The Hands of Orlac (1960)
Possessed Hands
The third film and least version of the classic horror story about a pianist who receives hands transplanted from a murderer and is driven mad believing they are possessing him
Medical Horrors
Medical Horrors are concerned with the horrors of surgery and hospitals. One can also view specific variants of this under the themes Mad Surgeons and Mad Scientists.
The mad surgeon has been with us since the French Eyes Without a Face (1959) concerning a surgeon obsessed with abducting women to graft their faces onto his own daughter. This produced a number of copies. There have been assorted other films about surgeons of dubious sanity.
There is another whole body of films that concern themselves with haunted hospitals or hospitals where sinister activities or experiments are going on. Another popular theme concerns illegal Organ Harvesting schemes.
Eyes Without a Face (1959)
Mad Killer Surgeon
Classic French thriller about a mad surgeon who abducts women to graft their faces onto his disfigured daughter. The film has a rare visual poetry combined with moments of horror that are still effective decades later
Blood of the Vampire (1958)
Medical Vampire
An obscure effort from the early days of the Anglo-horror cycle. A medical vampire effort and a Hammer imitator with lavish production values and memorable characters that easily sits up alongside Hammer’s better work
The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958)
Hammer Frankenstein Film
The second of Hammer’s Frankenstein films and a fine work that finds positively ingenious ways to continue on from its predecessor. Terence Fisher and the production team are all on top form.
Corridors of Blood (1958)
19th Century Medical Experiments
Early Anglo-horror film that seems to be trying to push a story about a 19th century doctor (Boris Karloff)’s discovery of anaesthetic gas out of shape and make it into a horror story.
The Vampire (1957)
Medical Vampire
One of the first films about a medically rationalised vampire concerning a doctor who discovers pills that turn him into a vampire monster
The Body Snatcher (1945)
Grave Robbers
One of the classic films of producer Val Lewton, a loose adaptation the historical story of the 19th Century body snatchers Burke and Hare. Robert Wise is on fine form as director and Boris Karloff gives one of his best performances.
Mad Love (1935)
Mad Surgeon/Possessed Hands
The Hollywood remake of The Hands of Orlac, a classic with Colin Clive as a pianist who believes he is possessed after receiving hands transplanted from a killer. With a fascinatingly demented performance from Peter Lorre
The Hands of Orlac (1924)
Possessed Hands/Silent German Classic
Classic German silent film about a pianist who receives hand transplants and believes they are possessed. Superbly stylised direction from The Cabinet of Dr Caligari director Robert Wiene and with Conrad Veidt putting his all into the contorted mime work