It's a delightful but typical and overused cliché in horror movies that brilliant and obsessive scientists suddenly go bonkers and ruthlessly use themselves as guinea pigs with grotesque and catastrophic consequences. It's what makes this kind of movies entertaining, of course, but it's not exactly plausible. These brilliant men (or women) of science risk their lives even though they are practically certain the outcome will be irreversible and most likely fatal? Anyways, I'm always eager to watch a good old- fashioned "science gone wrong" horror flick; especially when it was made in Great Britain during the most flourishing decade for the genre (1960 – 1970). "The Projected Man" understandably became somewhat forgotten in between all the popular and high-grossing "Frankenstein" and "Quatermass" movies produced by the legendary Hammer Studios, but it's still a worthwhile effort with a decent screenplay, reasonable amounts of suspense and good gruesome make-up effects for its time. Doctor Steiner is a smart man, working on a hi-tech device that – during the first stage – vaporizes objects and then transforms them into pure energy that is kept is a cell, and then projected back into its original forms by a super-powerful laser. Don't ask me how it works, because I didn't understand one iota of all the technical details (and there are far too many overlong and purely technical monologues, by the way) but it's somewhat comparable to the "Tele-Pods" that previously featured in "The Fly". And here as well, the device works perfectly well with lifeless objects, but when Steiner attempts to project living tissue, the test animals die instantly and give off incredibly heavy electric shocks. Meanwhile, the director of the research facility wants the experiments to fail and even sabotages crucial demonstrations. I didn't quite capture why he – Dr. Blanchard – must terminate this genius scientific breakthrough, but at least he succeeds in driving Dr. Steiner to madness. He uses the unstable device on himself and re-emerges with a half-demolished face, a burning pair of hands capable of inflicting sudden death through electrocution and a lust for murdering everyone who gets in his way. I know it has a bad reputation, but I quite enjoyed "The Projected Man". Admittedly you require a fair share of patience and tolerance regarding stupid plot twists, dire love stories and tedious sequences set in cheap laboratory settings full of blinking lights and annoying buzzers. But when Steiner eventually goes on his rampage, it turns into a fun and unscrupulous midnight movie that I warmly recommend.
33 Reviews
What's all this then?
Mike Sh.2 March 2005
Start with a knockoff of "The Fly" with the setting changed from Montreal to London (England, not Ontario) with added elements of "Darkman" (though that movie was still more than 20 years in the future). Add liberal amounts of nondescript English actors, add an officious bureaucrat who looks like G.I. Joe (the one with the fuzzy hair and beard) and a cute young blonde who spends much of the movie in her underwear. Fold in lots and lots and lots of talking and top off with Bryant Halliday in some pretty cool monster makeup, and you have this movie.
Was it any good? Well, it was OK, but a movie like this seems like it should have been much more interesting. David Cronenberg could have done this much better. Heck, Freddie Francis could have done this movie better....
Was it any good? Well, it was OK, but a movie like this seems like it should have been much more interesting. David Cronenberg could have done this much better. Heck, Freddie Francis could have done this movie better....
Double billed with "Island of Terror"
kevinolzak22 March 2016
1966's "The Projected Man" obviously suffers from an unoriginal script eventually picked up for production in Britain by Richard Gordon, shot soon after its superior co-feature "Island of Terror." Elements of "The Fly," in its use of a matter transference machine, and "4D Man," in its sabotage and revenge plot line, make for a prosaic viewing unlikely to get a rise out of any but the most die-hard sci-fi fans. Not so much a bad film as subpar, Gordon regular Bryant Haliday, a genuine horror buff who co-founded Janus Films, takes the title role of Dr. Paul Stanton, dedicated researcher, so close to success that he enlists the assistance of his novice secretary in the lab, resulting in his being transported to the wrong location, one hand and half his face destroyed, a walking power station whose electrical touch proves lethal. Things only pick up following a gabby first half, aided by decent effects and suitably gruesome makeup design for Haliday's monstrosity. His performance lacks the proper zip, but easily stands out due to the lackluster actors around him. Top billed Mary Peach still cringes at the mention of this film, later the widow of Hammer screenwriter Jimmy Sangster, confining most of her efforts to television afterwards. Most viewers will recall newcomer Tracey Crisp, whose scantily clad appearance in her underwear couldn't help but be noticed! Alas, everyone else, particularly the bland villains, leave virtually no impression, save for one cast member retained from "Island of Terror," Sam Kydd (the constable), here sadly reduced to one scene as a thief who becomes one of Haliday's first victims.
Better Than Its Reputation
Michael_Elliott29 January 2018
The Projected Man (1966)
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Dr. Paul Steiner (Bryant Haliday) is doing experiments on a laser machine that he hopes to use to transport objects from one place to another (think of THE FLY). All is going well until they suffer a setback at which point he experiments on himself. This leaves him as a deformed monster with the ability to electrocute people to death with a simple touch.
THE PROJECTED MAN is a British horror film that seems to be a decade too late in the game. I say that because this scientific tale just feels very old-fashioned for a film from 1966. As I said in my plot description, the plot is pretty much lifted from THE FLY and nothing about it had been updated to make it fit the era that it was released. Fans of Mystery Science Theater 3000 will also know that the film was spoofed by them and that helped form its current reputation.
