Incubus (1981)

Director: John Hough

Starring: John Cassavetes, John Ireland, Kerrie Keane

A small town’s doctor takes matters into his own hands after a series of gruesome and bizarre rape crimes perplex the clueless authorities.

An Incubus is a sex demon that can manifest itself in human form.

Sam (John Cassavetes) is the new doctor in a small town. His back story tells us about his deceased wife, and he now lives with his teenage daughter Jenny (Erin Noble). Jenny is seeing Tim. I thought Tim was the most interesting character. Every time he had nightmare, someone died, and he believed he was responsible. His mother Agatha is also a very mysterious character.

Brutal murders leave Sam and the police baffled. Female victims are being raped, and Sam is confused by the amount of semen found in some of the victims, while no semen is found in others. He is trying to get information from Mandy, a traumatized survivor who is recovering in hospital.

Also new in town, is reporter Laura Kincaid, who becomes Sam’s romantic interest as they try to solve the mystery. The film started off like a slasher B-movie, but it becomes more involved – and more interesting – as it develops. It’s not a bad movie, but I believe it would have been better with another director and/or editor. Some scenes were edited so badly that it almost felt as if I was missing something, as if the film was meant to be longer, but cut.

The film also serves as a whodunit murder mystery. The twist ending was not at all what I expected, but somehow I found it better, and a more shocking reveal. I actually rather enjoyed ‘Incubus’.

Would I watch it again? Yes, I think so.