Lucker (1986)

Director:

Johan Vandewoestijne

Writers:

Johan Vandewoestijne (written by)
John Kupferschmidt (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

1986 (Belgium)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Plot:

A serial killer awakens from a coma and escapes from a mental hospital to kill a survivor of his slayings years ago, all the while stalking, terrifying, and killing women on the way.

Plot Keywords:

Mental Hospital | Survivor | Victim | Stalking | Escape

Cast

Nick Van Suyt	...	John Lucker
Helga Vandevelde	...	Cathy Jordan
Let Jotts	...	Prostitute
Marie Claes	...	Sharon
Martine Scherre	...	Christine
Carry Van Middel	...	An
John Edwards	...	Friend
Tony Castillo	...	Dealer
Veerle Dendooven	...	Nurse
Frans Schepens	...	Agent
Werner Onre	...	Man reading newspaper
Nico Karadjian	...	Dealer
Eddy Cosaert	...	Driver
Heidi Callewaart	...	Video customer
Francis Impe
Frank Van Laecke	...	Bobby
Freek Neyrinck
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Frankvan Laccke
Ann Piessen	...	Christine

Directed by
Johan Vandewoestijne

Writing credits
Johan Vandewoestijne		(written by)
John Kupferschmidt		(screenplay) &
Johan Vandewoestijne		(screenplay)

Produced by
Filip Beys	....	producer
André Coppens	....	producer
Johan Vandewoestijne	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Geert Beernaert
Peter Bonne
François Lamoral
Chris Minjauw
Johan Minjauw

Cinematography by
John Kupferschmidt

Film Editing by
Johan Vandewoestijne

Casting by
Johan Vandewoestijne

Production Design by
Filip Beys

Costume Design by
Filip Beys

Makeup Department
Helga Vandevelde	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Johan Vandewoestijne	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Emmanuel Decoster	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Filip Beys	....	sound

Special Effects by
Filip Beys	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Tony Castillo	....	camera operator

Other crew
Winnie Bauwens	....	script
Filip Beys	....	titles
Pieter Gorin	....	press
Francis Impe	....	clip
Bieke Janssen	....	script

Thanks
Lee Cooper	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Desert Productions
• V.D.S. Films

Distributors

• V.D.S. Films (1987) (Belgium) (VHS)
• BDM Distribution (1987) (Belgium) (VHS)
• M. Films (1987) (France) (VHS)
• Midnight Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Skrik Horror Video (2006) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Synapse Films (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Camera Team  video facilities
• Francis Impe Music  music produced by
• Loca Flash  lighting equipment
• Pyral  magnetic recording
• V.D.S. Films  recording studios

Also Known As:

Lucker the Necrophagous (International: English title)

Runtime:

74 min

Country:

Belgium

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

USA:Not Rated | Finland:K-18 | Australia:(Banned)

Filming Locations:

Kortrijk, Belgium

Company:

Desert Productions

Trivia:

Originally, the film was much longer, but due to the negatives being destroyed, it has been difficult for director Johan Vandewoestijne to scrounge together the original for a release. Before, the plot was different, with a journalist investigating the main character, John Lucker, before his rampage in the current release. The journalist becomes intrigued by Lucker, and seeks to take up his mantle. Lucker discovers this, kills the journalist, and continues his rampage.

Goofs:

Plot holes: Lucker is a fugitive escaped from a mental clinic. The police are beginning a massive manhunt for him, and have starting points from where his victim's bodies were found (he never leaves that general area). Yet he still manages to stay in an apartment room for a week without leaving, or without the police showing up. Several people in his immediate vicinity have seen him, and the authorities surely have photos of him. If Lucker were to stay in the same place the whole time, the police would have most definitely found him within that week.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Nurse: What's wrong with him?
Bobby: Suicide attempt.
Nurse: Hmm. Who is this guy, anyway?
Bobby: His name is John Lucker. A few years ago, he murdered eight girls. Raped them afterwards. And when I mean afterwards, I mean while some of the corpses were decomposing!

Movie Connections:

References Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)

Soundtrack:

I need a woman

Doesn't live up to the hype

A deranged serial killer/rapist/necrophiliac escapes the mental ward (do these guys ever stay there in these movies?) and goes back to his old ways, killing, raping and having sex with corpses. When he learns that one of his past victims has escaped, he's got some unfinished business to attend to.

Done in an era where the old Grindhouse theaters were a thing of the past, and plenty of nasty little movies were making their way to VHS, "Lucker the Necrophagous" is a notoriously nasty and mean piece of work. Sadly, it doesn't live up to the cult reputation it has, and is a chore to get through.

While you get the requisite gore and disgusting moments(including a nasty bit with a rotting corpse)it's also rather dull to sit though. Sure, it's got all the bad taste, but it doesn't have any talent to make it interesting. The acting is terrible, with the killer actually being a rather dull character-and he's the main character too. After the third or fourth time he starts rambling to himself, you'll want to either turn it off or fast forward though it.

In spite of it's convincing gore and grotesque moments, "Lucker" is too dull and uneventful to be a memorable viewing experience. It's basically like watching a kid try to gross you out, but tries too hard, and has nothing to recommend. As it stands, even hardcore gore fanatics will find this to be a challenge to stay awake through.