‘Luther the Geek: Tromatic Special Edition’ Blu-ray Review
Stars: Edward Terry, Joan Roth, Stacy Haiduk, Thom Mills, Jerry Clarke, Tom Brittingham, Carlton Williams, Gil Rogers | Written and Directed by Carlton J. Albright
The 1980s were highlighted by horror movies featuring maniacs like Freddy Krueger, Jason Vorhees and Michael Myers. But what about Luther? The name Luther is not on that list! Why? In the 80s, Troma Films were producing gory horror films like very few companies, and to capitalise on the killer maniac genre, they created their own killer, Luther the Geek. Now, Troma Home Entertainment have released this cult horror classic on Blu-ray!
A young country boy is plunged into the depths of homicidal madness after witnessing the strange exploits of a carnival ‘geek,’ a caged drunk so desperate for whisky that he bites the heads off live chickens in front of a freak show audience. Thirty years later, Luther is all grown up and out on parole, after spending his childhood behind bars for a series of grisly murders. Armed with only a pair of razor-sharp metal dentures and only able to communicate through chicken clucks, Luther restarts his bloody rampage as he terrorizes the citizens of a small town and takes a young mother and her family hostage in their isolated farmhouse.
Freddy had his razor glove, Jason was known for his hockey mask, and Michael Myers loved to use the kitchen knife. But Luther the Geek? He had metal dentures! Talk about unique. Luther the Geek also had gore galore, but at the same time, the film wasn’t afraid to lean into the absurdity, and that is what makes this film so much fun.
Troma Films have transferred Luther the Geek to Blu-ray in 1080p and is presented in widescreen format. The audio track is an English Dolby Digital 2.0 track. There is also the option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Watching Luther the Geek on Blu-ray is an absolute pleasure. I first saw this film years ago on DVD, and revisiting it here is like experiencing it all over again. The upgrade is night and day: the image is razor-sharp, the colours are rich and vibrant, and the audio is crystal clear. Simply put, this is a fantastic transfer that makes the film look and sound better than ever. But it’s not just the presentation doing the heavy lifting – Troma has also packed the disc with a selection of genuinely cool bonus features. Here’s what you’ll find on the release…
Special Features:
- Original Lloyd Kaufman DVD Intro
- Carlton J. Albright’s Blu-Ray Intro
- Director’s Commentary with Carlton J. Albright
- Classic Interview With Director Carlton J. Albright
- Classic Interview with William Albright
- A Conversation With Carlton: An Interview With Carlton Albright
- Fowl Play: An Interview With Jerry Clarke
- Original Theatrical Trailer
- Fowl Takes
- Troma’s Freak Show
- INNARDS! Music Video
- Radiation March
- Troma Time Square
- TA in 4K!
- Coming Distractions
With a mix of new and classic bonus features, Troma Home Entertainment’s Tromatic Special Edition of Luther the Geek will make quite the addition to anyone’s slasher section of their home video library.
***** 5/5
If you love 80s horror, Luther the Geek is one you need to add to your collection. Head over to Amazon and order your copy now.
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And it should be noted in your review that Troma and the film’s original producers have not paid proper residuals to cast for this SAG film. The film has been sold and resold numerous times to stay ahead of paying the cast monies due. Now Troma is ripping off the actors as they own the film and have not paid a cent.