Complete credited cast: | |||
Richard Denning | ... | Dr. Chet Walker | |
Angela Stevens | ... | Joyce Walker | |
S. John Launer | ... | Capt. Dave Harris | |
![]() |
Michael Granger | ... | Frank Buchanan |
Gregory Gaye | ... | Dr. Wilhelm Steigg (as Gregory Gay) | |
![]() |
Linda Bennett | ... | Penny Walker |
Tristram Coffin | ... | Dist. Atty. MacGraw | |
Harry Lauter | ... | Reporter #1 | |
Larry J. Blake | ... | Reporter #2 (as Larry Blake) | |
Charles Evans | ... | Chief Camden | |
Pierre Watkin | ... | Mayor Bremer |
Several years earlier gangster Frank Buchanan was deported to his native Italy through the efforts of law enforcement authorities and rival gangsters who inform on him. While in Europe he meets scientist Wilhelm Steigg, who has perfected a method of reanimating dead people and controlling their behavior with oral commands. Buchanan underwrites Steigg's experiments and uses his technology to wreak revenge on his enemies. Unfortunately radioactive poisoning is a by-product of the process, and authorities use radiation detecting devices like Geiger counters to pinpoint the source of the sinister plot. Written by Gabe Taverney (duke1029@aol.com)
I first saw this film when I was about twelve years old on T.V., and at the time I didn't think it was anything special. I saw it again recently for the first time thanks to modern miracle of video. I must admit that I remember many scenes from this minor little picture more vividly than much better films I saw as a kid: atomized Karl "Killer" Davis busting into a room to break the back of a gangster, the scene where Richard Denning discovers his partner has become a zombie, and the films climax where an army of creatures with atom brains do battle with the police. Oh! and I almost forgot, the scene where walking dead "Uncle Dave" tears Richard Denning's daughters doll to shreds. In retrospect, the scene makes little sense, but it came as quite a shock.
Most of the cast is acceptable. Edward L. Cahn's direction is perfunctory but he keeps things moving. Seen today by younger audiences influenced by MST3K or cheaply cynical critics like John Stanley and Randy Dreyfus, CREATURE WITH THE ATOM BRAIN probably looks pretty bad. However, if one views this film in the right frame of mind, it is very entertaining.
Apparently CREATURE WITH ATOM BRAIN has effected a lot of people over the years. Clips from this film have turned up on few TV shows and movies. Roky Erikson (13 Floor Elevators) wrote and titled a song about this movie on his album "The Evil One". He even incorporated lines from the movie in his song "Creature With The Atom Brain."