In all honesty, THE PROJECTED MAN isn't a masterpiece or even a good film but at the same time it's not nearly as awful as some reviewers will make it out to be. As I said, the biggest problem is the fact that it's a bit too old-fashioned for its own good but there are still some good moments in the film. There's no question that the highlight of the picture is the monster itself. The doctor pretty much has half of his body burned and this deformed look is actually quite memorable. I thought the special effects were good for what they were and the monster certainly made the film worth sitting through.
Another good thing were the performances from Haliday, Norman Wooland and Mary Peach as the three lead doctors doing the experiments. I'd also argue that the cinematography was at least decent for this type of film. As far as the flaws go, the story itself is pretty unoriginal and it's really too bad that the monster didn't have more time in the movie. The movie works best when he's out killing but this takes up very little of the 77-minute running time.
THE PROJECTED MAN will appeal to fans of British horror films. It's not perfect but it's entertaining enough for what it is.
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Dr. Paul Steiner (Bryant Haliday) is doing experiments on a laser machine that he hopes to use to transport objects from one place to another (think of THE FLY). All is going well until they suffer a setback at which point he experiments on himself. This leaves him as a deformed monster with the ability to electrocute people to death with a simple touch.
THE PROJECTED MAN is a British horror film that seems to be a decade too late in the game. I say that because this scientific tale just feels very old-fashioned for a film from 1966. As I said in my plot description, the plot is pretty much lifted from THE FLY and nothing about it had been updated to make it fit the era that it was released. Fans of Mystery Science Theater 3000 will also know that the film was spoofed by them and that helped form its current reputation.
In all honesty, THE PROJECTED MAN isn't a masterpiece or even a good film but at the same time it's not nearly as awful as some reviewers will make it out to be. As I said, the biggest problem is the fact that it's a bit too old-fashioned for its own good but there are still some good moments in the film. There's no question that the highlight of the picture is the monster itself. The doctor pretty much has half of his body burned and this deformed look is actually quite memorable. I thought the special effects were good for what they were and the monster certainly made the film worth sitting through.
Another good thing were the performances from Haliday, Norman Wooland and Mary Peach as the three lead doctors doing the experiments. I'd also argue that the cinematography was at least decent for this type of film. As far as the flaws go, the story itself is pretty unoriginal and it's really too bad that the monster didn't have more time in the movie. The movie works best when he's out killing but this takes up very little of the 77-minute running time.
THE PROJECTED MAN will appeal to fans of British horror films. It's not perfect but it's entertaining enough for what it is.
They tried, but it's all Lembach's fault
wink_man0121 October 2000
Ok first of all, this movie sucks. But lets examine why. The proposition that a machine is capable of transforming matter into energy, storing it, and then transporting it and reasembling it is at the least intriguing. But that's as far as they take this premise. Instead of delving into what could happen if someone made this kind of machine, they break the damn thing. This could have been a good premise. Living with the responsibilty of this kind of power, and dealing with the constant temptation, ie.. the invisible man. But no.. they break the damn thing. And Lembach wants to leave. So then the doctor jerry-rigs the thing back together, and trys to transport himself. Only to have it goofed up by his beautiful but dumb secretary, (duh). Which wouldn't happened if Lembach hadn't decided to leave. So now he is roaming the country side killing people because his little experiment failed, and they wouldn't give him money. Wah. Then to make the movie worse, throw in a dry British relationship between the two semi-competent professors hired to assist him. Between their loving sessions, they make a couple of half-hearted attempts to find him while he kills off half of London. All of this could have been headed off by not breaking the damn machine, which would never have happened if Lembach hadn't left. This movie tried so I give it an honest 2 stars for effort, but it would have been better if they hadn't broke the damn machine, making Lembach leave, making him try it again. Damn you Lembach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's bad - and it's British
eichelbergersports18 June 2006
The film, a Universal release of a Protelco-MLC production, is a boring retelling of the theory of breaking down the molecular structure of an object, capturing it in a cell as "pure energy," and then sending it back complete to a "target area." There is no explanation WHY this is necessary, but Professor Paul Steiner (played by pock-mocked actor Bryant Haliday, "Devil Doll") thinks it's something to dedicate his, and his assistants', Pat Hill (Mary Peach) and Chris Mitchell (Ronald Allen), lives to.
During an experiment before noted Dutch scientist "Lembach" (Gordon Heinz), his machine fails due to sabotage, so he has himself "projected" by his secretary, Sheila (Tracey Crisp) to seek revenge. Of course, she screws up and he comes out looking like a "pork roast" with the power to electrocute people.
With this new-found power, he manages to zap some Cockney idiots, a security guy named Latham (Derrick de Marney) and his lab boss, Dr. Blanchard (Norman Woodland). He also is able to break into a pharmacy and steal a pair of rubber gloves and a black coat, as well.
In the end, though, despite Hill and Mitchell's attempt to help him, the clown destroys his equipment and himself. On the whole, a completely pointless movie with no message at all.
Also one of the most depressing color films you will ever see.
During an experiment before noted Dutch scientist "Lembach" (Gordon Heinz), his machine fails due to sabotage, so he has himself "projected" by his secretary, Sheila (Tracey Crisp) to seek revenge. Of course, she screws up and he comes out looking like a "pork roast" with the power to electrocute people.
