Man-Made Monster (1941) – Review

Directed by George Waggner and starring Lon Chaney Jr, this low-budget Universal Pictures production showcases the enduring fascination with the perils of scientific experimentation and the boundaries of human control, a film that would usher in a new wave of mad science.

The film centres around the character of Dan McCormick (Lon Chaney Jr.) a carnival performer who survives a devastating bus accident caused by an electrical storm. McCormick is taken in by Dr. John Lawrence, (Samuel S. Hinds) who wants to study him so as to find out why he has an immunity to electricity.  Which is all well and good but there is also Dr. Paul Rigas (Lionel Atwill), Lawrence’s colleague and resident mad scientist, who discovers that McCormick’s unique resistance to electricity also makes him a perfect subject for his own dangerous experiments. Rigas seeks to manipulate and control McCormick’s body utilizing high-voltage electrical currents, hoping to someday create a race of mindless slaves of great physical strength. Needless to say, things don’t go well and when Dr. Lawrence becomes an obstacle in further experiments and so Rigas orders the now mindless McCormick to kill the kindly scientist. This is a dark and horrifying tale of science being used in the worst ways imaginable.

 

Nobody here will make it to the end credits alive.

Lon Chaney Jr.’s portrayal of Dan McCormick is the standout performance in this outing, which is not surprising as Chaney was known for his skill in playing tortured characters and in this film he delivers a sympathetic and emotionally charged performance.  A man caught between his desire for survival and his fear of becoming a pawn in a dangerous game, struggling to shrug off the mental control Rigas holds over him. His physical transformation, as his body becomes increasingly affected by the experiments, is convincingly portrayed, heightening the horror elements of the story as he becomes addicted to the electrical treatment he is subjected to. This would also be Universal’s first foray out of Gothic horror and into a setting that would not only take place stateside but hinge on a tragic character becoming a monster through no fault of his own.

 

“Not only are you a killing machine, you will never need a reading light.”

Stray Observations:

• Dan McCormick is the sole survivor of a horrific transit accident, completely unaffected by the electricity that killed everyone else, which kind of gives off an M. Night Shyamalan Unbreakable vibe.
• Any self-respecting scientist with half a brain should know better than to have Lionel Atwill as a partner, it’s only ever going to end badly.
• Lionel Atwill’s Dr. Paul Rigas believes electricity can create a new form of life, clearly, he went to the school of Frankenstein to get his degree in Mad Science.
• After escaping from the electric chair, the District Attorney informs the press that experts believe that Dan will run out of power and die within a few hours. I’d like to know where he found experts on people who can draw electricity and electrocute people with a touch.
• Dan may have been turned into an almost near-mindless monster but he’s still human enough to rescue a damsel in distress.

 

Women do tend to get carried off a lot in these things.

Lionel Atwill, in the role of Dr. Paul Rigas, exudes a commanding presence and sinister charisma and it’s his character that serves as the catalyst for the events that unfold, and Atwill’s performance effectively captures the morally ambiguous nature of a scientist obsessed with pushing the boundaries of human limitations, but while Man-Made Monster successfully maintains suspense and delivers a compelling story it does suffer from some pacing issues as it really has to pack a lot of information in a movie that runs only an hour in length. The film also toss in a love story between reporter Mark Adams (Frank Albertson) and Dr. John Lawrence’s daughter June (Anne Nagel) that, at times, seems rather out of place and any time spent with them only makes us want to return to whatever Atwill and Chaney are up to.

 

“Our job is to simply be horrified.”

One of the strengths of Man-Made Monster lies in its atmospheric cinematography and eerie lighting, which contribute to the film’s overall sense of dread. The black-and-white visuals and shadowy settings effectively enhance the tension and create a foreboding atmosphere throughout the narrative. Its modest budget is cleverly masked through inventive camera work and lighting techniques and Elwood Bredell’s aforementioned cinematography is excellent. Despite its limitations in budget, Man-Made Monster remains an enjoyable classic for fans of old-school horror cinema and serves as a noteworthy precursor to later science fiction films that would explore the dangers of tampering with nature and the consequences of unchecked scientific progress. The movie’s themes and central premise remain relevant even after more than eight decades, reminding us of the ethical dilemmas that arise when scientific advancements clash with moral boundaries.

In conclusion, Man-Made Monster may have some bizarre story elements but with its atmospheric visuals, Lon Chaney Jr.’s engaging performance, and its timeless cautionary tale, you can’t knock the end result. If you have a penchant for vintage horror films or an interest in the historical development of the genre, this 1941 gem is certainly worth checking out.