The Projected Man

source: The Projected Man

Trailer—The Projected Man

The Projected Man

Another matter transmitter experiment going wrong type of film. It has a slow, talky first half but livens up later when Dr. Paul Steiner is projected and unaccountably developing electric powers begins a killing spree. No one is safe including Sam Kydd and a cat. On the whole not as bad as some would assess it. There is a dull romantic sub-plot of the triangular kind but the monster make-up is effective and the film looks decent filmed in 'Techniscope' and 'Technicolour' and there are good solid British actors like Derek Farr, Derrick De Marney and Norman Wooland. And Tracey Crisp running around in her crisp underwear. The lab equipment is low budget but good enough. Not the best of 1960's British science fiction but not terrible.

Boring English horror/sci-fi about a boring scientist who wants to project matter through space, a la Andre Delambre in "The Fly". Unfortunately, this backfires and said scientist becomes an ugly mutant with the touch of death... I guess. I really wasn't paying attention. Even on MST3K you may need to bring the caffeine pills.

Maybe it caught me at the right moment, but watching the MST3K version of this movie made me laugh more then any other of that show's episodes I think I've ever seen! As far as the film goes a lot of people are comparing it to The Fly, I think it's a lot closer to The 4 D Man. BTW, I liked the 4D Man, and if I was watching this on it's own I might like this also depending if I was really bored and nothing else was on to watch. If you have not seen 4 D Man, and like late 50's sci fi, check it out it's a good watch. Back to MST3K version of Projector man, usually I tend to think that episodes after Joel left are not as funny, this one (and as I watch more later episodes) is top tier for being among the shows best. An example is the part with the passed out receptionist in her unusual picnic tablecloth underwear (Mike says, "her underwear is from the Ellie Mae Secrets Collection"). As bad as this film is on it's own, it's great as a MST3K episode, I'm giving it an 8 out of 10.

THE PROJECTED MAN (1966) is a low budget British science fiction film about a scientist experimenting with matter transportation who decides to test his machine by putting himself through it - with disastrous consequences! If that sounds familiar, that's because this is very close to THE FLY, although instead of becoming a half-insect mutant our protagonist ends up as a scarred killer with an electrifying touch! Although this is noticeably lower budgeted than much fare from the era, I had a good time with it. Bryant Haliday, who had a small horror star career in the mid '60s with the likes of this and DEVIL-DOLL, gives a fine performance and is well supported by a cast populated by attractive blondes. Even Sam Kydd, the go-to guy of British cinema, makes an appearance as a thief! The film is high on drama and FX, with lots of creative little moments and a deliciously old-fashioned feel to it throughout. It could be a lot worse.

Start with a knockoff of "The Fly" with the setting changed from Montreal to London (England, not Ontario) with added elements of "Darkman" (though that movie was still more than 20 years in the future). Add liberal amounts of nondescript English actors, add an officious bureaucrat who looks like G.I. Joe (the one with the fuzzy hair and beard) and a cute young blonde who spends much of the movie in her underwear. Fold in lots and lots and lots of talking and top off with Bryant Halliday in some pretty cool monster makeup, and you have this movie. Was it any good? Well, it was OK, but a movie like this seems like it should have been much more interesting. David Cronenberg could have done this much better. Heck, Freddie Francis could have done this movie better....

Scientist has terrible accident with his teleportation device and ends up horribly disfigured and with the power to electrocute people with his hand! Intriguing enough science-gone-wrong thriller from Britain. There's some decent suspense and occasional shock (no pun intended) to be had. The cast isn't half bad, star Bryant Haliday is the best as both the films tragic hero and semi-frightening villain. The makeup work on Haliday isn't half bad. Nice dramatic music score as well. Over all a decent enough sci-fi flick, but it doesn't match The Fly. ** 1/2 out of ****