With this new-found power, he manages to zap some Cockney idiots, a security guy named Latham (Derrick de Marney) and his lab boss, Dr. Blanchard (Norman Woodland). He also is able to break into a pharmacy and steal a pair of rubber gloves and a black coat, as well.
In the end, though, despite Hill and Mitchell's attempt to help him, the clown destroys his equipment and himself. On the whole, a completely pointless movie with no message at all.
Also one of the most depressing color films you will ever see.
A very very boring film
jcplanells317 December 2006
I remember this film, exhibit in Barcelona (Spain) in 1970, for the time of a week. Although it could seems incredible, and I can't offer any explanation for it, this movie was exhibit in a theater dedicated to... movies of art and big quality (that, is, Bergman, Resnais, Malle, Buñuel, and... The Projected Man). Few people saw it (luckly people, no doubt) and no reference about this very boring SF movie can be found in the Peter Nichols Science Fiction Encyclopidie, or about the author of the original novel. Very indicative. I remember of it, after all this years, a no-story, a lot of special effects that seems ridiculous effects in fact, and no more. It seems that in some countries the running time is 90 mm. and in anothers 77 min. Well, it means only a little more of pain.
It's like a bad British version of The Fly
bensonmum216 October 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Professor Paul Steiner is doing research in matter transference. He has developed a machine that he can use to make an object like a wrist watch or rodent disappear, only to have that object re-materialize in a different location. But there are those at his research facility that do not like or approve of his experiments and will do whatever it takes to see that he doesn't succeed. After a failed demonstration that might have saved his funding, Professor Steiner decides to test his machine on himself. As expected, things go horribly wrong and he is transformed into a heavily scared madman whose mere touch will kill.
In hindsight, maybe it wasn't such a good idea to re-watch The Projected Man in the same week I watched The Fly, Return of the Fly, and Curse of the Fly. There seems to be only so many movies about matter transference and the potentially horrendous effects it can have on the human body that one person should be made to endure in a three or four day period. I'm not sure what those responsible for the movie list as their source material for The Projected Man, but much of it is so similar to the Fly movies that it cannot be mere coincidence. However, The Projected Man isn't even nearly as good as the worst of the Fly trilogy.
Besides being terribly unoriginal, The Projected Man has several other problems that really hurt the enjoyment of the movie. A big issue I have is with Bryant Haliday in the lead. He's such a horse's ass that, not only do I not care about his suffering, I actually root for it. Supporting cast members Mary Peach and Ronald Allen are almost as bad. They're so bland and dull they hardly matter. In fact, there's very little to get excited about while watching The Projected Man. The soundtrack not very memorable. The "look" I would describe much of it as "muddy". The plot predictable. The action there isn't any. Overall, this is one to avoid.
Fortunately, I watched The Projected Man via a copy of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode. Funny stuff! While not an absolute, very often, the poorer the movie the better the MST3K riffs. The guys hit almost all of their marks with The Projected Man. I'll give it a very enthusiastic 4/5 on my MST3K rating scale.
In hindsight, maybe it wasn't such a good idea to re-watch The Projected Man in the same week I watched The Fly, Return of the Fly, and Curse of the Fly. There seems to be only so many movies about matter transference and the potentially horrendous effects it can have on the human body that one person should be made to endure in a three or four day period. I'm not sure what those responsible for the movie list as their source material for The Projected Man, but much of it is so similar to the Fly movies that it cannot be mere coincidence. However, The Projected Man isn't even nearly as good as the worst of the Fly trilogy.
Besides being terribly unoriginal, The Projected Man has several other problems that really hurt the enjoyment of the movie. A big issue I have is with Bryant Haliday in the lead. He's such a horse's ass that, not only do I not care about his suffering, I actually root for it. Supporting cast members Mary Peach and Ronald Allen are almost as bad. They're so bland and dull they hardly matter. In fact, there's very little to get excited about while watching The Projected Man. The soundtrack not very memorable. The "look" I would describe much of it as "muddy". The plot predictable. The action there isn't any. Overall, this is one to avoid.
Fortunately, I watched The Projected Man via a copy of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode. Funny stuff! While not an absolute, very often, the poorer the movie the better the MST3K riffs. The guys hit almost all of their marks with The Projected Man. I'll give it a very enthusiastic 4/5 on my MST3K rating scale.
"B" movies don't get any "B"-er than this.
lemon_magic25 March 2006
Warning: Spoilers
The title alone (along with the poster) is enough to give away "The Projected Man" as an obvious rip-off of "The Fly". And Bryant Haliday, while much better than the typical IMDb review would have you think, is nobody's idea of an acceptable stand-in for Vincent Price. Although, come to think of it, who would be, unless Micheal Gough was available?? Still, if you are in the mood to watch a British "Hammer" style movie with a science fiction theme about a teleportation experiment gone horribly wrong...well, you still might want to give "The Projected Man" a pass and rummage around in the 'remaindered' bin at your local Wal-Mart for another teleporter-accident movie. Because this one just isn't all that good.
