Review of The Manster (1959) by Steve M — 18 Dec 2006

The Manster.

Starring: Peter Dyneley, Tetsu Nakamura, Terri Zimmern, Van Hawley, Jane Hylton, and Jerry Ito.

Directors: George Breakstone and Kenneth Crane.

Larry (Dyneley), an American journalist working in Japan travels to interview a reclusive scientist (Nakamura) about his strange experiments. The scientist, being just a tad more insane than the average mad doctor, secretly injects the journalist with his latest monster-making enzyme. Soon, the usually mild-mannered reporter is partying all night with Japanese hookers, going on killing sprees, and growing a second head.

"The Manster" is a monster movie that's so jaw-droppingly stupid that it transcends its Badness to become a fun viewing experience. It's a near-perfect film for viewing during a "Bad Movie Party". It's got absurd characters spouting absurd dialogue, a mad scientist who is convinced he's serving humanity by injecting visitors to his mountain hideaway with an "enzyme" that turns them into monsters, Japanese dance parties, and the ultimate Ugly American... lot of stuff to have fun with.

Now, that's not to say it's a complete failure as a horror/monster film. It has a few creepy and/or startling scenes, the first and foremost being when the nagging pain in Larry's shoulder starts to come a head. (And if you watch the film, you'll what a bad pun that is.).

While not a good movie, "The Manster" is a film that you can have plenty of fun with, if it's viewed with the right crowd and in the right frame of mind.