The Feverman (1988) User Reviews (9)

First Episode of Monsters

[CMRKeyboadist · 7/10 · 30 June 2006]

This is the first episode of the low budget, but excellent late 80's show Monsters. As you should know, Monsters is a show that due to its low budget, usually stars only 3 or 4 people and will take place usually in one specific setting. The first episode "Feverman" is a prime example of what was to come with the show.

The premise to "Feverman" is an interesting tale. The story takes place sometime after the turn of the century. A desperate man brings his sick daughter to a mansion with his doctor on his side. Apparently, a notorious doctor lives here in this mansion and has the power to cure any disease, but for a very high price. It's not the price of the cure that is dangerous, it is the doctors curing methods.

I have always been a big fan of the TV show but had never seen this episode. It is a great start to the series as it introduces quite an original story and more to come. 7/10

Decent start for the horror anthology show.

[poolandrews · 6/10 · 29 December 2008]

Monsters: The Feverman starts as loving father Timothy Mason (John C. Vennema) desperately knocks at the door of faith healer Boyle (David McCallum) with his sick near to death young daughter Katherine (Michele Gornick) in his arms. Medical science cannot cure Katherine & Boyle, also known as the Feverman, is her last chance. With his friend Dr. James Burke (Patrick Garner) in tow trying to convince Timothy not to trust the Feverman he has no choice but to put his daughter's life in his hands, the Feverman goes to work & manages to remove the disease from Katherine but in a rather more literal sense than anyone expected...

Episode one from season one of Monsters this originally aired in the US during October 1988, directed by Michael Gornick (presumably Michele Gornick who plays Katherine is his daughter in a cheeky cameo) this is a decent enough opening episode for a series that strongly resembles Tales from the Darkside (1984 - 1988) as it shares a lot of the same production team & the same basic premise of fantasy stories set around one or two simple locations with a small cast due to it's low budget only with Monsters there's more of an emphasis on horror &, obviously, monsters with most episodes featuring at least one. The story in The Feverman has a certain amount of imagination as a faith healer turns a disease into a real physical monster which he then fights but there's not much else to it & the supposedly ironic twist ending in which the sceptical none believing doctor actually becomes the new Feverman at the end is standard horror anthology twist fare although it works perfectly well here.

Apparently king of special make-up effects Dick Smith worked on this episode which is probably why the monster in it looks so good, it's probably best described as a fat Sumo wrestler covered in warts if you could imagine such a thing. I particularly liked the way his flabby stomach & saggy 'wings' of skin under his upper arms wobbled & moved just like the real thing! There's a good atmosphere too & the dingy basement set is quite nice. The name in the cast is obviously veteran English actor David McCallum who does OK.

The Feverman is a decent if unspectacular start to the series, it's worth a watch for sure if you can catch it on telly for free but don't bust a gut or strain a muscle to see it.

Strange far out cheesy premiere episode!

[blanbrn · 6/10 · 10 November 2020]

This "The Feverman" the premiere episode of "Monsters" is one that's far out and different even a little make believe. The story is set way back in past times involving a wealthy doctor and a man who has a sick daughter. The wild card and thing is that of a local legendary healer is in town and he says he can do the trick of the healing even when the wealthy doctor has his doubts. This story is dark as it proves the price of medicine comes at a price. The episode is suspenseful with drama and takes twist yet it's most memorable for the makeup work of Dick Smith as the monster does in my take look gory. Overall nothing great still an okay start to the anthology series.

"The Feverman"

[lost-in-limbo · 9 April 2011]

The very first show of this considerably low-budget TV series gets off to a really good, completely dark start with the "Feverman". Episode one of the first season, is taut and clever. A desperate man seeking help for his dying daughter, despite his family doctor's sceptical hesitations visit's a feverman who might just be fighting his last disease. There it becomes a battle of wills between the believer/s; non-believer and the disease, as a twisted, ironic chain of events develop. Methods are questioned. Again this show really relies on its material (creatively compelling and thoughtful idea) and performances, as its budget shows in its two-piece, compact set designs (namely the mansion's basement). However the make-up effects (truly a hideous creation) are impressively crafted by no other than FX artist Dick Smith and an anxiously gloomy and dangerous atmosphere is held throughout. Also another name showing up is actor David McCallum who's enjoyable as the grizzled, alcoholic Feverman.

Decent opening for the series, but, not really what your expecting!

