Written by: Michael Den Boer on May 1st, 2008

Theatrical Release Date: Belgium, 1986
Director: Johan Vandewoestijne
Writers: John Kupferschmidt, Johan Vandewoestijne
Cast: Nick Van Suyt, Helga Vandevelde, Let Jotts, Marie Claes, Martine Scherre, Carry Van Middel, John Edwards, Tony Castillo, Veerle Dendooven, Frans Schepens, Werner Onre, Nico Karadjian, Eddy Cosaert, Heidi Callewaart, Francis Impe, Frank Van Laecke, Freek Neyrinck, Ann Piessen
Approximate running time: 68 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo English
Subtitles: N/A
DVD Release: Synapse Films
Region Coding: Region 0 NTSC
Retail Price: $19.95
Synopsis: Three years after committing his first killings a serial killer named Lucker picks up where he left off after escaping from a mental institution.
Over the years Lucker the Necrophagous has gained an underground cult follow despite the films shoddy distribution. Necrophilia in films is a subject matter that hasn’t been exploited to often outside of a few notable instances Nekromantik and Love me Deadly. Lucker lacks any real depth when it comes to its plot which is essentially just made of up grotesque murders many which involve sex with the dead. These scenes are the core of the film and let’s face it no one goes into a film like Lucker expecting a character study about a serial killer.
The most disturbing moment in a film filled with such moments occurs when Lucker has sex with a woman who has been decomposing for a week. The effects and corpse bodies used in the film are all effective in getting the subject matter across. The killings in Lucker are over the top and barbaric. The acting is really weak all around expect for Nick Van Suyt who portrays John Lucker in the film. Van Suyt definitely has the look down and what further drives home the character is that he is a man of very few words.
Ultimately Lucker the Necrophagous is an unapologetic film that makes no excuses for its shocking and brutal depiction of a madman who just happens to love the dead.
The DVD:

Lucker the Necrophgous is presented in an anamorphic widescreen that preserves the films original aspect ratio. The transfer is sourced from the only existing materials left VHS since the original negatives had been destroyed years ago. The image looks clean and free of any defects. Overall this is a solid transfer from Synapse who had very little to work with.
One audio option has been included with this release a Dolby Digital stereo mix in English. The audio like the video have been given a makeover with some added sound effects and removal of all audio defects. The audio mix is load, clear and at times dynamic.
Extras for this release include the original VHS release of Lucker the Necrophgous which runs six minutes longer then the director’s cut included as the main feature. The audio/video for this version is in really bad shape and there are burnt in Dutch subtitles throughout. The main extra for this release is a thirty six minute interview with James Desert titled “Lucker: The Story Behind the Film”. Topics include difficulty getting the film made and distributed. Other topics include projects James Desert has produce since making Lucker the Necrophgous. He also goes into great depth about the restoration/new directors cut of the film. Synapse Films Lucker the Necrophgous DVD is another shining example of the extra mile they put into each and every one of their releases.

