The world of TV movies may not have had the pedigree as theatrical releases, but by the 80's that world had slowed down, mostly being reserved for biographical or historical dramas. There were still a few horror films being released in this format, and Wes Craven got selected for this ABC flick.
Meet the Winslow family. They're living the American dream of upward mobility. Father Matt (Robert Urich) is an engineer working on space suits for future Mars missions. He's just taken a job at a new Aerospace lab and things are looking up. Mother Patricia (Joanna Cassidy) is happy to have the kids in decent schools and a proper house to look after. Speaking of the kids, son Robert (Barrett Oliver) and daughter Chrissy (Soleil Moon Frye) are just happy to be in a new town.
The whole place isn't perfect though. Matt's boss Mr. Thompson (Kevin McCarthy) is a real slave driver who demands nothing short of perfection. There's something else though. It seems nearly every person in town belongs to 'the Club'. The Club has everything-country club, spa, and even stuff for the kids. They want everyone to join, insists club owner Jessica Jones (Susan Lucci).
Jones isn't what she seems, as evidenced by her being run over by a limo driver. She seems more annoyed than injured. Which is more than one can say for the poor driver, who melts when she points at him.
Matt, usually a loner, doesn't care about country clubs and puts off joining. His family doesn't have the same feelings and signs up. He notices something odd about them, mostly Chrissy speaking in the voice of legion. Can Matt save his family in time?
I confess, the idea of someone slapping on a space suit and traveling into Hell is fairly unique. Craven's career would go up after this, delivering a film that would raise the bar for horror this same year, but that's a review for later...
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