Haliday caught a lot of good natured ribbing from the MST3K crew for his part in this movie and in "Devil Doll", but he is actually the best thing in TPM. Maybe he can't carry the movie, but he gets practically no help here from the screenplay. The script bogs down any forward momentum the plot may have in a mire of nonsense about funding and university politics and a guy named Lembach and some sinister cabal who want the teleportation machine to fail so they can steal its secrets...or something. So all the dramatic sequences in the first half of movie involve either phone calls or unconvincing special effects with transparent espresso machines and teleporting rats. Then when poor Haliday gets mutilated by his machine, he has to spend the last part of the film wearing a diaper over half his face and rubber cement over the rest while he electrocutes various Londoners who chance across his path. Tom Cruise and Eric Roberts using bullhorns couldn't have made this screenplay work.
Meanwhile all the other actors diligently try to inject life and interest into their roles for this turgid little project, but the screenplay just swallows their efforts whole. The corrupt project administrator frets and fumes and hisses into the phone to his blackmailers, all the while failing to notice that he looks like a werewolf outfitted in a tweed suit and a Tattersall vest. Haliday's research assistant and ex-girlfriend have the least convincing romance in the history of British horror cinema. His secretary is forced to parade around in her "smalls". None of it really works or gels into a real movie. And it all just kind of stops dead, leaving the viewer going, "Eh? excuse me, wasn't there supposed to be an ENDING here??"
Still, for all its problems, I can easily name a dozen horror movies from the same period that were as bad or worse, and so could anyone else who follows movies (or who has ever browsed the IMDb "Bottom 100"). I wouldn't actually pay money to own "Projected Man", but if it were included in some compilation along with a dozen other movies in a DVD collection, I'd probably feel OK about having it. It's a harmless diversion, perfect for a horror movie film festival, to watched with friends while consuming many beers and snacks on a Saturday evening.
Haliday caught a lot of good natured ribbing from the MST3K crew for his part in this movie and in "Devil Doll", but he is actually the best thing in TPM. Maybe he can't carry the movie, but he gets practically no help here from the screenplay. The script bogs down any forward momentum the plot may have in a mire of nonsense about funding and university politics and a guy named Lembach and some sinister cabal who want the teleportation machine to fail so they can steal its secrets...or something. So all the dramatic sequences in the first half of movie involve either phone calls or unconvincing special effects with transparent espresso machines and teleporting rats. Then when poor Haliday gets mutilated by his machine, he has to spend the last part of the film wearing a diaper over half his face and rubber cement over the rest while he electrocutes various Londoners who chance across his path. Tom Cruise and Eric Roberts using bullhorns couldn't have made this screenplay work.
Meanwhile all the other actors diligently try to inject life and interest into their roles for this turgid little project, but the screenplay just swallows their efforts whole. The corrupt project administrator frets and fumes and hisses into the phone to his blackmailers, all the while failing to notice that he looks like a werewolf outfitted in a tweed suit and a Tattersall vest. Haliday's research assistant and ex-girlfriend have the least convincing romance in the history of British horror cinema. His secretary is forced to parade around in her "smalls". None of it really works or gels into a real movie. And it all just kind of stops dead, leaving the viewer going, "Eh? excuse me, wasn't there supposed to be an ENDING here??"
Still, for all its problems, I can easily name a dozen horror movies from the same period that were as bad or worse, and so could anyone else who follows movies (or who has ever browsed the IMDb "Bottom 100"). I wouldn't actually pay money to own "Projected Man", but if it were included in some compilation along with a dozen other movies in a DVD collection, I'd probably feel OK about having it. It's a harmless diversion, perfect for a horror movie film festival, to watched with friends while consuming many beers and snacks on a Saturday evening.
<=8. ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.............
MooCowMo24 July 2000
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwnnnnnnnnnnnnn! :=8O
ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........... <=8.
Oh, um excuse me, sorry, fell asleep there for a mooment. Now where was I? Oh yes, "The Projected Man", yes... ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........... <=8.
Ooops, sorry. Yes, "The Projected Man". Well, it's a British sci-fi yawnfest about nothing. Some orange-headed guy projects himself on a laser, gets the touch of death. At last he vanishes, the end. Actually, the film's not even that interesting. Dull, droning, starchy, stiff, and back-breakingly boring, "The Projected Man" is 77 solid minutes of nothing, starring nobody. Dull as dishwater. Dull as doorknob dust. Dull as Ethan Hawke - we're talking really DULL here, people! But wait, in respect to our dull cousins from across the puddle, the MooCow will now do a proper review for "The Projected Man":
ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.............. <=8.
ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........... <=8.
Oh, um excuse me, sorry, fell asleep there for a mooment. Now where was I? Oh yes, "The Projected Man", yes... ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........... <=8.
Ooops, sorry. Yes, "The Projected Man". Well, it's a British sci-fi yawnfest about nothing. Some orange-headed guy projects himself on a laser, gets the touch of death. At last he vanishes, the end. Actually, the film's not even that interesting. Dull, droning, starchy, stiff, and back-breakingly boring, "The Projected Man" is 77 solid minutes of nothing, starring nobody. Dull as dishwater. Dull as doorknob dust. Dull as Ethan Hawke - we're talking really DULL here, people! But wait, in respect to our dull cousins from across the puddle, the MooCow will now do a proper review for "The Projected Man":
ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.............. <=8.
