Berserker (1987 film)
| Berserker | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Jefferson Richard |
| Written by | Joseph Kaufman Jefferson Richard |
| Produced by | Jules Rivera |
| Starring | Greg Dawson Joseph Alan Johnson Valerie Sheldon Beth Toussaint George "Buck" Flower |
| Cinematography | Henning Schellerup |
| Edited by | Marcus Manton |
| Music by | Chuck Francour Gary Griffin |
| Distributed by | Shapiro Entertainment |
Release date |
|
Running time | 85 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Berserker (also known as Berserker: The Nordic Curse) is a 1987 American slasher film written and directed by Jefferson Richard. The film centers on a group of campers who are stalked and murdered by a Viking berserker.
Plot
According to an old Nordic legend, a Berserker was a bloodthirsty warrior who ate human flesh, was forbidden a restful death and fated to be reincarnated in their blood kin. A summer camp accidentally stumbles across the Berserker legend when it arises in Rainbow Valley, an area settled by Norwegian immigrants. The camp is abuzz with rumours of a wild bear killing people in the area, including speculation about an old couple who get lost. But is it really a bear?
Cast
- Greg Dawson as Josh Winter
- Joseph Alan Johnson as Mike Stone
- Rodney Montague as Larry Fishman
- Valerie Sheldon as Kathy
- Shannon Engemann as Kristi
- Beth Toussaint as Shelly
- Mike Riley as Berserker
- John F. Goff as Officer Walt Hill
- George "Buck" Flower as Pappy Nyquist
- Oscar Rowland as Homer Roberts
- Beverly Rowland as Edna Roberts
Production
Parts of the film were shot at Big Cottonwood Canyon in Utah.[1]
Release
Home media
The film was released on DVD by Quantum Leap on October 22, 2001. It was later released by Hollywood DVD on August 2, 2004.[2] Vinegar Syndrome released the film on Blu-ray in 2019.
Reception
Andrew Smith from Popcorn Pictures awarded the film a score of 3/10, writing, Berserker sounded great and could have become a little slasher gem but the lack of the berserker on-screen is disappointing and ‘Gentle Ben’ the bear doesn’t have any need to be in here. One to avoid unless you have a burning desire to see every 80s slasher film".[3] Todd Martin from HorrorNews.net offered the film similar criticism, calling it "a boring, confusing, hokey, mess of a film".[4] Will and Roni agreed that the Viking angle was underplayed.
References
- ^ D'Arc, James V. (2010). When Hollywood came to town: a history of moviemaking in Utah (1st ed.). Layton, Utah: Gibbs Smith. ISBN 9781423605874.
- ^ "Berserker (1987) - Jef Richard, Henning Schellerup". Allmovie.com. AllMovie. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
- ^ Smith, Andrew. "Berserker (1987)". Popcorn Pictures.co.uk. Andrew Smith. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
- ^ Martin, Todd (7 March 2015). "Film Review: Berserker (1987)". HorrorNews.net. Todd Martin. Retrieved 18 June 2018.