Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

The Lamp Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 30, 2021

1986’s “The Lamp” was slightly reworked for American audiences, turned into 1987’s “The Outing,” a more generic title for an endeavor that’s loaded with interesting oddity. Vinegar Syndrome restores the original film for this Blu-ray release (“The Outing” was previously issued by Shout Factory in 2015, with Jeffrey Kauffman covering the release), presenting fans with a chance to see the feature as it was intended, exploring the wrath of a malevolent jinn trapped in a lamp, waiting for his chance to strike as teenagers spend the night inside a museum of natural science. There’s a lot to process with the picture, which follows multiple characters with different motivations, and there’s a magical element to the endeavor, with a wish- granting genie transformed into a diabolical, supernatural presence. Director Tom Daley and screenwriter Warren Chaney don’t push too hard on the senses with the effort, sticking to slasher cinema formula as they invest ways to eliminate characters and cause on-screen mayhem. And they do a fine job of it, working with the weirdness of the material to deliver some decent grotesqueries and amusing personalities, keeping the production on the move.

Dr. Wallace (James Huston) and Dr. Bressling (Danny Daniels) have taken possession of a special lamp for the Museum of Natural Science in Houston. They hope to examine its history, but Dr. Wallace has other matters he must attend to, including leading a field trip for a group of high school students, including his daughter, Alex (Andra St. Ivanyi), who’s joined by her boyfriend, Ted (Scott Bankston). Curious about the new arrival, Alex takes a closer look at the lamp, collecting a bracelet that was found with the treasure, which unknowingly gives her access to the evil inside. The teens soon hatch a plan to secretly spend the night in the museum, but opportunities for sexual attention are quickly interrupted by Mike (Red Mitchell), Alex’s hostile ex-boyfriend, who’s ready to make a mess of the night, and the jinn inside the lamp is eager for release, unleashing its horror. Across town, Dr. Wallace makes time with Alex’s teacher, Eve (Deborah Winters), with the pair gradually realizing something isn’t right about the evening.

“The Lamp” opens with a prologue set in 1893, with the lamp arriving in Galveston, Texas from Iraq, establishing its history and connection to a special bracelet that keeps the container under control. There’s another introductory sequence concerning a potential theft of the lamp, with halfwit crooks trying to score big money, only to discover the bejeweled object after it’s been hidden for decades. That lamp is no treasure, and the screenplay soon settles into a story with Alex and her curiosity with the museum’s new addition, using her comfort with the building to study the lamp and collect the bracelet, kickstarting a fresh round of hellraising. “The Lamp” has some subplots to build before horror arrives, tracking Dr. Wallace and his secret love affair with Eve, a tough high school teacher. Alex’s friends are all in various stages of horniness, eager to use the secret sleepover for sexual adventures. and there’s Mike, a racist, violent offender who’s trying to make life miserable for his ex. There’s even an opera- singing museum security guard, because hey, why not?

Slasher formula eventually comes into play, but “The Lamp” does a capable job juggling supporting characters and developing the mystery of the jinn, teasing a possession movie of sorts as Alex is the first to feel the power of the devilish genie. Gore arrives in the second half of the feature, but “The Lamp” isn’t an excessively violent endeavor, only going wild with strange murder set pieces, including a female character who elects to take a bath in the museum’s specimen room, only to be attacked by reanimated snakes. Now there’s something one doesn’t see very often. A battle for survival begins around the building, which is a unique setting for nightmare encounters, watching the characters weave around exhibits and scurry around dark administrative hallways.

The Lamp Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Vinegar Syndrome provides a note about the release of "The Lamp," which uses an interpositive for the AVC encoded (1.85:1 aspect ratio), as the original negative couldn't be found. Short scene extensions were discovered during this hunt and have been placed back into the feature, creating brief "motion jump." While noticeable, it's not distracting, and allows Vinegar Syndrome to provide the "most complete version ever released," which should make fans of the film very happy. Softness is present during the viewing experience, but it's not oppressive, as detail emerges with skin surfaces and dimensional museum tours. The metallic and bejeweled appearance of the lamp remains textured, along with creature creations. Colors are compelling, with red rubies and period hues for teen fashion. Greenery is exact, and interior decoration provides appreciable primaries, along with dramatic lighting choices, including the greenish appearance of the jinn. Skintones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory, with a few overly dark moments. Grain is heavy and film-like. Source is in good condition, with some mild speckling and scratches.

The Lamp Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix struggles some in the first reel, with volume levels fluctuating during the opening act. The track settles down as the film unfolds, offering secure dialogue exchanges and defined acts of panic as horror elements come into play. Scoring cues are supportive, with adequate instrumentation. Sound effects are more pronounced, surveying violent acts of jinn-based fury, including elements of fire and wind. Mild hiss is present.

The Lamp Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features writer/producer Warren Chaney, and actors Deborah Winters and Barry Coffing.

• "All in the Family: Taking an Outing in 'The Lamp'" (36:36, HD) is the making-of for the horror movie, featuring interviews with executive producer Fred Kuehnert, screenwriter/producer Warren Chaney, actor/casting director/associate producer Deborah Winters Chaney, and actors Barry Coffing, Michelle Watkins, Hank Amico, Andre Chimene, and Andra St. Ivanyi. The featurette charts the early careers of the interviewees, with most working in Houston, Texas, dealing with the limited film industry of the area. Story origins are recalled, with Chaney working to find a twist on the magical genie routine by making the creation the villain of the picture, also aiming to play into then-current slasher trends to ensure a script sale. Financing is discussed, and auditions are remembered, with St. Ivanyi winning her role with a scream test. The creation of the jinn explored, with most impressed by the physical presence of the monster, and the shoot is examined, with anecdotes offered concerning stunt work and on-set atmosphere. Positive feelings surround the making of "The Lamp," as the Chaneys maintained respect for cast and crew. Distribution changes are noted, as American audiences were presented with a retitled, reedited version ("The Outing"), but cult longevity remains. The interviewees close with an update about their lives, with everyone basically moving away from filmmaking after their Houston adventure.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:49, HD) is included.

The Lamp Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Lamp" isn't sharply constructed, but it's relatively well-acted for this type of endeavor (Winters is wonderfully committed to her part, managing lovesickness with educator fury), and the kills are interesting, eventually working with museum artifacts to increase the strangeness of the jinn's powers. There's not much effort put into the writing to challenge slasher predictability, but the setting and the enemy are compellingly oddball, helping "The Lamp" to stay memorable while the producers try to remain with genre trends.