family Guy made him a household name), the tough girl Dee Dee (Ami Dolenz, daughter of The Monkees' Micky Dolenz), the phobia-ridden Panic (Alfonso Ribeiro, right in the middle of his Fresh Prince fame, playing hilariously against type), and others – heading into the woods for some vaguely defined wilderness therapy program run by the well-meaning Holly (Rosalind Allen) and Charles (Peter Scolari). Of course, what they don't know is that local marijuana growers (led by a perfectly scuzzy Clint Howard, who always elevates this kind of material) are using experimental steroids on their crops, and the local tick population has developed a serious taste for the stuff... and a massive growth spurt.
It’s a simple premise, but it’s the perfect stage for what this movie does best: unleash the creatures. Director Tony Randel, who already proved his knack for visceral, nightmarish imagery with Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988), doesn't hold back here. He understands that if you're making a movie called Ticks, you damn well better show the ticks!
The Glory of Goop: Practical Effects Reign Supreme
Let’s be honest, the main reason Ticks still holds a special place in the hearts of horror fans is the absolutely phenomenal practical effects work. Forget weightless CGI critters skittering across the screen; these ticks had presence. Crafted by the legendary KNB EFX Group (Robert Kurtzman, Greg Nicotero, and Howard Berger, who were absolute titans of 90s practical effects, working on everything from From Dusk Till Dawn to Army of Darkness), the ticks are masterpieces of latex, slime, and intricate puppetry.
You see them hatch from quivering egg sacs, skitter across floors with unnerving speed, and latch onto their victims with disgusting force. Remember that scene where a tick bursts out of someone? Pure, unfiltered nightmare fuel rendered with loving, gruesome detail. The sheer physicality of the effects – the tangible slime, the convincing movement, the satisfying squish when they finally met their end – felt incredibly real back then, especially viewed on a slightly fuzzy CRT. It’s a level of handcrafted horror artistry that’s become increasingly rare. Could you even imagine trying to achieve that level of tactile grossness with digital effects alone? It just wouldn't have the same impact.
A Cast Having Fun (Mostly)
While the script, penned by Brent V. Friedman (who later wrote for shows like Star Wars: The Clone Wars), isn't exactly Shakespeare, the cast mostly leans into the chaos effectively. Seth Green brings a relatable vulnerability to Tyler, our unlikely hero who finds inner strength amidst the carnage. Alfonso Ribeiro gets some laughs as the perpetually terrified Panic, although seeing Carlton Banks wig out about bugs adds its own layer of surreal amusement. And Clint Howard? He does his inimitable Clint Howard thing, creating a memorable lowlife villain who feels genuinely dangerous in his desperation. The teen drama elements woven in feel very... well, nineties, sometimes clunky but adding to the overall charm of the era.
Finding its home directly on video store shelves in the US after some festival play, Ticks bypassed a wide theatrical run but became a quintessential example of a high-concept horror flick that thrived in the home video market. It was the kind of tape you'd grab based on the cover alone, hoping for some solid creature carnage, and Ticks absolutely over-delivered on that promise. It wasn't trying to reinvent the wheel; it was just trying to be the best damn giant tick movie it could be.
Ticks - VHS Heaven Rating:
7/10
Why this score? Look, Ticks isn't high art. The plot is standard B-movie fare, and some character beats feel a bit forced. But for what it sets out to do – be a wildly entertaining creature feature with outstanding practical effects – it succeeds brilliantly. The ticks themselves are the stars, brought to life with incredible skill by KNB. It delivers gore, jumps, and some genuine "ewww!" moments with infectious energy. It earns its points through sheer dedication to its monstrous creations and its place as a standout example of direct-to-video horror done right.
Final Thought: In an age of seamless digital monsters, there's something profoundly satisfying about the tangible, gooey, handcrafted horror of Ticks. It’s a potent shot of 90s creature feature adrenaline that reminds you just how much fun practical effects could be – just maybe check your ankles after watching.