The Lurker (film)

Last updated
The Lurker
The Lurker(LR).jpg
Directed byEric Liberacki
Written byJohn Lerchen
Produced by
  • John Lerchen
  • Wynona Ying Li
Starring
CinematographyBrandon Hoeg
Edited byWard Crockett
Music by Misha Segal
Production
company
Forever Safe Productions
Distributed by Indican Pictures
Release date
  • September 1, 2019 (2019-09-01)
Running time
80 minutes
CountryUnited States

The Lurker is a 2019 American horror feature film written by John Lerchen and directed by Eric Liberacki. [1] Described as an ode to 1980s slasher films, The Lurker stars Scout Taylor-Compton, Michael Emery, Domenica Cameron-Scorsese, Rikki Lee Travolta, Naomi Grossman, and Ari Lehman. [2] The film was produced by Forever Safe Productions and is distributed by Indican Pictures.

Contents

In tribute to the 1980s slasher films it seeks to emulate, The Lurker is set in Crystal Lake, Illinois - the same location that the original Friday the 13th film took place. [3] [4]

Plot

Taylor is caught sleeping with her teacher Will, who is also dating Taylor's mother, by several other students. They report her to the guidance counselor, who forces her to take an abortion pill. They begin to seek revenge by murdering people one by one, wearing a disguise to ensure that no one realizes that it's them. They also target those who anger them or stand in the way of Taylor attending Juilliard. Meanwhile Taylor pretends that she is also targeted by the killer.

The murders reach a crescendo during a celebration over the drama club's final performance of Romeo and Juliet. Taylor and Will imprison the drama club teacher and murder him for threatening to ruin Taylor's chances at Juilliard, after which Taylor murders Will and frames him for all of the murders. She then passes out.

Taylor wakes in the hospital, where she learns that she is pregnant and has been accepted to Juilliard. She also learns that one of her victims has survived and is also in the hospital. Aware that he could identify her as one of the murderers, Taylor successfully enters his room and murders him. She's discovered covered in blood and catatonic by the hospital staff. [5]

Cast

Reception

In its review, Culture Crypt states that "just because she played young Laurie Strode in Rob Zombie’s “Halloween” doesn’t mean she can squeeze into similar role requirements 10+ years later." [6] In a review for The Tenth Circle, Dante Yurei writes, "The protagonist Scout Taylor-Compton (“Halloween” 2007) does a good job in her performance but is never able to overcome her appearance and make the viewer think that she really is a high school student, something that gathers importance in the plot." [7] In his review for Voices from the Balcony, Jim Morazzini states, "...the film is badly hurt by its casting of Compton in the lead role. She’s way too old for the part and looks it. She’s a good actress but she can’t pass for someone half her age." [8]

Several other elements are called out in reviews as well. The Rotting Zombie calls Travolta a "great scene stealing actor" and "by far the best part of The Lurker." [9] Of Grossman, Cryptic Rock's Jeanie Blue says "she does provide perhaps the best death scene of the film." [2] Cult Faction gives high praise to the film's soundtrack, stating "Being that this film is inspired by the slasher flicks of the 80s, the soundtrack feels decidedly from that era. Lots of synths and pulsing beats make the film feel warmer than a regular soundtrack would and it really enhances the film." [10]

In its review Cryptic Rock states that "Flawed from its infancy, the film offers too few thrills and lacks in truly satisfying blood spills. However, it would be unfair to write this off as one to simply pass over, as its short run-time creates an easily-digested romp." [2] In a review available from HK and Cult Film News, it states "The Lurker sets out to be a bloody 80s-style slasher movie that doesn't kid around, and it does so in entertaining fashion." [11]

Related Research Articles

A slasher film is a subgenre of horror films involving a killer stalking and murdering a group of people, usually by use of bladed or sharp tools. Although the term "slasher" may occasionally be used informally as a generic term for any horror film involving murder, film analysts cite an established set of characteristics which set slasher films apart from other horror subgenres, such as monster movies, splatter films, supernatural and psychological horror films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scream queen</span> Actress known for her work in horror films

A scream queen is an actress who is prominent and influential in horror films, either through a notable appearance or recurring roles. A scream king is the male equivalent. Notable female examples include Barbara Steele, Sandra Peabody, Linda Blair, Olivia Hussey, Marilyn Burns, Neve Campbell, Daria Nicolodi, Dee Wallace, Jamie Lee Curtis, Heather Langenkamp, Shawnee Smith, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Linnea Quigley.

