X
X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes 1963
Produced and directed by Roger Corman with a screenplay by Ray Russell and Robert Dillon, X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes is a 1963 science fiction horror film that follows the story of Dr. James Xavier, played by Ray Milland, a brilliant scientist who develops a formula he puts in special eye drops that gives him the ability to see beyond the visible spectrum into the realms of X-ray vision and beyond.
As Dr. Xavier’s experimentation progresses, he becomes increasingly obsessed with his newfound powers, which allow him to see through objects and even perceive events, even medical conditions occurring in the body and occurring in the future. However, his X-ray vision comes with a dark side, as he begins to witness disturbing and nightmarish visions that test the limits of his sanity.
Dr. Diane Fairfax (Diane Van de Vlis) “What do you see?"Dr. James Xavier “The city… as if it were unborn. Rising into the sky with fingers of metal, limbs without flesh, girders without stone. Signs hanging without support. Wires dipping and swaying without poles. A city unborn. Flesh dissolved in an acid of light. A city of the dead.”
Dr Xavier ”I’m blind to all but a tenth of the universe.'’Dr. Sam Brant (Harold J. Stone) “My dear friend, only the gods see everything."Dr. Xavier ‘‘My dear doctor, I’m closing in on the gods.’
Dr. Xavier’s quest for knowledge and power leads him down a dangerous and morally ambiguous path to touch ‘The Eye of God”, and he becomes an outcast from society which leads him to hide as an attraction at a carnival as a prognosticator daunted by the greedy Don Rickles. His scientific curiosity leads to madness as he is tortured by his unstoppable vision into realms he cannot control.
X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes is known for its cinematography by Floyd Crosby, its production design and art direction by Corman regular Daniel Haller, and its striking visual effects by John Howard that depict Dr. Xavier’s unique perspective. The film’s exploration of the consequences of tampering with human perception and the descent into madness makes it a notable entry into the science fiction and horror genres of the 1960s.
Milland effectively conveys Dr. Xavier’s initial excitement and conviction as he embarks on his groundbreaking research to develop X-ray vision. His portrayal of a dedicated scientist who is eager to push the boundaries of human perception is convincing.
As the film progresses, Milland skillfully portrays Dr. Xavier’s gradual obsession with his work. His performance captures the character’s increasing detachment from reality as he becomes consumed by the dark side of his newfound abilities.
The film also stars a host of great actors from the decade and its horror/sci-fi genre, John Hoyt, Diane Van der Vlee, Harold J. Stone, and Morris Ankrum.
Tidbits:
To create the effect of being able to see through a building, the director filmed the building while it was under construction.
The skeletal building seen repeatedly from Dr. Xavier’s point of view (in “Spectrarama”)was the Department of Water & Power General Office Building in downtown Los Angeles. Construction had begun around 1963 and was completed in 1965.Roger Corman has said the idea for the film was his. It was originally about a scientist, then he felt that was “too obvious” so he changed the protagonist to be “a jazz musician who had taken too much drugs, and I get into about four or five pages, and I thought, ‘You know, I don’t like this idea,’ and so I threw the whole thing out, and started back and went back with the scientist, which was the original idea.”
The final chase scene involving Ray Milland’s erratic driving took place on Soledad Canyon Road between the cities of Santa Clarita and Acton in California–the same place where nearly the entire film of Steven Spielberg's Duel 1971 was filmed.
Xtro 1983
XTro 1982 is a highly surreal 1982 shocking and imaginative British science fiction horror film considered a ‘video nasty’ directed by Harry Bromley Davenport. The film blends elements of science fiction and horror to create a story that’s both eerie and disturbing.
It begins with the mysterious and sudden return of Sam Phillips (Phillip Sayer), a man who disappeared three years earlier under inexplicable circumstances. His reappearance shocks his wife, Rachel (Bernice Stegers), and their young son, Tony. Sam’s return is unsettling, as he exhibits strange and disturbing behaviors, and his physical condition appears to have been altered dramatically during his absence.
As Rachel and Tony try to come to terms with Sam’s return, they discover that he has been subjected to bizarre extraterrestrial experiments and transformations. Sam’s body now possesses alien abilities, including the power to control and manipulate living organisms in gruesome ways.
This is your EverLovin Joey Sayin’ I’m Xtra sad that this Halloween trailer binge is almost at a close. But don’t snooze yet, Zzzzz! There are two last letters Y & Z to go!