Creature with the Atom Brain (1955) – Review

You have to admire a 1950s sci-fi/horror film that boasts the tagline “Based on Scientific Fact!” in a story about atomic resurrected zombies. That kind of marketing has balls. In this outing, producer Sam Katzman blends film noir, horror and science fiction with somewhat expected results. Let’s sit back and take a look at Creature with the Atom Brain.

The movie opens with a hulking zombie breaking into the office of a gangster named Hennesy and brutally murdering him, but who could be behind this horrible attack? Enter Frank Buchanan (Michael Granger) your average gangster with a vendetta and a brilliant idea “Let’s use radioactive zombies for some good old-fashioned revenge!” But where does a gangster get his hands on radioactive zombies? Cue Dr. Wilhelm Steigg (Gregory Gaye) a scientist whose research needed some financial backing and so he turned to Buchanan for the funding needed to complete his research on powering the dead via electrical impulses and atomic power, making them undead puppets.  And before you can say “Doctor Frankenstein” he’s populating his lab with stolen corpses.

I’ll admit, Steigg has a great mad science setup.

Called into investigate this murder is Crime Doctor Chet Walker (Richard Denning) who is the type of hero who gets right down to business and is always on the right track, even if his theories are crazy and people laugh off such statements like “According to the evidence, Hennesy was murdered by a creature with atom rays of superhuman strength and a creature that cannot be killed by bullets.” Needless to say, he’s right, and after a few more murders he and Police Captain Dave Harris (S. John Launer) have figured out that all of the victims are connected to deported gangster Buchanan. Soon the army is called in and jets fill the sky as they search for the location of the lab that is churning out zombie killers, but can our heroes figure out how to stop such a nigh-unstoppable army in time?

“If you look here on our Mad Science scope, the answer is obvious.”

Stray Observations:

• An altruistic scientist, who wants his invention to help mankind, teams up with a murdering gangster because he needs funding. Yeah, the private sector is a real bitch.
• Police offer the two men who they suspect are the next targets of Buchanan protection in the form of “We’ll put you in jail.” That these men turn down such a “nice” offer isn’t that surprising. Wasn’t Witness Protection a thing in the 50s?
• Jet aircraft that travel at supersonic speed would be completely ineffectual at finding one lone building containing radioactive material. I’m starting to wonder if this movie was based on scientific fact.
• Director Edward L. Cahn would use the same premise of resurrected corpses in his 1959 film Invisible Invaders.
• Say what you will about the film’s somewhat questionable visual effects it is one of the first movies to use squibs to simulate gunshot wounds and it was done quite effectively here.
• An atomic-puppeted Dave Harris is sent out to find the location of Buchanan’s remaining two targets, but the scar from the “brain surgery” is clearly visible. Couldn’t the have found him a nice hat to hide it?

“Dave, have you always had that strange scar on your forehead?”

Directed by Edward L. Cahn and produced by Sam Katzman, this low-budget gem has garnered a cult following over the years for its entertaining mix of suspense and B-movie charm. And while the science found in this movie is about as accurate as what could be found in an Ed Wood movie – despite what the poster claimed –this is all part of the appeal of this era of science fiction/horror. The “atom brain” creatures, created using practical effects and makeup, exude a creepy and otherworldly presence that is a nice take on the zombie genre, their lifeless stares and relentless motion provide just the right amount of tension and suspense. Unfortunately, the cinematography, though attempting to capture the noir aesthetic, is marred by inconsistent lighting and uninspired shot composition. The use of shadows, a hallmark of the noir genre, is often more distracting than atmospheric, detracting from the film’s overall visual appeal.

“Bring me more radioactive brains.”

The cast delivers solid performances, with Richard Denning anchoring the film as the intrepid police scientist who is determined to stop Buchanan’s diabolical scheme, and Gregory Gaye’s portrayal of Professor Steig is a step away from your archetypal mad scientist with a chilling charisma as he’s not so much mad as he is just strapped for cash and makes a poor choice when it comes to investors. On the other hand, Michael Granger’s Frank Buchanan is your stereotypical gangster that has appeared in many Cagney or Bogart-type films. His hiring of a scientist to use reanimated corpses as his tool for revenge plan is the only interesting thing about him.

Cue death via his own machinations.

While this entry exhibits elements of its era’s fascination with atomic energy and noir aesthetics it does struggle to rise above the clichés and shortcomings typical of low-budget productions, but despite its modest budget and limited resources, Creature with the Atom Brain does succeed in delivering an entertaining and memorable viewing experience. Richard Denning, a staple of 50s science fiction, delivers every ridiculous piece of science gobbledygook with aplomb, and the film’s blend of noir atmosphere and Cold War paranoia makes it a nice example of the “Atomic Age” of cinema.