I am not moving until I see Sheila in her underpants!
latviancowboysfan2 May 2005
This is one of the worst things to ever come out of England, so that says a lot right there. The tension when we have to find out whether or not Lembach is staying is amazing though. The upside is seeing the nice secretary, Sheila, in her picnic table print underwear for awhile after being captured by Dr. Rat Face. This movie has several views of London too although none of them are good. There is also a point in which there is almost a car accident which gets your heart rate back to just below normal. There is also a watch that gets teleported away, and the fear of the woman not getting her watch back is parallel to the horror of "The Sixth Sense" only a lot more dull and British. Add on a furious gun fight between the British police and the Dr. Rat, which results in nothing, plus the electrocuting of a lot of people, plus a cat and you have yourself... ummm... A British movie. The MST3K version is pretty good although not one of there bests.
shocked at how hard everyone is on this movie
chrisdfilm10 May 2007
This movie is no sci-fi/horror masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination. But it is far better than most of the reviewers on IMDb would have you believe. It was originally released here in the USA on the second half of a double bill with the somewhat better ISLAND OF TERROR with Peter Cushing. I convinced my dad to take me to the drive- in for the bill when it was released, but it was a school night and he wouldn't tumble to staying for the second feature. Since then, it has been notoriously hard to track down. I finally saw it about a year ago and was surprised on how entertaining it was, especially considering how I had read various disparaging things about it in the interim. It does borrow elements from the earlier FLY pictures as well as the Karloff film, THE INVISIBLE RAY, and is by no means particularly original. However, since when does that really detract from the enjoyment factor of a low budget, sci-fi monster film? For the most part, you better resign yourself to that going in, or else stop watching films altogether. In its favor, it does move at a fast pace, has decent actors and color cinematography, some nice grisly shocks and certainly decent effects for a low budget sixties film from England. An added bonus, there is a distinctly assertive heroine scientist played by Mary Peach, a character who remains in possession of her wits, and aggressively intelligent without being obnoxious (her character is the sympathetic colleague of Bryant Halliday who becomes the tragically disfigured, death-dealing PROJECTED MAN) Undeserving of its bad rep.
Not bad at all....
planktonrules27 April 2017
"The Projected Man" is a film with a low overall score and this isn't surprising since it was featured on "Mystery Science Theater 3000"...a show that makes fun of old films. Many of the films featured on the show have been god-awful. And, since the films were lampooned on the show, folks incorrectly assume they're all schlock...which isn't really fair to the folks who made the movies. With "The Projected Man", you've got a dandy sci-fi film that IS worth seeing without all the "MST3000" sarcastic remarks.
The film is about Professor Steiner's research on transporting items from one location to another through matter transmission--much like the "Star Trek" transporter system (which also debuted in 1966). They have no problem making inanimate objects disappear and reappear but it's not so easy with living creatures. What the professor and his team don't know is that some folks are deliberately trying to sabotage their work. Ultimately, Steiner does something VERY dumb-- -he uses the system on himself. There's an accident and he ends up being part man part monster...and he's determined to pay back the folks who sabotaged his work.
While this is not a brilliant film, it's much more intelligent and thought out than you might suspect. It's NOT just a crappy monster film but is enjoyable and has a bit of depth to it. Worth seeing.
The film is about Professor Steiner's research on transporting items from one location to another through matter transmission--much like the "Star Trek" transporter system (which also debuted in 1966). They have no problem making inanimate objects disappear and reappear but it's not so easy with living creatures. What the professor and his team don't know is that some folks are deliberately trying to sabotage their work. Ultimately, Steiner does something VERY dumb-- -he uses the system on himself. There's an accident and he ends up being part man part monster...and he's determined to pay back the folks who sabotaged his work.
While this is not a brilliant film, it's much more intelligent and thought out than you might suspect. It's NOT just a crappy monster film but is enjoyable and has a bit of depth to it. Worth seeing.
Science always turns their experiments into ugly monsters.
mark.waltz25 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
He has the hands that kill, and a face that could stop a clock, that is after he agrees to be the test patient, a decision that the team of scientists will soon come to regret. Like many of these science fiction films, it takes forever to get going, bogged down with a ton of boring exposition and explanatory nonsense that doesn't much make sense. Bryant Haliday is the scientist who takes the risk, joined by Ronald Allen and Mary Peach who's inability to run the contraption transports Haliday to the scene of a crime, killing three robbers through electrocution.
Norman Wooland and Derek Farr co-star in this British science fiction horror film that drags a bit, but when it takes off, it's pretty chilling. The makeup used for Haliday's monstrous look (which fades out of the blue) looks like oatmeal, and as silly as that sounds, it's a gruesome sight thanks to the lighting effects. Overall, it's just okay, rather cumbersome at times and ultimately predictable, that is when it begins to make sense.
Norman Wooland and Derek Farr co-star in this British science fiction horror film that drags a bit, but when it takes off, it's pretty chilling. The makeup used for Haliday's monstrous look (which fades out of the blue) looks like oatmeal, and as silly as that sounds, it's a gruesome sight thanks to the lighting effects. Overall, it's just okay, rather cumbersome at times and ultimately predictable, that is when it begins to make sense.
They were kidding, right?
