CREATURE WITH THE ATOM BRAIN (1955)
Tagline: Terror true to science, based on laboratory experiments described in national magazines!
(Sci-fi, Horror, Atom Stuff) [PG]
Note – This movie did not originally have an MPAA rating, but I think it would have been a PG.
Dr. Steigg, if it weren't for my money, you'd be experimenting with cats and dogs in that flea-sized lab of yours in Europe.
Oh man, so let’s kick this thing off by saying this movie is part crime drama part atomic zombie movie. In this one, a criminal mastermind named Frank Buchanan ends up getting deported to Italy after some rival gangsters decide to turn him in to authorities. While in Italy he decides to twist the efforts of Wilhelm Steigg, and his tech is now going to be used to control men via atomic energy. Mostly because in the 50s atomic energy could do anything, make you bigger, make you smaller, turn you into an octopus with an avocado head, make you invisible etc etc. Can the authorities stop the madness before Buchanan is overcome with madness and power extending his revenge to all who oppose him?
First off with a name like this one, you might think they were going to go a little campy with this. Nope, this is a very serious movie with some great acting. I think it definitely falls into the category of being a b-movie when it comes to effects and all that, but the performances are very good. I also loved that these atomic men or creatures being controlled by Buchanan are essentially like Superman. They can burst through walls and get shot and nothing seems to stop them. It’s pretty great.
The big stand-out acting-wise is Richard Denning who was famous for a lot of sci-fi stuff such as THE BLACK SCORPION and TARGET EARTH as Dr. Chet Walker. He is always solid and particularly good in this. Joyce Walker is played by Angela Stevens probably best known for OUTLAW WOMEN. Michael Granger does a pretty good job playing the gangster-ish Frank Buchanan. He was most famous for THE BIG HEAT, but I am not too familiar with most of his body of work. We also get a decent amount of S. John Launer as Police Captain Dave Harris. Launer was also in 1957’s I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF.
Regarding the music and score, I think those were just okay, but the pace is pretty good. This one also has you wondering what will happen next. Director Edward L. Cahn basically copied this plotline in another movie called INVISIBLE INVADERS only using aliens. I will save that review for another time though. This movie also has the distinction of being made by the same producers as THE GIANT CLAW, THE WEREWOLF, and ZOMBIES OF MORA TAU.
Overall this is a pretty serious movie that still manages to be fun. I think it stood out for that reason. It feels a bit off the beaten path but still manages to keep all the great staples of 50s sci-fi close to its chest.
I have to give this one a 4 out of 7.
GRAPHICS ARE THE PROPERTY OF CLOVER PRODUCTIONS AND ARE USED FOR REVIEW PURPOSES ONLY.
Please check out the link below by clicking on the picture. Because no one should die buttonless.
Comments
Post a Comment