Lurking Fear (1994)

Lurking Fear Poster

The storm-swept and depopulated town of Leffert’s Corners has been terrorized for decades by grotesque creatures that breed in the depths beneath the local cemetery. A group of townspeople have hatched a last-ditch plan to destroy the ghoul-infested graveyard, but their mission is interrupted by the arrival of a band of violent thieves intent on retrieving money hidden in one of the graves.

Film Summary
"Lurking Fear" is a 1994 bizarro/horror film directed by C. Courtney Joyner and produced by Charles Band. The film is a loose adapt to H.P. Lovecraft's narrative, "The Lurking Fear". The film links styles of family curses and criminal underworlds versus a background of frightening supernatural components, bringing Lovecraft's famous scary to life.

Main Characters and Plot Line
The story revolves around John Martense, played by Blake Bailey, an outlaw who's been serving time for a criminal offense he did not devote. He is released from prison and decides to hound the secret loot concealed by his late daddy. The loot, hidden in a deserted burial ground, is thought to be a large fortune.

All at once, a group of wrongdoers led by Pierce's character, Knaggs, finds the exact same trick and chooses to pursue the surprise fortune themselves. The two parties are then presented and brought together by a 3rd group-- a household of inbred, monstrous animals occupying the burial ground.

Scary Underground Dwellers
The movie presents an entire brand-new paranormal story about predatory, below ground humanoid animals known as 'underground residents'. These animals are the by-products of generations of inbreeding carried out by a family living in the town of Lefferts Corner, who were concealed underground to stay safe from a storm that never receded. For many years, they mutated into horrific beasts that eat the flesh of the living.

Dispute and Climax
In an unanticipated turn of events, John and the group of wrongdoers discover themselves caught in this dungeon and should unite to endure. As days pass and their resources decrease, they should put aside their disputes to find a method to fight back versus the beasts.

As the story moves towards its climax, Katharine, a physician in the group, discovers that the beasts are biologically human however thoroughly altered. She develops a plan to remove them using fire, which the underground dwellers fear the most.

Conclusion
"Lurking Fear" finishes up with the characters designing a strategy and taking part in a violent struggle for survival. They eventually manage to get away, leaving the creatures to die in the intense assault. The underground creatures' biology, their resistance to bullets, and their worry of fire are all heavy motifs throughout the narrative, adding special aspects to this ingenious scary film.

Though the horror and suspense in "Lurking Fear" are palpable, the movie also uses a subtle exploration of human greed, trust, and the impulse for survival, making it a lot more than a common creature function. This, combined with its exceptional cast, outstanding animal design, and spooky atmosphere, make it rewarding seeing for any severe horror/cult movie fan.

Top Cast

  • Jon Finch (small)
    Jon Finch
    Bennett
  • Blake Adams
    John Martense
  • Ashley Laurence (small)
    Ashley Laurence
    Cathryn Farrell
  • Vincent Schiavelli (small)
    Vincent Schiavelli
    Knaggs
  • Jeffrey Combs (small)
    Jeffrey Combs
    Dr. Haggis
  • Allison Mackie (small)
    Allison Mackie
    Ms. Marlowe
  • Paul Mantee (small)
    Paul Mantee
    Father Poole
  • Joseph Leavengood
    Pierce
  • Michael Todd
    Creature
  • Cristina Stoica (small)
    Cristina Stoica
    Maria
  • Luana Stoica (small)
    Luana Stoica
    Beth