Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Incubus Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 4, 2018

1982’s “Incubus” doesn’t waste time, making sure to dump as many characters and situations on the audience as possible during the initial act of the movie, leaving them with little to invest in as the story begins to take shape. Confusion is a common feeling during the picture, as director John Hough (“The Watcher in the Woods,” “Return from Witch Mountain”) doesn’t pay the closest attention to the particulars of this horror endeavor, electing to take star John Cassavetes’s lead and just wing it from one end of the tale to the other. It’s a loose improvisational quality that provides most of the production fog that clouds “Incubus,” which is an otherwise competently crafted genre effort that looks and sounds like a proper low- budget chiller.

Unspeakable horrors have come to small town America, with a serial rapist making its way through the community, making sure to slaughter victims after use. Dr. Sam (John Cassavetes) is horrified by the development, trying to protect his 18-year-old daughter, Jenny (Erin Noble), while working with local law enforcement to capture the criminal. Interrupting efforts for a quiet investigation is reporter Laura (Kerrie Keane), who’s new to town and determined to crack the case before the cops, creating hysteria with charged headlines. As the number of victims increases, signs of distress are felt by Tim (Duncan McIntosh), who’s haunted by visions of evildoing, unable to separate reality from his nightmares, threating his tentative relationship with Jenny as Sam’s urgent drive to end the spree turns its attention to him.

“Incubus” takes on a massive tonal challenge from the get-go, trying to create a horror movie about sexual assault that doesn’t inspire immediate dismissal from the average viewer. It’s a strange subject to explore, but the production has the benefit of being sourced from a Ray Russell novel, which takes a little edge off exploitation interests. Hough also stays away from complete sleaziness, trying to mount a visually interesting picture, using his limited sense of cinematic sway to keep the effort in sleuthing mode, with more focus put on grim discoveries than prolonged violence. Actually, most of the film’s creepiness comes from Cassavetes, who’s playing a tired character but looks visibly sauced, with Sam prone to stroking the exposed shoulders and arms of his female patients, and he kisses daughter Jenny on the lips with first date eagerness. Laura gets a little lip action as well, which goes nowhere, but this is a movie that enjoys introducing subplots and character business, only to never follow through on anything, trusting Cassavetes’s famous interest in the ways of exploring scenes through improvisation, ignoring the screenplay.

“Incubus” isn’t ugly, and it’s not very exciting either, trying to drum up a whodunit with occult overtones, but storytelling is ragged at best, diminishing any potential mystery. Certain grab-bag moments with Tim’s freak-outs and Sam’s raging need to find the owner of red sperm deposits are entertaining, hinting at a stronger endeavor if structure was respected, but there’s little connective tissue to generate a propulsive sit. “Incubus” only advances periodically, leaving composer Stanley Myers and cinematographer Albert J. Dunk to do a lot of heavy lifting, adding atmosphere and suspense to scenes that wouldn’t achieve a fever pitch without their efforts.

Incubus Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Incubus" offers an AVC encoded (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation, with Vinegar Syndrome reaching back to the 35mm negative to help boost the visual quality of the release. There's one hiccup the disc acknowledges right away, with "Reel 4" using theatrical prints to fill in for missing elements. While the company apologizes for the shortcoming, there's not a serious gap in resolution, with only a surge in scratches identifying the change, showcasing some wear and tear. The rest of the viewing event is quite handsome, with satisfactory sharpness delivering textures facial surfaces and fibrous costuming, also showcasing defined hospital and home visits, along with vivid gore. Colors are alert, handling dense greenery and sharp reds with bloodshed. Medical bays retain their bright hues, and gothic displays are preserved. Skintones are natural. Delineation is strong throughout. Grain is fine and filmic. Some wobble is detected along the way.

Incubus Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 1.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix preserves dialogue exchanges, which remain clear and appealing, detailing emotional range and dramatic emphasis. Technical limitations are present but not distracting. Scoring is stable, with passable instrumentation, while soundtrack selections retain their position, supporting and dominating scenes when necessary. Atmospherics are adequate, delivering a feel for hallway bustle. More piercing sound effects keep their volume, generating intended shock value.

Incubus Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features The Hysteria Continues.

• Interview (26:39, HD) with John Hough explores early career ambitions from the director, who participated in extensive training and educational opportunities to learn more about helming features. There's a lengthy discussion of his work on "Brass Target," where Hough learned just how John Cassavetes likes to work, offering improvisation while co-star Sophia Loren was determined to remain with the script, causing friction the director had to figure out how to manage. The experience built a level of trust between Cassavetes and Hough, who reunited for "Incubus," though the actor had much more control over the production, with the script basically tossed out before shooting. Hough also describes his method to help manipulate actors, keeping them away from rash changes to the material, and his general distance from the post-production process on "Incubus," separated from editing and creature design, which he didn't care for, comparing filmmaking experiences with his Disney endeavor, "The Watcher in the Woods."

• Interview (21:02, HD) with Kerrie Keane is a cheery chat with the actress, who recalls her love of performing, dating back to childhood passion for play and characters. Keane tracks her career, trying to work her way into more prominent roles, which led to "Incubus," her film debut. Keane also discusses how Cassavetes and Hough ignored the screenplay during the shoot, creating a lively thespian atmosphere where nobody knew what was coming next, but respect remains, as Keane celebrates Cassavetes and his method, often in awe of his talent. Interestingly, such narrative chaos prevented Keane from knowing the ending of "Incubus," blocking her from playing the part in full.

• Interview (27:07, HD) with cinematographer Albert J. Dunk offers a lengthy discussion of his early interest in filmmaking and photography, inspiring him to try for a career in the movie business, bouncing around Canada collecting jobs as he built his reputation. Professional breaks are identified, and some production stories are shared concerning the making of "Incubus," but Dunk remains very positive about the experience, making sure to praise Cassavetes and his professionalism.

• Trims and Alternate Shots (1:38, HD) supply extra bits of nudity and acting from Cassavetes.

• T.V. Spots (1:48, HD) offer four promotional clips.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:41, HD) is included.

Incubus Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Incubus" struggles to drum up a proper fear factor, but it's best appreciated as an oddity, and one that sets some type of record for the most uses of the word "sperm" by a member of the Cassavetes family. Dramatic slackness isn't welcome in this type of endeavor, keeping the feature grounded when there's actually some rather twisted events occurring during the run time. "Incubus" walks and talks like a sincere B-movie, but thespian permissiveness gunks up the production's gears, leading to an ending that's more of a game of eeny, meeny, miny, moe than a truly considered resolution.