The Surgeon (1994)

A small boy witnesses his brother being killed in surgery, grows up to become a monster with a scalpel.

Director:

Carl Schenkel

Writers:

Patrick Cirillo (screenplay), Bernard Sloane (based on a screenplay by)

Stars:

Isabel Glasser, James Remar, Sean Haberle

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Isabel Glasser	...	Dr. Theresa McCann
James Remar	...	Dr. Benjamin Hendricks
Sean Haberle	...	Dr. Julian Matar
Peter Boyle	...	Lt. McEllwaine
Malcolm McDowell	...	Dr. Stein
Charles Dance	...	Dr. Ed Mittlesbay
Beverly Todd	...	Nurse Burns
Charles Bailey-Gates	...	Sgt. Ross
Walter Olkewicz	...	Dr. Meade
Mother Love	...	Milly Putnam
Gregory West	...	Tommy Beaton
Juliette Jeffers	...	Lisa Wilson
Nancy Banks	...	Loreen Ridgeway
Kim Robillard	...	Dr. Eugene Kaiser
Teryl Rothery	...	Officer Pierson

Storyline

Dr. Julian Mater is suspended and gets his license revoked for performing experiments on dying patients in cellular regeneration. A couple of years later, he returns to the hospital that condemned his work to begin practicing his grizzly experiments once more.

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Plot Keywords:

male frontal nudity | slasher | low budget | detective | mad killer | 

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Taglines:

First Jason...Then Freddy...Finally, A Professional.

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence and gore, and for sexuality and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

In a interview to Radio Times dated February 1996, Malcolm McDowell stated that he was paid $100,000 for a week's work, but never saw the film.

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Goofs

Dr. Matar says the AMA took away his medical license but that action can only be taken by the state that issued it.

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Connections

Featured in Svengoolie: The Surgeon (1999)

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Soundtracks

Lollipop
Written by Beverly Ross and Julius E. Dixson Sr. (as Julius Dixon)
Edward B. Marks Music Co. (BMI)
Performed by The Chordettes
Courtesy of Barnaby Records, Inc.

User Reviews

B-movie thriller, with a couple of good performances

If you like the song "Lollipop" by the Chordettes, you are advised to miss the first few minutes of this movie, or you may never think of the song the same way again. In an eerie but effective scene that suggests an old B-movie, a little boy, who turns out to be one of the movie's characters, is watching something horrible happen to another little boy at the doctor's office, as the song is playing on the radio. According to the DJ, it's the latest hit.

Dr. Theresa McCann is not having a good day. On the way into work she breaks the heel on one of her shoes, and that's just the beginning. But this film needs a little humor. As Dr. McCann makes the rounds with her residents, Dr. Hendricks just has to make them uncomfortable, believing that is the only way to make them truly dedicated to their work.

Meanwhile, Dr. Stein is showing an experimental treatment which he is testing on some sort of ape, with less than ideal results.

Given Dr. Stein's reputation, Dr. McCann took over the treatment of one of his patients, doing something unauthorized that may have resulted in the patient's death. She gets suspended, but with the help of Dr. Hendricks, she may be able to clear her name. Perhaps it is Dr. Mazar, who was supposedly locked away in an institution, who is causing the problems for Dr. Stein. He once believed it was more important to find effective treatments by testing on humans about to die anyway rather than animals; he believed the Nazis had the right idea. Could that also be what's happening here?

This was mostly an ordinary thriller. Certainly not for kids--especially that terrifying first scene. There is some violence, and that ape scene isn't too pleasant. But there were a couple of performances worth noting. Sean Haberle has some good moments as the demented Dr. Mazar, though he's not consistent. And then there is Mother Love as a patient named Milly Putnam. Now she's really worth seeing.

The movie could be worth seeing, too. If this is really the sort of thing you like.

Details

Country:

Canada Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 January 1995 (Spain)

Also Known As:

The Surgeon

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD10,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Capella International, Connexion Film, Lollipop Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

DTS-Stereo

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1