Monsters

Monsters is an anthology horror series that sets up a new weird situation every episode, each one centering on a distinct creature or threat. Rather than following a single cast or ongoing storyline, it delivers self-contained stories where monsters range from a creepy kids TV puppet to mutated, weapon-armed lab rats. The show leans heavily into traditional horror, favoring shock, gore, and practical creature effects, but it also injects a streak of dark humor. Many episodes end with an ironic twist in which a character's greed, vanity, or bad choice brings about a gruesome payback, keeping the tone unnervingly playful as well as frightening.

First broadcast in syndication from 1988 to 1991, Monsters was created by Richard P. Rubinstein and Mitchell Galin. Episodes were original scripts produced for TV, and the series found new life in 1990s reruns on the Sci-Fi Channel and later in marathons on Chiller.

Monsters did not earn major mainstream awards like Emmys or Golden Globes, and it wasn't a fixture of awards season. Its recognition came from genre outlets, late night cable rotations, and a devoted base of horror fans who appreciated its creature work and willingness to push TV boundaries.

The series left a mark on the TV horror anthology format, arriving after and alongside shows like Tales from the Darkside, sharing production lineage and some creative DNA. Its practical effects and willingness to mix laughs with shocks helped keep anthology horror visible on cable, and it still turns up in cult marathons and discussions about 1980s TV horror.

Critical and fan response has been mixed-to-positive, reflected in modest ratings like a 7.1/10 user score from a small sample. Viewers often praise the inventive creature designs, the moral irony of many plots, and the humor that undercuts tension. At its best, Monsters is a tight, sometimes nasty hour of genre TV that prioritizes imaginative scares over serialized storytelling.