The Japanese horror and sci-fi films from the 50's never really reached any sort of high level of artistic quality other than superficial curiosity. Almost always a notch below even the least of its American and UK cousins.
The movies did have a surreal quality although most of that seems to stem from the cultural and cinematic differences in style, approach, and mindset. The best of the line just didn't have that crisp, clean veneer that the domestic releases contained. It is probably this shortcoming that gives these films that other-worldly wonder that the kids of that era and film buffs today find so fascinating.
The H-Man has a few eerie scenes and some somewhat different looking, if not cheap imitations, of American nightclub gangsters and performers (a forced assimilation of their conquerors pop culture). But overall it is talkie and rather vapid. At least it is a mild diversion from the rubber suit, erector set extravaganzas.
The movies did have a surreal quality although most of that seems to stem from the cultural and cinematic differences in style, approach, and mindset. The best of the line just didn't have that crisp, clean veneer that the domestic releases contained. It is probably this shortcoming that gives these films that other-worldly wonder that the kids of that era and film buffs today find so fascinating.
The H-Man has a few eerie scenes and some somewhat different looking, if not cheap imitations, of American nightclub gangsters and performers (a forced assimilation of their conquerors pop culture). But overall it is talkie and rather vapid. At least it is a mild diversion from the rubber suit, erector set extravaganzas.