December 24, 2008.

Good Intentions....

Rating: 5
Dr. Xavier (Ray Milland from The Premature Burial and Frogs) invents eye-drops that give the user the ability to see through solid objects. He tries the stuff on a monkey and it works, but the monkey quickly dies. Of course, this means that Xavier simply must experiment on himself! So, with no further trials or tests, he puts the drops in his own peepers and -Zish!- he has x-ray vision! At first, he has fun by inadvertantly seeing through everyone's clothes at a swingin' dance party. Soon, Xavier attempts to save a girl's life by seeing into her heart to observe it's true defect, much to the chagrin of the girl's surgeon, who has a completely different diagnosis! Some doctor friends try to reason w/ Xavier and try to administer a sedative. Bad idea! Xavier resists, knocking one of the poor saps through a window to his demise! On the run, Xavier becomes "Mental-O" the psychic seer in a carnival sideshow. Don Rickles is great in his part as Mental-O's greedy, self-appointed manager. Corman regulars Dick Miller and Jonathan Haze show up as hecklers. Rickles' character gets Xavier to set up on his own, in some vacant building. An old friend (Diane Van Der Vlis) shows up, and Xavier takes off w/ her. The pair go to Vegas where Xavier uses his visual powers to better his financial state. This leads to the "shocking" climax at a tent revival meeting. Milland is fun to watch throughout, easily pulling off his role as a man seeking to do good things, but having it all turn out badly. X is a 60s sci-fi classic! Also, watch for legendary Morris Ankrum in a 10-second role as a medical board member! Highly recommended...

December 03, 2008.

Greed Was The Doctor's Downfall.

Rating: 4
Some wealthy celebrities become addicted to plastic surgery. They continue having operations until they no longer look like themselves. Sometimes, in extreme cases, they no longer appear human. They are greedy individuals who can't stop. For them, enough is never enough.

Dr. Xavier is a greedy physician who has discovered a formula for improving his vision. Is he satisfied with having 20/20 vision? Of course not. He wants to see the entire spectrum of light, visible and non-visible. He keeps pouring the formula into his eyes until he can see through clothes and then through concrete. He can't stop taking the formula. Naturally, there are disastrous consequences.

"X - The Man with the X-Ray Eyes" is a great science fiction film starring horror veteran Ray Milland ("The Premature Burial," "Frogs," and "Dial M for Murder"). He gives a wonderful performance as the tortured physician fleeing from the authorities. This film is captivating and thought provoking. However, it is too slow paced to maintain the attention of the modern horror fan. Dr. Xavier should have gone insane earlier in the movie, soon after the lab monkey died, and committed more heinous crimes. This would have made the film more exciting.

As it is, "X - The Man with the X-Ray Eyes" does a superb job of chronicling the slow disintegration of the physician's psyche. He goes from a carnival side show freak to a Las Vegas gambler. At the card tables, he is unable to stop gambling. His greed for more money possesses him. Greed is definitely his downfall as it is with so many others who suffer addictions.

The gruesome ending of "X - The Man with the X-Ray Eyes" is unforgettable. It is definitely worth watching the film for this alone. I highly recommend "X" for those who appreciate classic science fiction horror. It is also recommended for fans of Ray Milland.

December 26, 2008.

The "eyes" have it!.

Rating: 4
Sorry, I just had to steal that line from Famous Monsters magazine. They ran a shot of Ray Milland at the end of this movie, after a "Lost Weekend". We all know how those are, when your eyes are REALLY bloodshot, but this Ray's fault. When I was a kid, this flick creeped me out bigtime. Haven't seen it since, but I'd love to, but surrealy folks, not for prices like this. Maybe the Roger Corman collection is the way to go. There's got to be some early Jack Nicholson in there.

December 22, 2008.

Ummm.This movie is in the roger corman box set.............

Rating: 5
Great movie but rip-off prices for a movie that is available in the roger corman box set...

December 11, 2007.

X-Ray Eyes and other things that go Bump in the Night.

Rating: 4
Neat little bit of horror. What a great outlandish idea. Ray Milland as Dr. James Xavier raelly plays this one with convinction considering the genre. That's what makes it work.