In "Monster on the Campus", the excellent character actor Arthur Franz plays Professor Donald Blake, who receives an interesting package one day. His new prize is a coelacanth, a hideous prehistoric fish unchanged for centuries while other species have evolved. He accidentally cuts his hand on its teeth, and this effects horrible changes in his own body. He periodically turns into a throwback, or primitive man, that goes out and kills.
The script by David Duncan doesn't bring anything really new to the table in terms of the monster-on-the-loose formula, but typically good direction by sci-fi expert Jack Arnold helps a lot, as well as the efforts of an engaging cast. Franz is especially fine in the lead. Much like many a protagonist in this type of story, he does earn our sympathies, and it's still compelling watching the character come to learn what we in the audience already know.
The creature design by Jack Kevan and makeup by Bud Westmore are decent. Stuntman Eddie Parker takes over for Franz once Blake is transformed into the monster. Joanna Moore is a pretty and appealing leading lady, Judson Pratt does well as the detective on the case, Arnold regular Whit Bissell is solid as ever as Blakes' disbelieving colleague, and Troy Donahue is reasonably likable as student Jimmy Flanders. Use of stock music is adequate throughout, and the finale is good, albeit with a VERY familiar resolution to fans of these kinds of scary movies.
Seven out of 10.
The script by David Duncan doesn't bring anything really new to the table in terms of the monster-on-the-loose formula, but typically good direction by sci-fi expert Jack Arnold helps a lot, as well as the efforts of an engaging cast. Franz is especially fine in the lead. Much like many a protagonist in this type of story, he does earn our sympathies, and it's still compelling watching the character come to learn what we in the audience already know.
The creature design by Jack Kevan and makeup by Bud Westmore are decent. Stuntman Eddie Parker takes over for Franz once Blake is transformed into the monster. Joanna Moore is a pretty and appealing leading lady, Judson Pratt does well as the detective on the case, Arnold regular Whit Bissell is solid as ever as Blakes' disbelieving colleague, and Troy Donahue is reasonably likable as student Jimmy Flanders. Use of stock music is adequate throughout, and the finale is good, albeit with a VERY familiar resolution to fans of these kinds of scary movies.
Seven out of 10.