Luther the Geek

Director - Carlton J. Albright
Starring - Edward Terry (The Children), Joan Roth (In Transit), and Stacy Haiduk (True Blood)
Release Date - 1990
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "A movie with a fowl bite"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I have been a huge Troma fan for years now after watching the Toxic Avenger for the first time.  I was actually a fan of Troma's Toxic Crusaders when I was a kid but was unaware of all the other Troma shows and films.  I absolutely loved that show along with Creepy Crawlers.  However, my life literally changed after I watched the Toxic Avenger.  I had to see them all and soon followed that up with the Class of Nuke Em High series and continued with their catalog from there.  One film that I had always wanted to check out but never had the chance was Luther the Geek.  The film looked insane but something always came up when I would prepare to order it.  Lucky for me, my friends over at Vinegar Syndrome released the film on blu and I was lucky enough to get a review copy!  Thanks guys.

     The film follows Luther.  Luther becomes obsessed with the taste of blood at a young age when he visits a freakshow attraction and watches a geek eat the head off a live chicken.  When he is older he gets himself a set of metal teeth and files them down to sharp points before going on a killing spree where he is eventually apprehended and placed in prison.  After serving several years and becoming a model prisoner he is paroled where he immediately starts raising hell.  He kills an old woman and hitches a ride in the back seat of a widowed housewife without her knowing. Once they arrive he forces her inside and ties her up to her bed before they are surprised by her daughter and new boyfriend.  Luther hides and locks the door to the room she is tied in.  They shower and right before they can screw around Luther steals his motorcycle forcing them to stop and the man to chase him down.  Luther ditches the bike and attacks him. He then forces the daughter back in the home.  Soon the police arrive looking for Luther and a game of cat and mouse is unleashed on the little farmstead.  
     Luther the Geek looked like it was just another perfect Troma movie mixed with absurd horror and tons of laughs.  With that being said, it was not.  Instead, we were lucky enough to get an honest to god horror film that entertained.  I'm shocked that I haven't heard other horror fans praise this one.  The acting in this one is not the best.  Hell, it's far from the best but it was still fun.  The cast does deliver some solid performances but they are far from perfect.  I was disappointed by Luther.  I was expecting a memorable character that ripped the throats out of the living.  He was not.  The actor behind Luther brought no intensity to his role.  He is flat, one dimensional and easily forgettable.  The story for this one is actually fun considering the killer is not that memorable.  He is relentless and brutal but thats it.  The film flows like a solid slasher without the revenge sub-plot.  Though it is nothing original it still offers up some great horror moments.  Finally, the film has several on screen kills that are bloody and very violent.  The kills are not that original but they are well done and bring some great practical effects to the film.  The bloodhounds will love this one.  Overall, Luther the Geek is one of the better serious horror films in the Troma library.  It has some great kills and a fun story but lacks a memorable killer.  Luther could be so much more but chose to be mediocre.  It still deserves a shot and needs to be in your collection.  Check it out!