Monster on the Campus (1958), dir. Jack Arnold, Universal-International Pictures
We've mentioned the creative freedom that comes from the doomed and the occasional diamond in the rough one can find-this isn't one of those gems.
Dr. Blake (Arthur Franz) is your typical university science professor. He's giddy about his most recent find- a genuine coelacanth!
His main field of study is evolution, specifically man's ability to evolve willingly. He's so enthralled with the fish that he accidently nicks his finger on the fish's sharp teeth. I'm sure doing so in the fish's water tank could have no side effects, could it?
Molly (Helen Westcott) offers to drive the increasingly ill doc home. That's the last thing Blake remembers when he's found the next day. Molly's house is wrecked and the nurse herself is found hanging from a tree, her heart burst from fright.
Naturally some eyes are cast in Blake's direction, but it's obviously not him. The killer must have been an absolute savage to inflict that kind of damage. Blake is concerned, obviously, but when a dragonfly gets exposed to the coelacanth's blood and turns into a two foot long killer, Blake is a bit concerned. Did the fish's blood turn him into some kind of throwback?
He decides some experiments must be conducted...
I can almost see where they were going but while Mr. Hyde or a werewolf is a pretty easy swing (and easy to make sympathetic), here Blake keeps injecting himself with the blood and killing people. You'd think he'd maybe start with a mouse or something first.
Special effects are fine if unspectacular.
No comments:
Post a Comment