Nozze-Foto11 February 2002
Someone knocked the script for this off about 10 minutes after watching THE FLY and they threw in a bit of MAN MADE MONSTER to make it look original. Bryant Halliday (CURSE OF THE VOODOO, etc.) is a scientist working on a matter transport device. Apparently he has not consulted the Delambre family in Canada or he'd know better. Even though he has never succeeded in teleporting living matter he decides to project himself right into the living room of the department head so as not to lose his funding. Bad move! Well Bryant does not end up with a fly head, no he is burned rather like Tor Johnson in NIGHT OF THE GHOULS but he gains to power to electrocute people by touching them. He seems to have changed so much that electricity has become his food; he gets weaker the more power he uses. An interesting concept suffers from the ho-hum approach and an ending, which I will not reveal here, that does not so much end the movie as it "stops" it; like they had run out of ideas to advance the plot and so just ended everything. Saturday afternoons were made for movies like this. Don't think about what you are watching, take it at face value and you will have a good time.
Pretty you may be?
bat-519 August 1999
With that line starts one silly, boring British sci fi film. The Great Vorelli from the movie "Devil Doll" builds a teleportation machine only to have his funding cut off by Blanchard, a bearded man who has a thing for bow ties and men with large eye brows. When his experiment fails, the good doctor learns that Lembach, the man who controls all of the grants in the world, will be staying in London for a few days. He attempts to project himself into the house of Blanchard with the help of his comely lab assistant, Sheila. Needless to say something goes wrong and he winds up looking like a rat. The rest of the movie is devoted to the good orange haired doctor walking around London shocking people with his mutated hand and wearing a diaper on his face. There are some more killings, some modest paper work, and finally, the doctor vanishes to where ever rat faced doctors go. Thankfully no one decided to make a sequel.
If there is one thing I've learned from movies, teleportation devices are dangerous!
Aaron137524 October 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I enjoyed this film as an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000. I am doubting I would have seen it otherwise, as I do not recall ever seeing this one play on television. A film that shares a premise with a couple of other films where a scientist is trying to do something grand, but instead of a rousing success story, the movie turns into a horror as something fails in spectacular fashion causing someone to get deformed, fused with something or have half their face looking quite icky, but on the plus side gain an ability to electrocute people so that they may take revenge on all those they perceive wronged them! Not a totally bad film as they did a wonderful job on the makeup, just takes a while for things to really get going and so for the most part during the first portion of the film we are treated to the wonderful world of grants, appropriation and sabotage. The film is already half over before we have the title character terrorizing the city and it kind of still moves slowly.
The story has a woman arriving at an institution where a scientist is working on developing a device that can be used for teleportation. In fact, he has succeeded many times transporting inanimate objects from one point to the other and his only problem is doing the same with live subjects. Of course, the fact he was able to successfully transport inanimate objects should have been more than enough to secure funding for life, the people in this film seem to act as if this is not that big a deal. Kind of perplexing. Oh wow, you can transport things from one point to the other instantaneously...cool, wait, not animals. Loser! Well there is some sabotaging going on as soon the scientist who is played by the same guy who played the great Vorelli in "Devil Doll" decides to do something extreme to prove he has achieved success! The only way he can fail is if the other two scientist who are assisting him run into the room and yell, "Stop" right in the middle of the experiment...and they do, D'oh! He is transformed into a maniacal disfigured man who can touch people and kill them!
This made for a very funny episode of MST3K as it is one of those films that has enough good in it so that their riffing does not have to completely carry the day. I would like to see the film without their aid as there seemed to be things that were not rectified on screen such as the mysterious man who seemed to be the one behind sabotaging the experiment. Most of the film though seems to be intact as the film only ran 77 minutes so most of it was likely featured. A lot of good jokes in this episode as I enjoyed Sheila in her underpants and the joke about being willing to give up half their face to break into drugstores and steal rubber gloves...just a very good episode.
So the movie may have been good with a bit more work, it still made a fine episode of MST3K. I kind of wonder if Bryant Haliday's hair was naturally that orange color, if so it is a shame that "Devil Doll" was in black and white as that would somehow of made that film a lot creepier! This one had a great effect as Haliday as Professor Steiner's face was positively grotesque! I have seen things made a lot more recently than this film that did not look half as good as the makeup job they did here and it is the highlight of this film that is a bit strange as once again, shouldn't more people be shocked and in awe of something that can teleport stuff?
The story has a woman arriving at an institution where a scientist is working on developing a device that can be used for teleportation. In fact, he has succeeded many times transporting inanimate objects from one point to the other and his only problem is doing the same with live subjects. Of course, the fact he was able to successfully transport inanimate objects should have been more than enough to secure funding for life, the people in this film seem to act as if this is not that big a deal. Kind of perplexing. Oh wow, you can transport things from one point to the other instantaneously...cool, wait, not animals. Loser! Well there is some sabotaging going on as soon the scientist who is played by the same guy who played the great Vorelli in "Devil Doll" decides to do something extreme to prove he has achieved success! The only way he can fail is if the other two scientist who are assisting him run into the room and yell, "Stop" right in the middle of the experiment...and they do, D'oh! He is transformed into a maniacal disfigured man who can touch people and kill them!
This made for a very funny episode of MST3K as it is one of those films that has enough good in it so that their riffing does not have to completely carry the day. I would like to see the film without their aid as there seemed to be things that were not rectified on screen such as the mysterious man who seemed to be the one behind sabotaging the experiment. Most of the film though seems to be intact as the film only ran 77 minutes so most of it was likely featured. A lot of good jokes in this episode as I enjoyed Sheila in her underpants and the joke about being willing to give up half their face to break into drugstores and steal rubber gloves...just a very good episode.
