A clever mix of studio publicity and the popular monster movie genre takes place on the studio lot of the studio that made this film, American International. Usually, Hollywood studios used a generic movie studio name, but not AIP. Fired from his job as the monster movie makeup man, Robert H. Martin plots revenge against the east coast arrivals who purchased the studio and intend on making drastic changes. The new arrivals pretty much just barge into Martin's makeup studio, preferring to give him and assistant Paul Brinegar "the human way". Furiously refusing their week's worth of severance, Martin utilizes a unique way of getting the actors in his monster masks to do his dirty work for him. But he must cover up his crimes any way he can, and this means more murders!
It's pretty obvious what will happen in this enjoyable but predictable thriller, but every step of the way in resolving eveytevery does keep you engrossed. American International was the perfect studio to spoof how changing of the guard at established movie studios can lead to mass firings and a change in the type of films that studio makes. Ironically the newest studio to have an impact on the way films were made in the late 1950's, it utilized knowledge of the five major studios to create a believable situation and twist it with a campy plot twist. Martin gives a sensitive performance in spite of his actions, adding subtleties that adds sympathy to his character. Young actors Gary Conway and Gary Clarke are the men behind the masks. A sudden switch from black and white to color makes no real impact other than to be gimmicky.
It's pretty obvious what will happen in this enjoyable but predictable thriller, but every step of the way in resolving eveytevery does keep you engrossed. American International was the perfect studio to spoof how changing of the guard at established movie studios can lead to mass firings and a change in the type of films that studio makes. Ironically the newest studio to have an impact on the way films were made in the late 1950's, it utilized knowledge of the five major studios to create a believable situation and twist it with a campy plot twist. Martin gives a sensitive performance in spite of his actions, adding subtleties that adds sympathy to his character. Young actors Gary Conway and Gary Clarke are the men behind the masks. A sudden switch from black and white to color makes no real impact other than to be gimmicky.