|
Post by Shonokin on Sept 3, 2004 16:07:12 GMT -8
I was reading through Pettigrew's Stop Motion Filmography and he gives a pretty good review to Fiend Without a Face. I thought that was odd because with a title like that it sounds like a standard 1950s stinker like "The Brain that Wouldn't Die". His description makes it sound like a decent movie to look up so I did. Holy smokes, that sucker is put out by Criterion and goes for between $32 - $40. I'll wait for it to come on AMC or something. But I'm wondering if anyone here has seen it and what they thought of it.
|
|
|
Post by hman on Sept 3, 2004 18:50:48 GMT -8
I've heard a lot about it and definitely would like to see it. Sounds like the climax is very memorable.
|
|
|
Post by amphiboid on Sept 3, 2004 23:12:39 GMT -8
Scared the heck out of me when I was a kid, and I still remember how horrifying it was.
In addition to its featuring marvelous stop-motion effects, it apparently is the very first instance of early motion control technologies being applied to the movements of creatures in a film--seriously predating the motion control work Trumbull and Dykstra by more than a decade (and go-motion as well). Info on this is not easy to find, but I think the technology was applied to the live action shots of the feelers moving, and to the increments of stop-motion movement as the brains are flying through the air attacking people.
My guess is that the system was similar to Disney's audio-animatronics devices, which allowed movements to be programmed and played back. These flying killer brains were very ahead of their time. Jaded moviegoers of the present day have called the effects primitive, but really, they were cutting edge and exceedingly nicely done. I understand this movie freaked a lot of kids out when it was new. I saw it on TV in the early 70's (when I was VERY young), and it was WAY too scary.
|
|
|
Post by GrimGhost on Sept 5, 2004 16:10:01 GMT -8
A buddy of mine gave me all his old video tapes when he got the "DVD bug." Among the tapes were a whole series just marked "B/W". each tape usually had 3 or 4 old black and white monster movies including Fiend Without A Face! It is indeed a kick ass film and well by golly! It takes place in Canada!!! Yeah, we rule like that!!! ;D Cheers!
|
|
|
Post by Xenorama ™ on Sept 7, 2004 21:17:29 GMT -8
It's a Criterion disc, that's why it's so expensive. But it's great, and would be worth the dough. It's loaded with extras and has a nice commentary track as well. Great movie, even if those hosers in Canada think they know it all!
|
|
|
Post by GrimGhost on Sept 10, 2004 12:37:12 GMT -8
Jealous much? ;D
|
|
|
Post by Xenorama ™ on Apr 16, 2005 23:02:06 GMT -8
that question makes so much Canadian sense! as in not even proper English word type language, eh! i did that on purpose.
|
|
|
Post by Zone Fighter on Apr 17, 2005 20:37:35 GMT -8
I wouldn't brag too much. "Andromeda" is produced in Canada.
|
|
|
Post by Lunkhead on May 7, 2005 16:13:46 GMT -8
FIEND WITHOUT A FACE is such a cool flick. I remember those brains scaring the bleep outta me as a kid. That horrible thumping sound while their suckin on people! Yikes! This is one of the first films I taped from TV back in '86.
|
|
|
Post by Xenorama ™ on May 7, 2005 17:12:13 GMT -8
that sound is WAY scary, and fortunately the brainodos don't let us down after they appear. the thumping and then the slurping... brrrrrrrrr!
|
|
|
Post by Zone Fighter on May 19, 2005 11:45:49 GMT -8
You guys did it again. You talked me into renting Fiend Witout A Face. I liked it except the ending didn't make much sense.
|
|
|
Post by Xenorama ™ on Oct 28, 2006 23:01:49 GMT -8
i'd still like to get a copy of this, tho it's not high on my list. those Criterion discs are expensive!
David
|
|