Foundry Figures' Viscera Family

I have had to come up with a new label for this set of figures I'll be reviewing here - Psycho Killers. In ATZ terms they could be Survivors although I think Gangers describes them better. What is beyond doubt is that these are amongst the scariest figures on the market. They are Wargames Foundry 28mm scale set SV025 The Family.

 

These five scary-looking reprobates are the Viscera family. At far left is Ma Viscera, who, to me, is far scarier than a psycho with a power tool! A baby-doll nightie, nipple tassels, tight black panties, stockings and suspender belt ought to be a sexy combo, but when they are worn by a wizened old hag like Ma Viscera it is downright creepy and just plain wrong! With her blue rinse hair-do and Dame Edna Everage glasses she probably thinks she is a beautiful woman. Uh-huh! No way, Jose! What makes her worse (if that is possible!) is the fact she is armed with a taser. This means she doesn't want to kill her victims - she wants to stun them first. It's probably the only way she'll ever attract a man dressed as she is. Being caught by Ma must be the very definition of the phrase, "a fate worse than death!"

The big brute standing next to Ma is amusingly called Junior. He is built like the proverbial brick shit-house! That he wears a muzzle hints at cannibalistic tendencies. I love the fact that the sculptor has given him a power drill as his primary weapon. That is so cool! He backs that up with a blood-stained meat-cleaver and a selection of tools and implements stashed away in his apron. A set of pliers, a screwdriver and a pair of handcuffs are visible. Of all of the family, he is the most muscular. He just oozes menace.

Coming a close second in the muscle stakes is the first of the twins. Foundry didn't give him a name but I have called him "Big Ben" Viscera. The psycho killer wearing a hockey mask and wielding a chainsaw may be something of a cliche but Foundry have done something clever here - they've given him a twin brother!

The fourth figure in line is his diminutive twin brother. Echoes of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito from the comedy film Twins, I reckon. I named the little guy "Lil Bill" Viscera. Hence, Bill and Ben the Chainsaw Killers. Coming soon to CeeBeebies, LOL! Like Junior, the twins are bare-chested to better show off their muscles. They wear matching leather trousers, boots and a leather harness (not sure what the harnesses are for).

Last, but by no means least, is Cletus Viscera, who has a penchant for gimp clothing. Well, given what the rest of his family is like, you could hardly expect him to wear sensible clothing! He wears a zippered leather gimp mask, studded leather underpants and thigh-high leather boots. What makes him potentially the most dangerous of all is the fact that he is the only one armed with a ranged weapon - and a downright nasty one at that - a flamethrower.

I must admit to liking these figures enormously. Ever since I bought All Things Zombie, I have wanted to run a scenario with them in. I think they would positively thrive in such an environment with the collapse of law and order. Imagine a group of survivors arriving at their isolated farmhouse being pursued by a horde of Ragers. Caught between a rock and a hard place! Would I want Team Vampifan to meet the Viscera Family? No way! I like my heroes too much and at present I just couldn't see them surviving an encounter with this bunch of psycopaths. Give me zombies any day!

Wargames Foundry have a reputation for being expensive, too expensive in many buyers' minds. This set, from their Street Violence range, costs £10.00 (when I checked this morning), which works out at £2.00 per figure. That's not bad in my book. If you like your horror films, (and if you don't, what are you doing reading this blog?) you really should consider adding this set to your collection. Typing this review has but me in the mood for some gratuitous violence so I'm off to watch a few Texas Chainsaw Massacre DVDs! Rev it up, Leatherface!