Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Moonstalker Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 3, 2023

During the 1970s and ‘80, campgrounds were downgraded as a cinematic setting, transformed from a peaceful time in nature to a slaughterhouse environment for slasher cinema, boosted by the success of “Friday the 13th.” 1989’s “Moonstalker” hopes to participate in some nightmarish encounters, with writer/director Michael S. O’Rourke taking the production to Nevada during the wintertime, arranging a tale of a determined killer and the campers he’s targeting, with future victims more interested in sex than survival. “Moonstalker” is as basic as it gets, with O’Rourke leaning on genre highlights to get by, failing to head in different creative directions, depending on horror fans to meet him halfway as tent encounters commence and bodies begin to pile up. And yet, despite such familiarity, there’s something compellingly low budget about the effort, finding O’Rourke battling intense cold and snow while trying to sell some form of suspense. And there’s a slight endgame here worth sticking around for, finally exposing some sickness to keep the movie interesting.

Harry (Ernie Abernathy) is determined to enjoying a camping trip with his family, bringing wife Vera (Joleen Mullins) and kids Mikey (Ron K. Collie) and Tracy (Kelly Mullis) with him, even though they don’t want to go. Rolling into view is Bromley, an old man who seems friendly, but secretly covets the luxury motorhome Harry owns. Looking to steal a microwave, Bromley unleashes his violent son, Bernie (Blake Gibbons), to kill the family, which he tries to do. However, freedom is too tempting for Bernie, who takes another life, claiming the clothes of the victim and becoming “P.J.”, who was on his way to the Wilderness Counselors Camp. Run by Regis (John Marzilli), the program is devoted to the training of camping professionals, welcoming various students, including Debbie (Jil Foors), who’s introduced to Bobby (Alex Wexler) and Ron (Joe Balogh), who help organize activities. As these strangers get to know one another, Bernie stalks the night, looking to add to his collection of dead bodies.

All Harry wants is a family moment in nature. Naturally, he elects to organize a camping trip in the middle of winter, hoping to entice his loved ones with grilled hamburgers and the quiet of nature. “Moonstalker” spends a significant amount of screen time with the family, finding Harry the fatherly leader, while his kids don’t share his eagerness to relax, with Tracy locating her own place in the woods with her Walkman. Bromley’s presence doesn’t initially seem troubling, but the stranger has a secret life, keeping his son chained up inside his motorhome, unleashing the demented kid to collect a kitchen appliance viewed as the ultimate treasure. “Moonstalker” gets to killin’ soon enough, also providing a chase with Tracy, watching the actress try to march through significant snowfall to properly sell the panic of the moment.

Bernie eventually becomes P.J., an urban cowboy-type that gives the killer a chance to seem less conspicuous as everyone arrives for the camp counselor program, including Debbie, who finds herself sexually harassed by Bobby, an undersexed goon who can’t read the room. “Moonstalker” begins detailing the gathering, with militaristic Regis looking to make great camp leaders out of the student, though the gang is more interested in lustful connections, including Regis’s wife, Marcie (Ingrid Vold), who’s ready to dominate her husband, cracking a whip in their tent. O’Rourke only has a tenuous handle on storytelling, preferring to follow relationships instead, keeping the young people amorous while Bernie slowly goes after them, preferring to use an ax to destroy bodies, but he’s also open to using hot water to help dispatch unsuspecting campers.

Moonstalker Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Moonstalker" is reborn on Blu-ray, with Vinegar Syndrome pulling the feature out of video limbo, offering an AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation, sourced from 16mm original camera negative. Clarity reaches as far as possible here, offering a look at character appearances and campsite additions, exploring tents and motorhomes. Facial surfaces are appreciable, along with costuming choices. Gore zone visits are also textured. Exteriors provide as much dimension as possible. Color is respectfully refreshed, with clothing choices offering distinct primaries, and the orange glow of fire is preserved. Snowscapes are crisp, and blacks are deep, protecting frame information as light sources become scarce at times. Skin tones are natural. Grain is heavy and film-like. Source is in good condition.

Moonstalker Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix does showcase some elements of age, with sibilance issues periodic. Dialogue exchanges aren't crisply defined, with some muffling, but intelligibility isn't threatened. Scoring is also acceptable, delivering decent suspense stings and general moods. Sound effects register as intended, along with basic atmospherics.

Moonstalker Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features cinematographer Michael Goi, producer Sally O'Rourke, production manager John Strysik, and actors Joleen Mullins and Kelly Mullis.

• Commentary #2 feature The Hysteria Continues.

• "Camper Stamper Lives" (95:47, HD) is the extended making-of for "Moonstalker," featuring interviews with production manager John Strysik, cinematographer Michael Goi, composer Douglas Pipes, and actors Kelly Mullis, Joleen Mullins, John Marzilli, and Ingrid Vold. Professional origins are explored, with the interviewees eventually finding their way to director Michael S. O'Rourke, who was generally regarded as a good guy with interest in developing a career, making his debut with 1987's "Deadly Love." Biographical details are shared, with Marzilli breaking through during his time on "Surf II," and the "Moonstalker" adventure began with freezing locations in Nevada, with the shoot occurring the dead of winter. Cast camaraderie is highlighted and accommodation misadventures are shared. Cinematography is analyzed, with Goi fighting to find enough electricity to power his lights, often working with next to nothing in the middle of nowhere. Technical achievements are celebrated, including makeup effects, with the crew working for very little money, and sometimes they weren't paid at all. Pipes offers his experience with O'Rourke and the film. First impressions are shared, and the feature's home video history is tracked, with Goi managing to find the original elements, giving the endeavor a new life on Blu-ray.

• "Camper Stamper Caper" (70:05, SD) is the original making-of for "Moonstalker," offering a lengthy, fly-on-the-wall look at the production process. Shooting days are observed, thoughts are shared, and cast and crew camaraderie is showcased, detailing the day-to-day work on the film.

• Image Gallery (2:01) collects publicity shots and BTS snaps.

• A Trailer has not been included on this release.

Moonstalker Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Moonstalker" has strange personalities to examine, and performances are acceptable for this type of entertainment, with most offering spirited takes on horny people and their desperation to have sex with each other in freezing temperatures. The balance of suspense and silliness isn't quite there, with O'Rourke clearly running out of things to do in the last act of the feature, hastily introducing a cop to the mix, though the law enforcement official doesn't bring anything to the story. Still, there's a final destination for "Moonstalker," with Bernie up to something in the woods, presenting the production with a little disturbing behavior to help spice up the conclusion. O'Rourke doesn't color outside the lines with this endeavor, but some of his ideas land as intended, and when the dramatic potential of the movie falls apart, there's always the sight of visibly cold actors working to sell flirtations in the middle of the night, which is quite amusing at times.