Well here is another "classic" revered by many.We have Bela Lugosi as Dr Richard Vollin, Boris Karloff as killer Edmond Bateman and a forgettable cast.
When Judge Thatcher's daughter Jean is terribly injured in an auto accident even her fiance Dr Hardin is helpless.Her only hope is the brilliant but eccentric Dr Richard Vollin.We see Vollin browbeating a mousy museum official.Dr Vollin is a fanatical admirer of Poe and a retired surgeon.He has even built a few torture devices based on the works of Poe.So you know he is just a little on the loony side.He refuses to help Jean Thatcher until the Judge begs him.
Vollin saves Jean and falls in love with her. Jean has strong feeling for Vollin but her father interferes and really p----s Vollin off. They have strong words and Vollin snaps.
Edmond Bateman shows up at Vollin's door. The mad dog killer wants a new face.Vollin will do it only if Bateman does a "job" for him.Vollin disfigures the killer and promises to restore his face after he does the job for him.
After arranging for Jean, Jerry and the Judge (and a few other people out of nowhere) to spend a weekend at his home the "thrills" begin. The Judge is strapped to a pendulum and Jerry & Jean are put in a room with the walls sliding together.Will they survive?
WHO CARES?The only sympathetic character is Bateman and he's a killer.You don't feel for the Thatchers as Jean is a lame brain and her Dad is a snob. Jerry is about as interesting as patio furniture.The comic relief and other cast members are incidental to the plot.
While critics trumpet this as Lugosi's greatest role other than Dracula I beg to differ.Check out Black Cat or his performances as Ygor.In this movie he overacts and chews up the scenery.Yes he is supposed to be mad but you either wince or giggle when he is onscreen.The dialogue is horrible."Poe! You are avenged!"From what?
Boring characters and wild over acting doom this film.Sorry, no better than a 3.This is not a classic!
When Judge Thatcher's daughter Jean is terribly injured in an auto accident even her fiance Dr Hardin is helpless.Her only hope is the brilliant but eccentric Dr Richard Vollin.We see Vollin browbeating a mousy museum official.Dr Vollin is a fanatical admirer of Poe and a retired surgeon.He has even built a few torture devices based on the works of Poe.So you know he is just a little on the loony side.He refuses to help Jean Thatcher until the Judge begs him.
Vollin saves Jean and falls in love with her. Jean has strong feeling for Vollin but her father interferes and really p----s Vollin off. They have strong words and Vollin snaps.
Edmond Bateman shows up at Vollin's door. The mad dog killer wants a new face.Vollin will do it only if Bateman does a "job" for him.Vollin disfigures the killer and promises to restore his face after he does the job for him.
After arranging for Jean, Jerry and the Judge (and a few other people out of nowhere) to spend a weekend at his home the "thrills" begin. The Judge is strapped to a pendulum and Jerry & Jean are put in a room with the walls sliding together.Will they survive?
WHO CARES?The only sympathetic character is Bateman and he's a killer.You don't feel for the Thatchers as Jean is a lame brain and her Dad is a snob. Jerry is about as interesting as patio furniture.The comic relief and other cast members are incidental to the plot.
While critics trumpet this as Lugosi's greatest role other than Dracula I beg to differ.Check out Black Cat or his performances as Ygor.In this movie he overacts and chews up the scenery.Yes he is supposed to be mad but you either wince or giggle when he is onscreen.The dialogue is horrible."Poe! You are avenged!"From what?
Boring characters and wild over acting doom this film.Sorry, no better than a 3.This is not a classic!