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The Mutations
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox film
| name = The Mutations
| image = "The Mutations".jpeg
| image_size =
| caption = British theatrical release poster
| director = Jack Cardiff
| producer = Robert D. Weinbach
| writer =
| narrator =
| starring =
| music =
| cinematography = Paul Beeson
| editing = John Trumper
| studio =
| distributor =
| released =
| runtime = 92 minutes
| country =
| language = English
| budget =
}}
'The Mutations' is a low-budget 1974 British-American science fiction/horror film directed by Jack Cardiff. The film was also released under the title 'The Freakmaker'.
Plot
The film depicts a deranged genetic scientist, Professor Nolter (Donald Pleasence), a man with the self-proclaimed goal to break through to the next stage in human evolution, crossbreeding anthropophagous Venus flytraps with abducted college students guinea pigs from his own class. "I'll create a race of plants that can walk, and men that can take root," Bob, Joe. "[https://www.newspapers.com/image/462116734/?terms=freakmaker Joe Bob's Mail Bag]." The San Francisco Examiner 22 March. 1992: 229. Print. through an exploitation of certain nucleic acids.Weiler A.H. "'[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1974/09/26/97490365.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0 The Mutations,' British Sci-Fi, Arrives]." The New York Times 26 Sept. 1974: 26. Print. The failed experimental mutants are then given to a cruel circus freakshow owner, Mr. Lynch (Tom Baker known for Dr. Who) who exploits them to the fullest. However, the mutants and the circus freaks will not be denied justice. Inspired by Tod Browning's film 'Freaks' with a science fiction twist, this film is full of pseudo scientific jargon, stop motion visuals, makeup effects, references to psychedelics, comical gore, nudity, and by the standards of modern viewers a distasteful exploitation of actors with actual genetic disabilities as well as some made up disabilities including a man with rubber-bones known as the Human Pretzel, a lady with reptilian skin (Alligator Lady), the Monkey Woman, the Human Pincushion and Popeye.Price, Michael, "[https://www.newspapers.com/image/638657698/?terms=freakmaker The Freakmaker]." Fortworth Star-Telegram 6 April 1985: 6. Print.Lucas, Tim. [https://www.amazon.com/Freakmaker-Donald-Pleasence/dp/B000AS1KWE Video Watchdog magazine] Oct. 2005 Nonetheless it grabs attention among the other scenes of "freaks" it depicts a reversed stop motion capture of the professor reviving a moldy orange, and the professor feeding a bunny rabbit to a Venus flytrap. A dissonant and jumbled orchestral score composed by Basil Kirchen provides a perfect dissonant backdrop to accompany visuals of gore, circus freaks, and accenting the overacting and dramatics of the actors in this intriguing 1970's horror film which has been restored on DVD after decades of floating in obscurity.Price, Michael, "'[https://www.newspapers.com/image/638583224/?terms=freakmaker The Freakmaker' now on video]." Fortworth Star-Telegram 5 Oct. 1984: 3. Print.
Cast
* Donald Pleasence as Professor Nolter
* Tom Baker as Lynch
* Brad Harris as Brian Redford
* Julie Ege as Hedi
* Michael Dunn as Burns
* Scott Antony as Tony
* Jill Haworth as Lauren
* Olga Anthony as Bridget
* Lisa Collings as Prostitute
* Joan Scott as Landlady
* Toby Lennon as Tramp
* John Wreford as Policeman
* Eithne Dunne as Nurse
* Richard Davies as Doctor
Release
Home media
The film was released on DVD by Subversive Cinema on September 27, 2005. Subversive Cinema later re-released the film on January 29, 2008 including with it commentary tracks with Jack Cardiff, Robert Weinbach, and Brad Harris as a part of its 2-Disk 'Greenhouse Gore' movie pack. It was last released by Desert Island Films on February 18, 2012.Reception
Author and film critic Leonard Maltin awarded the film 2 out of 4 stars, criticizing the film's predictable story and what he called "grotesque elements and characters". 'TV Guide' awarded the film 1/5 stars, writing, "Though at times the film is so bad it's unintentionally funny, it has a certain cruelty to it."
Michael H. Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, gave the movie 3 stars and praised the movie comparing it to Tod Browning's Freaks, and calling the effects "at once shocking and fascinating" and praising its "dissonant orchestral score" which he claims "adds mightily to the mood of unease and gathering madness."Price, Michael, "'[https://www.newspapers.com/image/638583224/?terms=freakmaker The Freakmaker' now on video]." Fortworth Star-Telegram 5 Oct. 1984: 3. Print.
References
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