Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		3.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		3.5

Burglar From Hell Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 15, 2022

In 1993, writer/director Phil “Chip” Herman had a dream to make a horror movie with his friends in his neighborhood. Like many aspiring filmmakers before him, he picked up a camera and made it happen, and the result is “Burglar from Hell,” which is Herman’s attempt to craft something scary with pronounced elements of comedy tossed in to make the whole endeavor digestible. There are bad things happening to good people, some gore, and occasional acts of intimidation, but Herman is definitely in learning mode with one of his earliest productions, going the shot-on-video route for the fright film, which only highlights his shortcomings as a helmer.

Frank the Tank (Bryant Sohl) is a bad dude looking to lift jewels and cash from a senior citizen inside her home. He receives a gunshot to the chest for his efforts, and after Frank is buried in the backyard, the old woman dies from such physical exertion. A short time later, a collection of twentysomethings are searching for recreation, renting the house, which they use to toy with black magic. They accidentally revive Frank from the dead, and he returns with renewed energy to destroy everyone in the neighborhood.

The opening of “Burglar from Hell” details Frank’s mission to take valuables from a kindly old person. He’s a tough guy, dispatching a nosy neighborhood watch member before moving on to the senior citizen, who proves to be more of a challenge than he thought. Herman keeps things simple with acts of violence, and he’s not the best when covering production limitations, as Frank is clearly laying on a towel as he bleeds out – an amateur moviemaking detail that might add entertainment value for some viewers.

Unfortunately, the best moments in “Burglar from Hell” are found in the extended opening, with the rest of the story wandering around with uninteresting characters portrayed by untested actors, and a few subplots are added to bring comedy to the scary movie, including extended time with a nerdy tutor dealing with an easily disrobed woman. The slapstick is painful to watch, and it takes time away from whatever supernatural elements Herman is hoping to develop.

Burglar From Hell Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.32:1 aspect ratio) presentation is dealing with typical SOV issues, showing no fine detail, leaving viewers with just a general understanding of faces and locations. Herman also makes the unusual choice to shoot much of "Burglar from Hell" at night, severely limiting clarity at times. Age is present, along with plenty of technical limitations. Color is basic, with red blood and period fashion presenting a bit more power.

Burglar From Hell Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix also deals with inherent issues, especially differences in volume with each shot. The listening experience lacks consistency, but the track does what it can to maintain intelligibility. Music is also uneven, but appreciable at times.

Burglar From Hell Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Intro (:55, HD) offers a welcome to the Blu-ray experience from writer/director Phil "Chip" Herman, who promises a good time with "boobs, blood, and gore." The validity of this guarantee is open for debate.

• Commentary features writer/director Phil "Chip" Herman.

• "A Chip Off the Old Block" (11:16, HD) is an interview with writer/director Phil "Chip" Herman.

• "From Pop Scene to Scream Queen" (9:56, HD) is an interview with actress Debbie D.

• "Rockaway Beach Memories" (12:13, HD) is an interview with actor Barry Gaines.

• "Frank the Tank Speaks" (3:46, HD) is an interview with actor Bryant Sohl.

• Bonus Movie: "The Wrong Side of Town" (63:45, SD) is a 1989 endeavor from writer/director Phil "Chip" Herman.

• "Mercenary" (19:24, SD) is a short film from writer/director Phil "Chip" Herman.

• And Trailers (SD) for "Burglar from Hell" (1:10) and "The Wrong Side of Town" (4:16) are included.

Burglar From Hell Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Burglar from Hell" isn't polished work, struggling with the basics in editing, sound, and framing. Herman also takes his time with genre elements, waiting an hour before undead Frank returns, keeping the movie irritatingly slack as the material does whatever it can to keep away from the one job it has.