A surgeon discovers that he can restore the beauty to his girlfriend's scarred face by murdering other women and extracting fluids from their pituitary gland. However, the effects only last for a short time, so he has to kill more and more women. It is ultimately a killing spree which ends with considerable death and disaster.
Acting
Peter Cushing's unhinged descent from respected surgeon to sweaty murderer.
Production
Grotty London locations that reek of cheap horror authenticity.
Practical Effects
Gloriously nasty pituitary extraction scenes with zero CGI.
Director
Robert Hartford-Davis
Peter Cushing
Sir John Rowan
Sue Lloyd
Lynn Nolan
Noel Trevarthen
Steve Harris
Kate O'Mara
Val Nolan
David Lodge
Groper
Anthony Booth
Mike Orme
Wendy Varnals
Terry
Billy Murray
Rik
Vanessa Howard
Kate
Alexandra Dane
Sandy
Valerie Van Ost
Girl in the Train
Shirley Stelfox
Girl at the Party
Marianne Morris
Topless Girl in the Flat
Jan Waters
Girl in the Flat
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Marketed as 'the most controversial film of the year,' it rode the wave of 1960s 'unhinged surgeon' horror alongside Eyes Without a Face.
Cushing allegedly hated the film and its sleazy tone, which makes his sweaty, desperate performance even more fascinating—method discomfort?
US
GB