So the movie may have been good with a bit more work, it still made a fine episode of MST3K. I kind of wonder if Bryant Haliday's hair was naturally that orange color, if so it is a shame that "Devil Doll" was in black and white as that would somehow of made that film a lot creepier! This one had a great effect as Haliday as Professor Steiner's face was positively grotesque! I have seen things made a lot more recently than this film that did not look half as good as the makeup job they did here and it is the highlight of this film that is a bit strange as once again, shouldn't more people be shocked and in awe of something that can teleport stuff?
The Fly You're Not, But.....
arfdawg-131 March 2024
This is basically a Fly rip off. Same general concept of moving matter. The only difference is that the matter disappears and is store in some sort of crystal looking circular device and later can be projected back. Except if you are living matter the results aren't so good.
That said, taken on its own merits, it's not a horrible movie. Th color still pops after all these years (thanks Technicolor). The acting is pretty good. The directing is pretty good too. And there are enough dissimilarities to The Fly to make it appear as a stand alone movie.
Watch it and make up your own mind. I think it deserves more than the current 3.6 rating.
That said, taken on its own merits, it's not a horrible movie. Th color still pops after all these years (thanks Technicolor). The acting is pretty good. The directing is pretty good too. And there are enough dissimilarities to The Fly to make it appear as a stand alone movie.
Watch it and make up your own mind. I think it deserves more than the current 3.6 rating.
India must be so embarassed to have been ruled by these twits!
Oosterhartbabe18 April 2004
Warning: Spoilers
(spoilers)The one truly memorable part of this otherwise rather dull and tepid bit of British cuisine is Steiner's henna rinse, one of the worst dye jobs ever. That, and the magnificent caterpillar eyebrows on the old evil dude who was trying to steal Steiner's invention. MST3K does an admirable job of making a wretchedly boring and grey film funny.I particularly like it when Crow kills Mike with his 'touch of death', and when he revives him in the theatre, Mike cries "Guys, I died, I saw eternal truth and beauty! oh, it's this movie..." That would be a letdown, having to come back from the afterlife to watch the rest of The Projected Man. The film could make a fortune being sold as a sleep aide. Some of the puns in the film were wicked: police inspector-"electrocution!" Crow-"Shocking, isn't it?" police inspector-"That's LOwe, all right" Tom Servo-"Very low, right down by the floor!" police inspector-"Can I get on?" Tom Servo-"He's dead, but knock yourself out" MST3K is definitely the only way to watch this snoozer.
The Engligh Harvey Dent...
misstresseva24 February 2009
Warning: Spoilers
The only reason I don't give this movie fewer than 3 stars is because it isn't quite on par with a movie like Manos: The Hands of Fate. This movie's greatest crime is the fact that it is head-meltingly boring & terribly, unforgivably British. The premise of this movie sounds potentially promising, the whole teleporting concept, but the direction they went with it was completely uninteresting. It was more a movie about research funding and bowties than projecting lasers. The actors were wooden, unemotional, and aloof. As was the love affair between the two scientists-- which was anything but intriguing. I never was able to tell what the attraction was between them as the chemistry was non-existent. Nor did I really understand why the melty-faced main guy decided to slaughter everyone he met. At least now I know that I should always give someone a fair hearing before I cut off their research grants, else they go rampaging about, killing wantonly with goofy hand gestures.
Terrible Movie - Great to Spoof
bionicjoe29 September 2006
This movie is spoofed in an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000. I think MST3K was at its best when they ripped this movie.
Terrible acting, bad makeup, poor effects, chick in skimpy (1960's)underwear. I give it a 2.
The villain is hard to understand due to the makeup. The assistant says things like 'not you' that sound like NACHOO!! (think sneezing). It's just poor oration. The long eyebrows are hilarious on one of the characters.
I still don't know what 'The Projected Man' means in terms of the plot. I missed some of the beginning though.
What is up with this 10 line minimum on posting??
Terrible acting, bad makeup, poor effects, chick in skimpy (1960's)underwear. I give it a 2.
The villain is hard to understand due to the makeup. The assistant says things like 'not you' that sound like NACHOO!! (think sneezing). It's just poor oration. The long eyebrows are hilarious on one of the characters.
I still don't know what 'The Projected Man' means in terms of the plot. I missed some of the beginning though.
What is up with this 10 line minimum on posting??
Please put MST3K reviews in the MST3K section!
darkwebonline8 February 2012
I'm a big fan of MST3K, but some of their film choices are not good. 'This Island Earth', 'Son of Godzilla' and 'I Was a Teenage Werewolf' are all classic films, and while I have no problems with that, it appears that people that post reviews on here only see the MST3K versions, and skew the film ratings on this site. Bear in mind that MST3K often use badly edited, washed out and, in the case of foreign language film, badly dubbed (by Americans) copies of films. I suggest that people post reviews of MST3K episodes on the appropriate page on here (ie the page devoted to each episode of MST3K).
On to Projected Man itself, it's a decent take on the matter- transmitter-gone-wrong theme first seen in The Fly nearly ten years earlier. In truth, the influence was more likely the British sequel, Curse of the Fly, made one year earlier.
