Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		3.5

Night Ripper Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 2, 2022

As demand for genre entertainment grew throughout the early 1980s, feeding the developing video store business, filmmakers hunted for ways to bring down costs, aiming to create rental fodder for next to no money, securing easy profits. 1986’s “Night Ripper” is not the first shot-on-video endeavor to make it to store shelves, but it represents a shift in moviemaking demands, using commercial grade equipment to create a nightmare for viewers just looking for a few cheap thrills. Excitement is actually quite limited in “Night Ripper,” with writer/director Jeff Hathcock refusing the lure of stylishness or suspense with his serial killer story, which accepts all cliches it can find while offering little tension for those who enjoy such entertainment. It’s a snoozy slasher, but Hathcock remains somewhat earnest about his effort, trying to piece together a shocker concerning the love life of a photography studio co-owner and his horrible luck with women.

There’s a killer on the loose, and the shadowy figure is targeting women experiencing some type of agitation in their lives after spending time with men, slashed to pieces in the night. Mitch (Larry Thomas) is the co-owner of Beauty Photography, and he’s fascinated by the situation, trying to charm his partner, Dave (James Hansen), with the details of the crime scenes. As the victim count increases, Detective Bernie is on the case, paying close attention to clues while questioning connections, trying to piece together a motive for such grisly work. Dave is lost in his own world, attempting to run his business while handling his fiancée, Karen, who’s an unstable type, sabotaging their relationship. His attention turns to Jill, a woman in need of glamour shots and seduction, putting the photographer on the prowl as he tries to remain in contact with his object of desire, who, like many others, is exposed to the dangers of the night.

Hathcock has a strange way of dealing with the red herrings scattered around his screenplay, making a specific creative choice to overplay Mitch’s creepy ways. He’s a business owner, though we never really see him working, showing more dedication to following the crimes of The Ripper, a figure-in-black with a sharp knife working to chop up females during their most vulnerable moments. Mitch loves the gory details, lustfully recalling bodily harm, which is the production’s way of providing some sense of threat, making him one of a few potential suspects. However, if Mitch isn’t the killer, he’s probably guilty of something, with Thomas (best known for his role as the Soup Nazi on “Seinfeld”) playing the guy as a supreme creep, which is amusing to watch, but doesn’t benefit the feature’s plans to mount a proper whodunit.

“Night Ripper” emphasizes the murder scenes, watching knives plunge into flesh, and open wounds are plentiful. The graphic violence does well for a low-budget effort, but it’s only a small part of the story, with more attention placed on Dave’s sex life, as he struggles to manage his cheating fiancée while pointing himself into Jill’s direction, growing obsessed with the single woman and her need for sensual portraits. “Night Ripper” also offers a few additional characters to mix up the mystery, including Janet (April Anne), a delivery person who’s also attracted to the women in Dave’s life, and there’s Detective Bernie, a hardened man always one step behind the killer, which presents Hathcock with a chance to stage a chase sequence around an apartment complex.

Night Ripper Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation is working with a shot-on-video production, and the natural limitations of such a production are found here. Fine detail isn't present, but a general idea of facial particulars is provided, along with clothing choices. Bodily harm is also appreciable, highlighting open wounds. Locations aren't dimensional, securing a basic appreciation for interiors. Colors do what they can, finding some pep with period hues. Long stretches of the feature are shot at night, reaching the restrictions of the format.

Night Ripper Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix delivers a straightforward understanding of performances, with dialogue exchanges clear for a SOV endeavor. Scoring carries a pronounced synth sound, supporting suspense sequences, and soundtrack selections offer decent emphasis.

Night Ripper Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features podcasters Matt, David, Shea, and Heather (no last names are offered).

• Interview (21:34, SD) is a video conference chat with actress April Audia, who shares her initial casting story, beating out a long list of potential hires for the part. Thoughts are shared on co-star Larry Thomas and director Jeff Hathcock, getting into the latter's professional approach and demeanor. Audia analyzes her experience portraying a gay character in 1986, and she details the atmosphere of the shot-on-video production, fully understanding production intent and limitation. A premiere was held for "Night Ripper," and viewer reaction is recalled. The interviewee offers some anecdotes from the shoot, and her time as a minor celebrity in her hometown, with "Night Ripper" available at local video stores.

• "Directing a Ripper" (19:20, HD) is an interview with writer/director Jeff Hathcock, who details his working relationship with producer John Tomlinson, trusting in his technical expertise while he managed the creative side of their productions. The initial idea for "Night Ripper" is detailed, and the casting experience is recalled, with strange people working hard to land a role in the picture. Hathcock goes into the specifics of the low budget shoot, including his choice to go the shot-on-video route and the use of free locations, identifying the fun of making a movie for little money, to "see what you can do for nothing." While asked about "Night Ripper," the interviewee goes into the pains of his first film, 1985's "Victims," which he's not fond of. He also discusses his visual approach.

• "Who's the Ripper" (19:54, HD) is an interview with actor Larry Thomas, who offers his casting story, attempting to acquire more film jobs to gain experience as an actor, previously working on "Terror on Tour." The interviewee describes the differences between the productions, and his experience with a shot-on-video endeavor. Writer/director Jeff Hathcock is assessed, and Thomas admits he used his own clothes during the shoot. Memories of the making of "Night Ripper" are recalled, but more interesting is Thomas's comfort level with his old work, happy to have his guest appearance on "Seinfeld" wipe out his early endeavors, only to have movies like "Night Ripper" and "Terror on Tour" come back to haunt him while on the convention circuit, forcing him to get used to such exposure.

• Extended Gore Sequences (2:29, SD) explore bleeding wounds and knife attacks.

• Still Gallery (5:10) collects BTS snaps.

• A Trailer has not been included on this release.

Night Ripper Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Who's killing the women? It's a question "Night Ripper" eventually answers, but it's a slow ride to a resolution, as the film is filled with banal conversations, a few scenes of real-time driving (which also gives Hathcock a chance to sell a soundtrack cut), and poorly constructed misdirection. Instead of tightening tension, "Night Ripper" remains disappointingly slack and uneventful, seemingly more interested in reaching a 90-minute run time than providing viewers with a nail-biting ride of gore and questionable behaviors.