The Manster (1959)
1h 13m | PG-13
An American journalist stationed in Japan is given a mysterious injection by a mad scientist, turning him into a murderous, two-headed monster.
Director: George P. Breakston
Studio: Lopert Pictures Corporation
Genre: Horror, Science Fiction
Video: 720p
Cast
Peter Dyneley
as Larry Stanford
Jane Hylton
as Linda Stanford
Tetsu Nakamura
as Dr. Robert Suzuki
Terri Zimmern
as Tara
Norman Van Hawley
as Ian Matthews
Jerry Itō
as Police Supt. Aida
Reviews
This was an excellent film and it really surprised me that it was included in my cheapo Mill Creek 50-pack, 'Nightmare Worlds'. The pair that played the married couple in the film were actually married in real life, and the actor who played the evil Japanese mad scientist was born, like me, Canadian. This would have scored higher for me had the mutation not given Larry a second head--they needn't have overdone it there. This was made very suspenseful, with nourish undertones, and it was a greatly enjoyable alternate take on the Jekyll and Hyde story, complete with allusions to: a) The power of alcohol in transforming one's personality and morality; b) how difficult it is in one's life to be faithful and monogamous, when life has more than its share of temptations.; and c) The power of both unconditional love in both friends and one's spouse. This certainly deserves a better rating than it tends to get in cinephilic circles, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to any fans of the genre.