Customer Reviews

Dr. Orloff's Monster

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Another one of the prolific Jess Franco's films, that features the awful Dr. Orloff. Actually, that's a little misleading as this time around it's Dr. Fischer, the dying Dr. Orloff's assistant who is up to no good.

Dr. Fischer uses Orloff's secrets to turn his own brother into a radio controlled zombie, as payback for sleeping with his wife. For no obvious reason, the good doctor also uses his robotic brother to murder several local nightclub tarts. I guess his wifes infidelity took a rather large toll on his sanity. To complicate matters Dr. Fischer's grown niece comes to stay, and has no idea her reanimated father is lurking about the family castle.

Dr. Orloff's Monster is a fairly solid entry from Franco's B/W period, and displays a lot of polish that Franco would soon abandon in favor of non-linear, seat-of-the-pants production techniques. I think he must have taken in a couple Bergman films, because there is a lot somber moody photography, dissolves of angst-ridden faces, and a general aura of depression throughout the film.

My guess is that some will find it dull, even with the added spice of nude scenes from the Euro-version. I rather liked it's low-key, dreary atmosphere and had no problem with the deliberate pacing.

This Image DVD looks pretty good and shows some of the nicely realized B/W cinematography. The nude scenes have a little jitter and appear to be taken from a slightly lesser source, but it's not a glaring contrast.

I saw this originally in a Spanish-language version called "The Mistresses of Dr. Jekyll" and was not very impressed. But the longer, French-language version presented by Image is definitely an improvement.

The introductory material here helps to better explain the relationships between Jekyll, his wife, and his brother. The Spanish version deletes most of the female nudity, but since the murder victims are usually nude or near-nude when the robot killer strikes, that makes the murder scenes pretty hard to follow. Fortunately, that is not a problem with the French edition.

"Dr. Orloff's Monster" is not a great classic of the horror genre, but it is an entertaining excursion in the European Gothic mode, and worth a look. The print used by Image for the DVD is quite good.

The story to this Franco film is interesting, but at the same time weak. Just why is Dr. Jekyll/Fisherman killing these women? Revenge against female kind? Visually the movie is great with atmospheric b&w photography. Nice bit parts abound in the film: the rude police inspector, the boxer/pimp, Franco as the pianist, the Spanish nightclub singer. But Dr. Jekyll is just too self pitying to generate fear. The print has a some scratches here and there but overall looks fine. The sound has crackles and a little hiss, but this doesn't make anything inaudible. Two trailers and some "deleted/alternate" footage is included. The "alternate/deleted" footage being unused takes of the first two murders. It points out how economical Franco is with what he shoots, no goofs, mistakes, every take is almost identical. Another great edition to your Franco collection!

Strippers! Lounge singers! Wild jazz music! Prostitutes! Opium dens! Remote-control zombie! This is the world of Jess Franco! DR. ORLOFF'S MONSTER is the frenzied follow-up (well, sort of) to THE AWFUL DR. ORLOF. In this one we have the demented Dr. Fisherman, who takes revenge on his cheating wife by killing her lover, Andros, and turning him into a re-animated robot! Not only that, but the nefarious doc sends his new zombot out to kill various ladies of the night! Meanwhile, Fisherman's niece comes to the castle for a visit. She has no idea that her dear uncle has turned her dad into a remotely controlled killing machine! You see, Fisherman gives necklaces to his intended victims that contain tiny radio transmitters. These transmitters send a signal to Andros, causing him to hunt them down and strangle them! DOM has many genuinely spooky moments, some ghastly atmosphere, and even a sympathetic monster in Andros, who seems to recognise his daughter. He is forced to murder women due to Dr. Fisherman's darkly vengeful heart. Fisherman has already reduced his own spouse to an alcoholic mess. Now, he uses poor Andros to fulfill his sick, homicidal fantasies. Don't worry though, the good doctor has a full load of payback on it's way!...