Rating summary
| Movie |  | 3.0 |
| Video |  | 4.5 |
| Audio |  | 3.5 |
| Extras |  | 1.5 |
| Overall | | 3.5 |
Lurkers Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 5, 2017
For her second directorial effort from 1988, Robert Findlay returns to the comfort of horror to inspire the extremes of “Lurkers.” It’s a ghost story
that’s primarily fueled by paranoia, again keeping the helmer busy with a vision of Hell on Earth that doesn’t require much in the way of locations and
story. It’s a simplistic nightmare, and one that’s not particularly tasteful, but it has closure, giving it the appearance of a “Tales from the Crypt”
episode, only with slightly more feminine hygiene-inspired sexuality.
As an abused child, Cathy (Christine Moore) was once visited by ghosts in the midst of her trauma, but she’s managed to pull out of her mental
tailspin, achieving normalcy in adulthood as a cellist, engaged to Bob (Gary Warner), a fashion photographer. As she reaches a position of domestic
peace, horror returns to her life, finding herself back in the apartment building that once caused her tremendous pain.
Findlay does well with ghostly interactions, which are crudely executed but charming in a B-movie way. However, there are long stretches between
unsettling events, with much of “Lurkers” about Bob’s womanizing interests and his denial of Cathy’s concerns, especially her claims of a ghostly
woman tailing her.
Lurkers Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Lurkers" preserves the feature's interest in dark events, with encouraging delineation
maintaining frame information, and detail is quite good. Textures on make-up efforts remain, and costuming handles with care. Locations are also open
for inspection, with adequate distances and sharpness. Colors are bright and steady, offering vibrant outfits and street signage, while skintones are
natural. Grain is heavier but managed successfully. Wear and tear is mild, keeping the source agreeable.
Lurkers Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
The 1.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix isn't always consistent, with age-related issues contributing to a few muffled stretches. Production limitations are
present to begin with, leaving dialogue exchanges at the mercy of NYC traffic, but intelligibility isn't a profound issue. Scoring is inherently thin, leaving
the synth chirps accurate and supportive. Stronger sound effects and group activity maintains clarity.
Lurkers Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
- A Teaser Trailer (:32, HD) and a Theatrical Trailer (1:18, HD) are included.
Lurkers Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
"Lurkers" gets very strange in its final act, which helps with the feature's entertainment value. Cathy goes on an "Eyes Wide Shut" tour of an
apartment party, discovering multiple oddities along the way, including a senior citizen orgy and the aforementioned feminine hygiene celebration. It's
almost worth the price of admission just to see Findlay's imagination in action, and, to her credit, she nails the tone of the finale. While it's corny, the
climax works, sticking a landing that didn't seem possible in the open ten minutes of the movie.
