X-Ray

Director - Boaz Davidson (American Cyborg: Steel Warriors, Blood Run)

Starring - Barbi Benton (Deathstalker, Riptide), Charles Lucia (Tank Girl, Society), and Jon Van Ness (Tourist Trap, Supernatural)

Release Date - 1981

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "The movie that will scare the life out of you"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     X-Ray is one of those films that you either like or hate.  I remember watching it all those years ago and remember liking it but it was a movie that was soon erased from memory.  It doesn't have any memorable qualities but it's enjoyable for a late night horror fix especially if you had never seen it before.  I can see why some genre fans may not like it but I did enjoy it I just couldn't remember anything about it.  When Vinegar Syndrome announced it as the second film on their UHD release I was really looking forward to revisiting both films that I had watched all those years before.  

     The film follows the beautiful Susan (Benton) who stops by the hospital for a routine check up and soon finds herself the center of a horrible game as someone starts tampering with her medical file.  Soon hospital staff starts to go missing as someone dressed as a doctor is stalking and killing with a grudge for Susan.

     X-Ray is a slasher-esque horror flick with a medical theme that struggles with pacing and character development but makes up for it with atmosphere and tension.  The predictable story and corny dialogue makes this a slasher that you may not love but you can enjoy.  The acting in this one is pretty rough at times but still far from the worst I've seen.  The cast is dedicated to their roles and go all in but they still struggle to feel comfortable in front of the camera.  Benton is the only performance that doesn't leave you rolling your eyes as the film progresses.  The story for this one is rather predictable but knowing who the killer is adds a bit of fun to the film.  A lot of the dialogue is awkward and rough to sit through but seeing who dies next is what makes this one so much fun.  Finally, the film has several deaths that fit the medical theme with some solid effects but the lack of gore or imagination in the way the deaths were shot is a bit disappointing.  Overall, X-Ray is not a fantastic film but it is fun especially if you are looking for a late flick to watch while you drink.  I highly recommend checking it out especially if you like the cheesy side of horror.