When a megalomaniacal alien brain (Gor) takes over scientist Steve Marsh (B-perennial John Agar) as a step towards universal conquest, a second brain (Val) inhabits the scientist's dog (George) in an attempt to thwart the cerebral villain's plans. Unfortunately, the film does little with the clever premise of extraterrestrial 'cops and robbers' hiding within humans (a similar premise, likely not coincidentally, to Hal Clement's 1950 novel 'Needle'). The aliens are silly-looking floating brains (with eyes) that are usually incorporeal, translucent, and indestructible (explained as being in the 'transition' stage) that can drift into an organism and take over its mind; however, (conveniently) they have to return to solid form (still a giant floating brain but now trailing a spinal cord) to reoxygenate, during which they are vulnerable. Marsh/Gor is a typical smirking, gloating (and leering, at least when Marsh's girlfriend Sally (Joyce Meadows) is around) supervillain/brain who can destroy things and kill people at a glance (and claims to be able to do the same to cities halfway around the world). George/Val is a friendly, soft-spoken good-guy dog/brain who, despite claiming to have powers beyond Gor's death-ray eyes, does nothing useful beyond telling Sally where the vulnerable spot in a floating brain is (the implied surgical precision appears forgotten in the climatic fight). The film makes little or no sense and is full of 'but why?' moments, and the final line ("You and your imagination!") is a ridiculous classic: Marsh, who has spent several days possessed by an evil floating brain (the mashed remains of which are somewhere near his feet), laughs off Sally's claim that an alien brain had inhabited the dog. Agar is adequate when he is Steve but his toothy grimacing, pop-eyed glaring, and villainous chortling when channeling Gor is laughable (just look at the posters). The rest of the cast OK in typical roles (the doomed buddy, the worried girlfriend, the concerned older guy, etc) considering the overly-ripe lines they are given to deliver. The special effects are limited to a single floating brain prop, some weak superimposition, black contact lenses (which are actually reasonably effective), and a couple of unconvincing model planes. With its wonky storyline, Agar's hammy attempts to appear menacing, and the silly-surreal images of the bobbing alien brains, the film has earned its place in the 'so bad they're good' pantheon of crap. Co-released with the abysmal 'Teenage Monster', which was banged out solely to accompany the brains in a double feature.
Review of The Brain from Planet Arous
