The Mind Benders

source: The Mind Benders

Trailer—The Mind Benders

The Mind Benders

I know that this sounds facetious but in these grim times I want to watch a film that will make me laugh.This is rather depressing and hard to get through to the end.You feel that Bogarde is trying to show what a serious actor he is.

Have you ever actually stopped and seriously tried to imagine what it would be like to experience complete sensory deprivation? Would you think that being in such a state as this you would make a perfect candidate for some major brainwashing? Well, (keeping this in mind) - Unfortunately, this 1963, British, Sci-Fi/Thriller certainly missed its golden opportunity to deliver a real humdinger of a story where sensory deprivation and brainwashing were, indeed, the very name of the game. Considering that "The Mind Benders" story held so much promise & potential, I found myself totally disappointed that, not only was this picture a very dry & bland bit of storytelling, but it actually took an unfortunate nosedive, deteriorating into nothing but a sappy, second-rate, soap opera in the end. Ho-hum! *Note* - A more up-dated, over-the-top, psychedelic version of The Mind Benders was made in 1980 called Altered States, directed by Ken Russell.

The first three quarters of this film were very enjoyable and quite intriguing. Dealing with the idea of sensory deprivation and the effects it can have on the brain it clearly must have had a big influence on the 80's film Altered States. It was a bit melodramatic at points - especially Bogarde's acting. And the last quarter where his brainwashing is reversed by having to deliver his wife's baby was a bit dull.

As I write this in 2020, this film has only 17 user reviews and a rating of 6.4 on IMDB. This is usually symptomatic of a film that has been overlooked for some reason, often because it isn't very good, or has no big names attached to it, or thematically doesn't speak to a modern audience. None of the above apply to this film as far as I can see; it's worst fault seems to be that it gets a bit draggy in places. The film is otherwise well made in nearly all respects. The premise of the film is a fascinating not to mention disturbing subject in its own right, a point which is explored more fully in a couple of the other reviews here. I must say I felt genuinely disturbed at several points in this film, which I wasn't expecting. I didn't have great expectations of this film before I watched it, but ones I did have were comfortably exceeded. Not just for fans of period films or Bogarde, this film is well worth watching. And I don't think I have been brainwashed into saying that....

THE MIND BENDERS sounds like a great title for a science fiction flick but this turns out to be a dull and plodding intellectual exercise in scientific experimentation, and we know how those always work out. Some steam is worked up in the early sequences, with a youthful Michael Bryant contributing some good character work as a boffin and a fun crazy cameo from Roger Delgado, but once Dirk Bogarde shows up the plot slows down to a snail's pace. It's all about sensory deprivation and the effect it can have on a man's mind, but very little happens throughout and the ending is a non-starter. This is the sort of thing you might enjoy reading about in a newspaper article, but not watching in a near two-hour film.

I enjoyed this but it could have been much better and I wouldn't rush to see it again. Beginning brilliantly with London streets and brilliant shots of Paddington station and of trains this commences with real drama, moves to rather drawn out theoretical discussions surrounding sensual deprivation experimentation and possible abuse. There is then some more talking and domestic goings on before more talking, far fetched theorising, some decent Oxford river and streets scenes before a not so climatic ending. Mary Are is fine, Dirk Bogarde gives his usual solid performance but neither are good enough to make up for the script's considerable shortcomings.

THE MIND BENDERS is a very interesting film about sensory deprivation experiments that result in unexpected, tragic results. The story is told in a serious and somber manner. Dirk Bogarde is especially good as the reluctant researcher who volunteers to take a second dip in "the tank" to prove that sensory deprivation can be used to brainwash a person. The film seems to come to a climax when it is revealed to Bogarde that he was brainwashed while in "the tank", but then goes on for another 15 mins. in order to give the film a happy ending. This some what drags the film down, but does not detract from the overall impact of this film. A FEW NOTES: This film somewhat resembles THE ELECTRONIC MONSTER (aka.ESCAPEMENT) in many ways, although THE MIND BENDERS is superior in every way. The plot of using sensory deprivation to brainwash people (complete with subject submerged in a tank) was used in "The Cocoon" episode of HAWAII FIVE-O.