Masters of Horror- "Jenifer" (2005)

Masters of Horror was an anthology tv series created by director Mick Garris for the Showtime Network. Garris is best known for adapting Stephen King stories, like Sleepwalkers and The Stand.

Directors known for their contributions to the horror genre, the "Masters", would each direct a 60 minute stand-alone story. One of my favorite episodes was episode four of season one, Jenifer.

It was director by Dario Argento, the Italian giallo master, who's greatest film is arguably 1977's Suspiria. The episode is an adaption of a comic book story by the same name. Written by Bruce Jones and illustrated by Bernie Wrightson, it appeared in Creepy Comics #63 (July 1974)

Episode opens detective Frank Spivey and his partner eating lunch in their patrol car under a bridge. Frank decides to talk a walk and witnesses a man dragging a woman down to the water side.

This unknown man was ready to hack her to pieces if Frank didn't interfere and shoot the man.

"Jenifer" His last words.

Frank Spivey's partner eventually shows, exchanging words about what the hell happened and Frank jumps back at the sight of Jenifer's big, black, pupil-less eyes.

At the police station, Spivey goes over the ordeal with his superior and argues about having to attend psych meetings, but it's required since he killed someone. The scene ends with him sharing a distant moment with Jenifer.

We find out that Frank is married and he'd rather drink in front of his wife, Ruby, than taking his partner's earlier offer to go to a bar. He's brooding throughout dinner and snaps at his wife at one point, this moment is interrupted by their teen-aged soon coming home.

His wife seduces him, but his mind is still stuck on Jenifer. Frank tries to anally rape his wife while flashes of a tied-up Jenifer and the man he killed intercut. Ruby forces Frank off of her and calls him a bastard.

A meeting with psych reveals that the man Frank killed use to be a businessman, then he lost it all and was disowned by his family. Frank inquires about Jenifer, who's been sent to an asylum; so he takes her home.

Jenifer can't speak, only making dog like whimpers, until she comes across the family cat and hisses back.

Frank dreams of a normal faced Jenifer is awoken by the real Jenifer's whines. Frank's wife and son meet Jenifer shortly thereafter, each exchanging screams with her. Ruby wants her out and Jenifer answers with a kiss.

The next day, Frank tries to leave her on the side of the road, but she convinces him otherwise by his licking is hand. Frank gives in to her and they have sex in the car.

They go back to Frank's house and Ruby gives him an ultimatum: Jenifer goes or she goes. Ruby doesn't need an answer cause they catch Jenifer eating the cat, even offering some to Frank.

The next day, Jenifer meets the little girl next, the girl is throwing flowers into a kiddie pool and I imagine this scene is an homage to Frankenstein.

Meanwhile, Frank spirals into alcoholism as evident by the background blues music and the use of Dutch angles. He happens upon a flyer for the circus and stumbles home.

Frank hears a rumbling when he gets in and we see that the little girl suffered a faith worse than drowning.

Frank pays a visit to that circus the next day, paying off a worker to abduct Jenifer. This plan goes as you would expect; the circus man ends up in Frank's fridge.

In a panicked rage, Frank flees the city with Jenifer to a shack in the woods, and of course, they have sex again.

Frank gets a job at a general store that's ran by a single mother. Jenifer spies on Frank one day, not liking the woman talking to Frank.

Jenifer takes "revenge" by leading the woman's son on a chase through the woods after he spotted the back of her at a party.

Frank finds them at the shack, Jenifer eating the boy penis first.

The episode ends like it begins.

Frank drags Jenifer out to the woods, axe in hand. A hunter comes upon them and shoots Frank right after telling him to drop the axe. The hunter frees Jenifer and the cycle begins again.