This neat little thriller, which has also appeared on cable television under the title The Human Gorilla, is a remarkable achievement in its way from Kino on Video -- most presentations have been in very rough shape, but this disc looks as good as a proper theatrical showing, with excellent detail and rich contrasts and no notable flaws of any kind. The movie is a kind of a hybrid work, an old-fashioned manhunt/mystery thriller brought into the postwar era by its setting, in a sanitarium. Director Budd Boetticher handles the action with a good deal of tension and sensitivity, engrossing the audience in his characters as well as the dramatic set-up. The film's low budget is never obvious or an impediment, as he keeps everything moving so briskly and smoothly that the viewer never notices the limitations of the production. The transfer is excellent, and the dozen chapter markers are more than suitable for the 62-minute movie. The movie starts up automatically, and the menu must be accessed manually. |