Saturday Night at the Frights: January 24, 2009

Doctor of Doom (1962)

K. Gordon Murray strikes again by Americanizing a Mexican combination of mad scientist themes and, of all things, wrestling. A mysterious doctor is attempting brain transplants but the women subjects keep dying. He decides that a woman athlete, such as a wrestler, would be the perfect candidate because of her physical strength. Unintentional (?) hilarity ensues. If you like lovely, full-figured gals wrestling you still have to sit through the other 7/8’s of the film which features bad dialogue, nonexistent logic, and stupid characters. But it is, in its own way, rather fun.

The Girl Who Knew Too Much (1962)

Director Mario Bava’s stylish thriller stars Letícia Román as Nora, visiting Rome to care for bed-ridden aunt. One night the latter suffers an attack so Nora goes rushing to the hospital. But en route she is mugged, and as she comes out her stupor thinks she witnesses a murder. The police find no evidence but Nora is convinced she did not hallucinate. Will she become the next victim of the so-called “Alphabet Killer?” While Bava offers stylish visuals the plot is one of those nonsensical ones where characters deliberately and repeatedly put themselves in danger. It's a pretty good diversion but little else.