Bryant Haliday makes for a good twisted (both mentally and physically) villain. The main problem with the film is that nothing interesting is really done with the monster, although there are a few creepy scenes, including the claiming of his first victims. This would be fine if the concept of the matter transmitter was original, but obviously it isn't. But at least Doctor Who fans will enjoy seeing Ronald Crisp (from The Dominators/Ambassadors of Death).
Overall, an average film, which I'd normally give a six, but due to it's ridiculously low rating on here, I've given it a ten.
On to Projected Man itself, it's a decent take on the matter- transmitter-gone-wrong theme first seen in The Fly nearly ten years earlier. In truth, the influence was more likely the British sequel, Curse of the Fly, made one year earlier.
Bryant Haliday makes for a good twisted (both mentally and physically) villain. The main problem with the film is that nothing interesting is really done with the monster, although there are a few creepy scenes, including the claiming of his first victims. This would be fine if the concept of the matter transmitter was original, but obviously it isn't. But at least Doctor Who fans will enjoy seeing Ronald Crisp (from The Dominators/Ambassadors of Death).
Overall, an average film, which I'd normally give a six, but due to it's ridiculously low rating on here, I've given it a ten.
Sciences' most gruesome experiment!
Hey_Sweden24 February 2018
Bryant Haliday plays a research scientist named Paul Steiner, who's hard at work on a "projection" experiment: he hopes to be able to transmit matter from one place to another. His process works on inanimate objects, but not on living things. Despondent when it looks like the plug will be pulled on his entire operation, he uses himself as the first human guinea pig. As you can expect, this has disastrous consequences. When he regains human form, he's horribly disfigured, and has gained the "touch of death". (When he lays his mutilated hand on someone, they are electrocuted.) And, of course, he's now insane.
This British sci-fi / horror effort does owe a fair bit to "The Fly", putting just enough of a spin on the premise to not come off as a carbon copy. It's not a great story, but it does entertain quite capably nevertheless. It's paced reasonably well by directors Ian Curteis and John Croydon, clocking in at a painless 78 minutes. A great deal of what effectiveness it possesses comes from the performances of an excellent cast. Haliday is an earnest, sympathetic lead turned deliciously crazed antagonist, and ultimately tragic character. Ronald Allen and Mary Peach, as his worried colleagues, figure into a romantic subplot that doesn't waste too much of the running time. Norman Wooland and Derrick De Marney are superb at playing sneaky, nefarious types trying to discredit / ruin the experiment. Gorgeous Tracey Crisp is appealing as the helpful secretary, and Derek Farr has a solid, reliable presence as the obligatory inspector who picks up Steiners' trail. Legendary stuntman Alf Joint plays the security guard. The makeup by Eric Carter is pretty good for the time this was made, Kenneth V. Jones' music is good, and the widescreen photography helps to keep things visually interesting.
While the tale it's spinning is definitely on the routine side, this still makes for an enjoyable movie watching evening for fans of the science-fiction and horror genres.
Seven out of 10.
This British sci-fi / horror effort does owe a fair bit to "The Fly", putting just enough of a spin on the premise to not come off as a carbon copy. It's not a great story, but it does entertain quite capably nevertheless. It's paced reasonably well by directors Ian Curteis and John Croydon, clocking in at a painless 78 minutes. A great deal of what effectiveness it possesses comes from the performances of an excellent cast. Haliday is an earnest, sympathetic lead turned deliciously crazed antagonist, and ultimately tragic character. Ronald Allen and Mary Peach, as his worried colleagues, figure into a romantic subplot that doesn't waste too much of the running time. Norman Wooland and Derrick De Marney are superb at playing sneaky, nefarious types trying to discredit / ruin the experiment. Gorgeous Tracey Crisp is appealing as the helpful secretary, and Derek Farr has a solid, reliable presence as the obligatory inspector who picks up Steiners' trail. Legendary stuntman Alf Joint plays the security guard. The makeup by Eric Carter is pretty good for the time this was made, Kenneth V. Jones' music is good, and the widescreen photography helps to keep things visually interesting.
While the tale it's spinning is definitely on the routine side, this still makes for an enjoyable movie watching evening for fans of the science-fiction and horror genres.
Seven out of 10.
Jim Henson's Altered State Babies...
Apearlo8 November 1999
Boring English horror/sci-fi about a boring scientist who wants to project matter through space, a la Andre Delambre in "The Fly". Unfortunately, this backfires and said scientist becomes an ugly mutant with the touch of death... I guess. I really wasn't paying attention. Even on MST3K you may need to bring the caffeine pills.
Bad Movie, But Great MST3K Movie!
verbusen13 March 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Maybe it caught me at the right moment, but watching the MST3K version of this movie made me laugh more then any other of that show's episodes I think I've ever seen! As far as the film goes a lot of people are comparing it to The Fly, I think it's a lot closer to The 4 D Man. BTW, I liked the 4D Man, and if I was watching this on it's own I might like this also depending if I was really bored and nothing else was on to watch. If you have not seen 4 D Man, and like late 50's sci fi, check it out it's a good watch. Back to MST3K version of Projector man, usually I tend to think that episodes after Joel left are not as funny, this one (and as I watch more later episodes) is top tier for being among the shows best. An example is the part with the passed out receptionist in her unusual picnic tablecloth underwear (Mike says, "her underwear is from the Ellie Mae Secrets Collection"). As bad as this film is on it's own, it's great as a MST3K episode, I'm giving it an 8 out of 10.
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