I, MONSTER

I, MONSTER

Another of Optimum's recent Amicus Studios releases. I, MONSTER first introduces us to its leering anti-hero Charles (Christopher Lee, DRACULA) beneath the opening credits, as he toils away in his homemade laboratory.

Later that evening, Charles takes a break from his work and goes to the local men's club for a civilised drink or two with a group of upper-class gentlemen. Among these is Charles' friend Frederick (Peter Cushing, THE MUMMY).

Charles joins the group mid-discussion, as they debate whether men are born evil and a suppressed rage dwells within all of them, or if badness is something that is bred by upbringing, experience, class and so on. Charles has his say on the subject, then leaves for the evening.

He returns home, gives his coat to his butler, and returns downstairs to his laboratory.

Meanwhile, back at the club Frederick and the boys continue to debate over their beliefs, and get to pondering over whether it would be liberating if a civilised man such as any one of them could let his their most depraved desires run amuck for a short time. Frederick, ever the stick-in-the-mud, decides absolutely against the notion.

But funnily enough, his old pal Charles is at home at that precise moment working on a formula that he hopes will give him access to untapped parts of the human brain. Like any self-respecting scientist, he tries his potion out on his cat first - with tragic results (the moggy goes mental and he has to beat it to death).

All of which leads to a little more exposition - a couple of potential romantic interests come Charles' way, we see him at his day job, and his friendship with stuffy Frederick is established a little further. And then I, MONSTER gets going properly when Charles retires to his laboratory to inject himself with his refined potion ...

From hereon in, what began as a rather staid (albeit well shot and produced) period drama turns into an amusing excuse for Lee to ham it up. His performance becomes more and more hysterical - in the best possible way, granted - as Charles becomes increasingly dependent on his drug, and takes to roaming London's streets on a night unshaven, looking for whores.

If that behaviour isn't shocking enough, coming from a respected doctor, he also engages in a hilarious street fight with a young pimp at one point. Oh, Charles knows no shame at all once his alter ego is let loose.

The opening credits proclaim I, MONSTER to be "based upon a story by Robert Louis Stevenson". It doesn't take a brain surgeon to realise that director Stephen Weeks' (GHOST STORY) film is a loose retelling of the classic DR JECKYLL AND MR HYDE tale. The main difference here is that the "potion" the doctor takes to discover his darker side is clearly a reference to drug using. It's injected into Charles' arm, an obvious hint towards heroin. And the use becomes abuse, the abuse becomes addiction ...

Although the theme of drug abuse may seem contemporary in a 1971 horror movie, everything else about I, MONSTER is rather old-fashioned.

With it's period costume and set designs, stuffy English acting and dated dialogue, it very much harks to the Hammer productions of the early-to-mid 60s. Which is no bad thing.

The pairing of Lee and Cushing is always reliable, although they don't spend much screen time together in this outing. Lee makes up for that though, especially in the last half of the movie when his overacting hits the max. Classic stuff.

A film I'd always wanted to see, ever since reading about as a kid in Dennis Gifford's "Pictorial History of Horror Movies". It's not revelatory, and I'll soon forget it, I'm sure. But it didn't disappoint either. Good, harmless fun. Short too, at 77 minutes in length.

Optimum's disc is disappointingly bare.

The main feature is presented uncut, in an anamorphic 1.85:1 transfer. Images are slightly soft and the general look of the film is too dark.

The English mono audio serves the film better, with a good loud mix.

Static menus include a scene selection menu offering access to the movie via 12 chapters.

There's no extras on offer I'm afraid, not even a trailer. Lovely cover art though.

Review by Stu Willis


 
Released by Optimum
Region 2 - PAL
Rated 18
Extras :
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