<i>Peeping Tom</i> (1960 film) 1960 British film by Michael Powell

Peeping Tom is a 1960 British psychological horror-thriller film directed by Michael Powell, written by Leo Marks, and starring Carl Boehm, Anna Massey, and Moira Shearer. The film revolves around a serial killer who murders women while using a portable film camera to record their dying expressions of terror, putting his footage together into a snuff film used for his own self pleasure. Its title derives from the expression "peeping Tom", which describes a voyeur.

<i>Blow Out</i> 1981 film by Brian De Palma

Blow Out is a 1981 American neo-noir mystery thriller film written and directed by Brian De Palma. The film stars John Travolta as Jack Terry, a movie sound effects technician from Philadelphia who, while recording sounds for a low-budget slasher film, unintentionally captures audio evidence of an assassination involving a presidential hopeful. Nancy Allen stars as Sally Bedina, a young woman involved in the crime. The supporting cast includes John Lithgow and Dennis Franz. The film's tagline in advertisements was, "Murder has a sound all of its own".

<i>Night of the Comet</i> 1984 American science fiction horror comedy film directed by Thom Eberhardt

Night of the Comet is a 1984 American science fiction comedy horror film written and directed by Thom Eberhardt. It stars Catherine Mary Stewart, Robert Beltran, and Kelli Maroney as survivors of a comet that has turned most people into either dust or zombies. Night of the Comet grossed $14.4 million in the US on a $700,000 budget. It received positive reviews according to Rotten Tomatoes and has since become a cult film, influencing the creation of Buffy Summers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scout Taylor-Compton</span> American actress (born 1989)

Scout Taylor-Compton is an American actress. She has frequently worked in the horror genre, most notably as Laurie Strode in the 2007 remake of Halloween and its 2009 sequel. Outside of horror, she portrayed musician Lita Ford in the biographical drama film The Runaways (2010).

<i>Wicked Little Things</i> 2006 American film

Wicked Little Things is a 2006 American zombie horror film directed by J. S. Cardone and starring Lori Heuring, Scout Taylor-Compton and Chloë Grace Moretz. The film was claimed to be based on true events.

<i>Eyes of Laura Mars</i> 1978 film by Irvin Kershner

Eyes of Laura Mars is a 1978 American neo-noir supernatural horror thriller film directed by Irvin Kershner and starring Faye Dunaway, Tommy Lee Jones, Brad Dourif, René Auberjonois, and Raul Julia. It follows a New York City fashion photographer (Dunaway) who suddenly develops the clairvoyant ability to witness disturbing serial murders from the point of view of the killer. The screenplay was adapted from a spec script titled Eyes, written by John Carpenter; it was Carpenter's first major studio film. H. B. Gilmour later wrote a novelization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laurie Strode</span> Character in the Halloween franchise

Laurie Strode is a character from the Halloween series. She first appeared in Halloween (1978) as a high school student who becomes targeted by serial killer Michael Myers, in which she was portrayed by Jamie Lee Curtis. Created by John Carpenter and Debra Hill, Laurie appeared in nine of thirteen films in the series. The character has subsequently been represented in various other media, including novels, video games, and comic books.

<i>Halloween</i> (2007 film) Slasher film by Rob Zombie

Halloween is a 2007 American slasher film written, directed, and produced by Rob Zombie. It is a remake of John Carpenter's 1978 horror film of the same name and the ninth installment in the Halloween franchise. The film stars Malcolm McDowell, Sheri Moon Zombie, Tyler Mane, Scout Taylor-Compton, Brad Dourif, Danielle Harris, and William Forsythe. The "reimagining" follows Michael Myers who murdered his family as a child and becomes institutionalized at an asylum, before breaking out and stalking Laurie Strode and her friends on Halloween night.

Halloween is an American slasher media franchise that consists of thirteen films, as well as novels, comic books, a video game and other merchandise. The films primarily focus on Michael Myers, who was committed to a sanitarium as a child for the murder of his sister, Judith Myers. Fifteen years later, he escapes to stalk and kill the people of the fictional town of Haddonfield, Illinois. Michael's killings occur on the holiday of Halloween, on which all of the films primarily take place. Throughout the series various protagonists try to stop Myers including, most notably, babysitter Laurie Strode and psychiatrist Dr. Samuel Loomis. The original Halloween, released in 1978, was written by John Carpenter and Debra Hill—the film's director and producer respectively. The film, itself inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho and Bob Clark's Black Christmas, is known to have inspired a long line of slasher films.

<i>April Fools Day</i> (2008 film) 2008 American film

April Fool's Day is a 2008 American direct-to-video slasher film remake of the 1986 film of the same name. It is directed by The Butcher Brothers, also known as Mitchell Altieri and Phil Flores. April Fool's Day is described by star Scout Taylor-Compton as "Mean Girls crossed with horror", and was released straight to DVD on March 25, 2008. The film received negative reviews from critics and fans.