[b_kite · 6/10 · 17 June 2017]

The Feverman starts with father Timothy Mason (John C. Vennema) who is at wits end with his sick Daughter (Michele Gornick, presumable the directors daughter) who is dying from the fever. Mason takes her to "The Feverman" a long rumored man who has the ability to remove the sickness from any particular person. He brings with him Dr. James Burke (Patrick Garner) who was unable to help his daughter and is very skeptical of the whole healer thing as nothing, but, a joke. The Feverman named Boyle (David McCallum) agrees to help and after a failed first attempt at saving the young girl. Dr. Burke finds out that he must play a vital role in the situation that he so much was very skeptical of!...

First of all I must say the DVD set of this released by eOne Entertainment which is supposed to be remastered does look very nice, the best condition I've probably ever seen this show in. It doesn't look like a Blu-ray or anything, but, looks pretty much like the "Tales from the Darkside" DVDs. Anyways this I must say was a rather decent Pilot for the show. The story seems to be set in the late 1800s or early 1900s, as we get some period piece costumes and two sets what looks to be and old Victorian style mansions living room, and a grungy basement. The three main cast members here described above all do very good in there roles, and some of you may be able to point out David McCallum who currently plays on "NCIS". The creature itself which was created by Dick Smith, as another reviewer stated pretty much is a man in a costume, which looks like a huge orange sumo wrestler with warts all over him, it really doesn't look all that bad. The supposed twist ending isn't really all that strong even tho it works perfectly here for what they were going for. All in all, The Feverman is a decent if rather unspectacular way to start off this series, but, the imaginative story along with the fine performances from the cast definitely give it a pass, even if its not really what your expecting going in.

The price of life

[Bored_Dragon · 8/10 · 8 September 2018]

The TV show "Monsters" was on the air from 1988 to 1991 and consists of 72 separate twenty-minute "horror" stories. The series opens with "The Feverman", a dark story about a healer who, for high compensation, treats incurable patients from whom medicine has raised their hands, but the price he has to pay is even higher. The series is extremely low-budget, but despite all the limitations that lack of money brings, this episode is great. The premise is interesting, the story is well written with a strong message, and the characterization is incredibly good for a twenty minutes movie. The set design is simple but striking and the episode has a disturbing dark atmosphere. The only weak point of this episode is the very look of the "monster", but everything else is so good that this imperfection does not bother much.

8/10

Weird opening for a TV Show

[Leofwine_draca · 5/10 · 9 June 2015]

THE FEVERMAN is an inauspicious start for the MONSTERS TV show: it's not bad, really, and certainly not as bad as some of the episodes that were to follow, but it's mighty weird and not at all successful. The episode headlines a tired-looking David McCallum playing the titular character, a modern day shaman, who can remove illness...for the right price. When a man brings his ailing daughter for treatment, there are shocks in store for all involved.

The production values aren't bad here, and McCallum gives an excellent performance as the boozed-up old-timer, probably one of the best performances in the whole series. Strange, then, that the titular monsters are an ugly mess, resembling most those icky creations in Brian Yuzna's SOCIETY; not frightening, not in the least, but completely disgusting. There are some very bizarre scenes come the climax, and I'm not entirely sure I enjoyed them.

A cure that comes at a terrible price

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 11 June 2019]

Timothy Mason (a fine and touching performance by John C. Vennema) brings his sickly daughter to cynical booze-sodden local faith healer Boyle (an excellent portrayal by David McCallum), who's well known for his special ability to cure fevers. However, skeptical doctor James Burke (nicely played by Patrick Garner) is determined to expose Boyle as a fake.

Director Michael Gornick relates the novel and compelling story at a steady pace, offers a flavorsome period atmosphere, and milks a good deal of tension from the claustrophobic basement setting. The uniformly fine acting from the able cast keeps things humming: Vennema astutely nails the desperation of his character, McCallum has a ball conveying the acid nature of a bitter and besotted wretch whose healing powers come at a heavy price, and Abby Lewis lends sound support as Boyle's kindly old lady assistant. The fever creature looks genuinely creepy and grotesque. The downbeat ending hits the satisfying spot, too. A solid start for this TV series.

Not too bad but not too good either.

[Aba74 · 4/10 · 14 August 2020]

The first episode is just ok. The saving grace is David McCallum who is always great. The monster makeup is cheesy and almost laughable. The ending is predictable and uneventful.