The Revenge Of Doctor X (1970)

Here's a very strange and odd little exploitation film. Complete with laugh-out-loud scenes (unintentional of course), a silly monster costume, obvious rip-offs and more guilty of more mistakes than a married couple of sex-obsessed catholics. This is one hell of a (rather bad) ride for all fans of cheesy b-movies, exploitation drive-in cinema or so-bad-it's-good films.

What the Hell is it About?
According to the DVD case:

A NASA scientist is ordered to take a vacation due to showing signs of stress while working on his latest missile project. Traveling to Japan, the scientist decides to indulge in his botany hobby and begins experimenting on a Venus Flytrap he brought along on his trip. Using radical techniques and falling into madness, the scientist eventually creates a plant creature that feeds on flesh and blood, which then sets off to find food in the form of the people of a nearby community.

Was it any good?

With a title like The Revenge Of Doctor X you can pretty much guess what your getting yourself into. But it deliver so much more...or less (depending on your taste in film). The film starts of with the credits...naturally. Only problem is, well, there the credits to the wrong film! Hello! What is this? An unseen Monty Python film?! According to the credits, this film was directed by exploitation 'legend' Eddie Romero, probably most famous for his Blood Trilogy (Brides Of Blood, Mad Doctor Of Blood Island (both 1968) and Beast Of Blood) as well as Women In Chains (1973) and The Beast Of The Yellow Night (1971; a film that almost made the DPP list).  But unfortunately, Doctor X was instead directed by the nobody Norman Thomson who has only this film to his name. In fact, the majority of this film's cast have a career which spans only one film; this one! With the exception of Doctor X (actually Dr. Bragan) himself played by James Craig who also starred in Bigfoot (1970) alongside the late great John Carradine and The Tormentors (1971); a Nazi Vs. Jesus Christ film! Besides Craig the next biggest name is possibly James Yagi who plays exactly the same character  in the Cult Classic, King Kong VS. Godzilla (1962). So, obviously this film isn't going to win any awards for its acting. And that adds to the film's enjoyability. Complete with over-the-top acting especially from Craig, who's main character seems to have serious hormonal problems - one minute everything's fine, the next he's SHOUTING HIS FACE OFF! But if any award was given (for best worst acting) it has to be to one of the side characters. A hunchback.

Yes. A hunchback.




What Frankenstein-rip-off would be complete without an ugly, grunting hunchback? It's unheard of! But the similarities to this classic film/book do not stop there, luckily. Gothic castle? Check. Monster? Check. End the film with a bunch of fire-carrying crazy villagers? Check check. What about electricity? Check. Yes, that's right this Doctor decides the best way to give live to his monster plant, is not via some water and maybe some Miracle Grow, but instead a great big bolt of lighting! Take that Alan Titchmarsh! Quite possibly the lamest and yet funniest electrocution-monster-Resurrection scenes ever to be filmed, one could easily believe the footage had been stolen from an ANIMATED film.

Then we get to the monster. Finally. Taking almost the whole of the film to actually get to the creature and what a pay of. Clearly a guy in a giant Venus flytrap costume - this is no Little Shop Of Horrors, that's for sure. With a rampaging (ever so slightly, for a baddy, it's not actually that...bad. In fact, it doesn't even get to make plant food out of a small puppy!) Venus Flytrap Man Creature Whatsit Thing on the loose, there's only one way to get rid of it. A final incredibly tense showdown. Mano a Planto.

Or not. Instead we are giving one of cinemas biggest anticlimaxes which I won't spoil here. I'll just tell you, this 'epic' battle lasts all of two seconds before the credits roll. Yeaaah.

So, is it any good? Well, if you like your exploitation films silly, crazy and just plain dumb then yes. Yes this is your cup of prune juice. Though slightly boring it's enjoyable enough to recommend if you find it cheap or have it lurking somewhere in your house already. It's pure trash - just not very gory. It's perhaps no surprise that the god of all things hillariously bad, Edward D. Wood Jr. has been accused of writing the original script for this film - though that's recieved a lot of debate.

Oh, and did I mention the rather surreal scene in which a group of topless women gather around the Doctor who talks to them as though everything's normal. Now that's a gentleman!

4/10.