<i>Halloween II</i> (2009 film) American film by Rob Zombie

Halloween II is a 2009 American slasher film written, directed, and produced by Rob Zombie. The film is a sequel to Zombie's 2007 remake of 1978's Halloween and the tenth installment in the Halloween franchise. The story follows Laurie Strode as she deals with the aftermath of the previous film's events, Dr. Loomis who is trying to capitalize on those events with a new book, and Michael Myers as he seeks to reunite with his sister. The film sees the return of lead cast members from the 2007 film Malcolm McDowell as Loomis, Scout Taylor-Compton as Strode, and Tyler Mane as Myers, respectively. Sheri Moon Zombie, Brad Douriff, and Danielle Harris also return from its predecessor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Mennell</span> American actor (born 1976)

Nick Mennell is an American actor known for his stage work as well as his roles in the horror/slasher remakes of Halloween, and Friday the 13th.

<i>The Lords of Salem</i> (film) 2012 film

The Lords of Salem is a 2012 supernatural horror film written, produced, and directed by Rob Zombie. It stars Sheri Moon Zombie, Bruce Davison, Jeff Daniel Phillips, Ken Foree, Patricia Quinn, Dee Wallace, María Conchita Alonso, Judy Geeson, and Meg Foster. The plot focuses on a troubled female disc jockey in Salem, Massachusetts, whose life becomes entangled with a coven of ancient Satan-worshipping women.

<i>Let It Snow</i> (2020 film) 2020 Ukrainian film

Let It Snow is a 2020 horror-thriller film directed by Stanislav Kapralov. The film was written by Kapralov and Omri Rose, and stars Ivanna Saknho, Alex Hafner, and Tinatin Dalakishvili.

<i>The Sinners</i> 2020 American drama thriller film

The Sinners is a 2020 Canadian drama thriller film directed by Courtney Paige. The film stars Kaitlyn Bernard, Brenna Llewellyn, Brenna Coates, Keilani Elizabeth Rose, Jasmine Randhawa, Carly Fawcett, and Natalie Malaika.

<i>The Long Night</i> (2022 film) 2022 horror film directed by Rich Ragsdale

The Long Night is a 2022 American horror film written by Robert Sheppe and Mark Young and directed Rich Ragsdale. It stars Scout Taylor-Compton, Nolan Gerard Funk, Jeff Fahey, Deborah Kara Unger. The film is about a couple whose quiet weekend takes a bizarre turn when a nightmarish cult and their maniacal leader come to fulfill an apocalyptic prophesy.

<i>Hacksaw</i> (film) 2020 found footage horror film by Anthony Leone

Hacksaw is a 2020 found footage horror slasher film written and directed by Anthony Leone in his feature film debut. The film stars Amy Cay, Brian Patrick Butler, Michael C. Burgess and Cortney Palm.

<i>The Evil Rises</i> 2018 film by Daniel Florenzano

The Evil Rises is a 2018 horror film written and directed by Daniel Florenzano in his feature film debut. The film stars Bailey La Flam, Michael Glauser, Julian De Mora and Joe Paulson.

References

  1. ↑ Miska, Brad (2017-12-12). "Scout Taylor-Compton Tops Chicago-based Horror 'The Lurker'". Bloody Disgusting!. Retrieved 2020-10-03.
  2. 1 2 3 Blue, Jeannie "The Lurker (Movie Review)", Cryptic Rock, 10 April 2020. Retrieved on 9 May 2020.
  3. ↑ Cody Hamman "Could Crystal Lake Become “Hometown of Horror Films”?", Horror World, 22 February 2020. Retrieved on 17 June 2020.
  4. ↑ Scarlett R. Algee "TRAILER: SCOUT TAYLOR-COMPTON BATTLES A SLASHER AGAIN IN THE LURKER", joblo.com , 18 February 2020. Retrieved on 10 April 2020.
  5. ↑ Jim Morazzini "Review: THE LURKER (2019)", Voices From The Balcony, 11 April 2020. Retrieved on 12 June 2020.
  6. ↑ "The Lurker 2019", Culture Crypt Retrieved on 17 June 2020.
  7. ↑ "Review: The Lurker", The 10th Circle Retrieved on 05 October 2020.
  8. ↑ "Review: THE LURKER (2019)", Voices from the Balcony Retrieved on 05 October 2020.
  9. ↑ "The Lurker (2019) - Horror Film Review", HK and Cult Film News Retrieved on 05 October 2020.
  10. ↑ "Review: The Lurker (2019)", Cult Faction Retrieved on 05 October 2020.
  11. ↑ "The Lurker - Movie Review by Porfle", The Rotting Zombie Retrieved on 05 October 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.