The Outing (1987)

An ancient genie is released from a lamp when thieves ransack an old woman's house. They are killed and the lamp is moved to a museum to be studied. The curator's daughter is soon possessed... See full summary »

Director:

Tom Daley

Writer:

Warren Chaney

Stars:

Deborah Winters, James Huston, Andra St. Ivanyi

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Deborah Winters	...	Eve Ferrell / Young Arab Woman / Old Arab Woman
James Huston	...	Dr. Wallace
Andra St. Ivanyi	...	Alex Wallace
Scott Bankston	...	Ted Pinson
Red Mitchell	...	Mike Daley (as Mark Mitchell)
André Chimène	...	Tony Greco
Damon Merrill	...	Babs
Barry Coffing	...	Ross
Tracye Walker	...	Gwen
Raan Lewis	...	Terry
Hank Amico	...	Harley (as Hank Amigo)
Brian Floores	...	Max
Michelle Watkins	...	Faylene
Danny Daniels	...	Dr. Theo Bressling (as Danny D. Daniels)
Roy Alan Wilson	...	Guard Bob

Storyline

An ancient genie is released from a lamp when thieves ransack an old woman's house. They are killed and the lamp is moved to a museum to be studied. The curator's daughter is soon possessed by the genie and invites her friends to spend the night at the museum, along with some uninvited guests. The genie kills them off in an attempt to fulfill her ultimate wish.

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Plot Keywords:

bare breasts | murder of a nude woman | nudity | genie | museum | 

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Taglines:

They're not coming back.

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Released directly to video in the UK and West Germany.

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Goofs

When Alex is at the breakfast table and her dad is in the kitchen stomping out the burning toast, the blinds over the sink are clearly open as sunlight is shining through. However, right after Dr. Wallace leaves the room to get dressed and Alex steps in to clean up the mess the blinds are suddenly closed without either having touched them.

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Quotes

Alex Wallace: What's the matter, afraid?

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Crazy Credits

After the end credits, the opera-loving security guard takes a final bow.

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Alternate Versions

UK cinema and video versions were cut by 14 secs with edits to a rape scene.

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Connections

References Poltergeist (1982)

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Soundtracks

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
Written and Performed by Rick DeLano

User Reviews

Wishing your life away.

Robbers break into an elderly lady's house, and uncover an exotic artifact in the shape of lamp. They murder her, and then they unknowingly unleash a Djinn from the lamp and they would follow her fate. Soon the lamp finds itself at a museum, where a bunch of students secretly decide to spend the night and would become the next targets of the rampaging djinn.

The Lamp (aka The Outing) has an unusually sound (if simple) concept, largely brought down by its mediocre execution and formulaic inclusions. It starts off decent to only have its interest slowly fade due to its low scale plot developments and lumpy mid-section (focusing on a bunch of rather boring kids), but then the final third erratically erupts (rather gruesomely and incoherently) with a baffling freeze frame closing. However, gladly the numerous (some silly, but a couple remained effective) death scenes provided some inventiveness with a certain splash of nastiness and blood. While the special effects (glowing green mist) and make-up FX can be on the hokey side (a stiff, but towering Djinn), they still had a lively charm to them that reeks of its decade. Director Tom Daley's creaky direction doesn't use the compact locations (and a museum would be such a great setting for this carnage) all that well with little in the way of suspense, due to the uneven pacing that didn't help much in the build-up and atmosphere is barely evident with only a few lasting pockets. At least the quick, swirling camera work adds in some much needed verve and a sense of urgency, despite the routine POV framing. The performances are woeful, but not enough to destroy the viewing. Andra St. Ivanyi leads the way, with James Huston and Deborah Winters in lesser support.

I didn't dislike it, but nonetheless it's completely average and cheap hokum that won't last too long in one's memory.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 November 1987 (Japan)

Also Known As:

The Outing

Filming Locations:

Houston, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$1,083,395

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,083,395

Company Credits

Production Co:

H.I.T. Films, Skouras Pictures, TMS Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min 105 min (original)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1