Curse of the Faceless Man1958
What makes this film worth watching?
"...too endearingly simpleminded not to find a warm place in the hearts of monster movie lovers." - Glenn Erickson, Trailers From Hell
3 members like this review
I want to thank Fandor for making this movie available. It takes me back to my childhood, when my uncle and I would stay up late watching these movies on television. A few are available on DVD, but not many. Of course they won't pass muster as works of art, and I have to chuckle at attempts to review them as such, but they were a mainstay of excitement for many Americans. They truly are a snapshot of a different time, and were really scary at a time when there weren't so many things to really fear (or, at least, we didn't see images of them all day, every day.) I'd love to see more of these movies. A favorite was Monster on the Campus, about a prehistoric fish that wreaks havoc on an idyllic academic community. Thanks again, Fandor. I really enjoyed this movie.
Starring
- Richard Anderson - Dr. Paul Mallon
- Morris Ankrum - Narrator
- Jan Arvan - Police Insp. Renaldi
- Bob Bryant - Quintillus Aurelius
- Elaine Edwards - Tina Enright
- Felix Locher - Dr. Emanuel
- Adele Mara - Maria Fiorillo
- Gar Moore - Dr. Enricco Ricci
- Luis van Rooten - Dr. Carlo Fiorillo
Directed By
Executive Produced By
Produced By
Cinematography
Poster & Images
Member Reviews (5)
I want to thank Fandor for making this movie available. It takes me back to my childhood, when my uncle and I would stay up late watching these movies on television. A few are available on DVD, but not many. Of course they won't pass muster as works of art, and I have to chuckle at attempts to review them as such, but they were a mainstay of excitement for many Americans. They truly are a snapshot of a different time, and were really scary at a time when there weren't so many things to really fear (or, at least, we didn't see images of them all day, every day.) I'd love to see more of these movies. A favorite was Monster on the Campus, about a prehistoric fish that wreaks havoc on an idyllic academic community. Thanks again, Fandor. I really enjoyed this movie.
Some films are good, some are so bad that they are good, this one is neither.
I enjoy a good cheesy movie as much as the next person, but its difficult to appreciate the over-acting and bad special effects when the plot has this many holes (think Swiss cheese).
Close to the conclusion, they indicate that the creature has carried the woman for 15 miles. At the speed he travels, it would have taken him a week, but in the film it seems to be only a few minutes.
The performances from the characters are more stiff than the protagonist, and the story takes twice as long to get to its destination.
I honestly can not recall a film with more narration. Why would anyone need this much explanation for a man wrapped up in sheets chasing after his "lost love" at an annoyingly slow pace?
The film is titled correctly, but the "curse" is reserved for the audience.
Reminded me of those short movie episodes back in the 40's, where each week evil seemed to triumph only to discover by next Saturday's episode, the hero had survived but was in yet another tragic situation. It was exciting then, and worth the 19 cents, but not today. The pace of this film was too slow, to strung out. Maybe it's value is as an example of early efforts in new creativity, but it didn't move me and I can imagine this film being produced today. Several quibbles, but overall, kind of slow motion fun. I wonder how Richard Anderson would remember it today.
Scripted by Jerome Bixby, an excellent and sadly under-rated short story writer, this film's story is more inventive than movies of this type, even if it is just a reworking of The Mummy. Highly enjoyable.
I typically enjoy B movies, but this one wasn't quite good enough to recommend. Too many plot problems, too poor a story and a heavy-handed narration instead of a good script. While I don't regret watching it, only the most devoted fans of this genre would find it worth their time.