Synopsis:
When a fugitive (Ron Randell) is accidentally trapped in a nuclear test site, he becomes irradiated and turns into a metal-absorbing mutant. Meanwhile, the crime boss (Anthony Caruso) who initially framed Randell tries to capture him and gets his frightened moll (Debra Paget) to attempt seduction — but Randell turns instead to a loyal girlfriend (Elaine Stewart) hoping to shelter him, and wonders whether to trust a kind doctor (Tudor Owen) who wants to study him.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Allan Dwan Films
• Atomic Energy
• Debra Paget Films
• Fugitives
• Gangsters
• Science Fiction

Review:
Canadian-born director Allan Dwan’s final film was this unconvincing gangster/sci-fi mish-mosh featuring highly atmospheric cinematography overlaid onto a silly atomic mutation storyline.

Paget and Stewart are conveniently posited as flip sides of female loyalty (Paget is deceptive, Stewart is eternally nurturing):

… while “good guy” gangster Randell (he was framed, after all) becomes increasingly harder to sympathize with as the film progresses:

… and Caruso simply oozes slime.

Check out DVD Savant’s review for an interesting overview of this film’s production history, where he notes that it “certainly looks like it was filmed by a crew just going through the motions, doing every scene with a minimum of lighting and as few camera setups as possible.” Feel free to skip this one unless you’re curious.

Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:

• Highly atmospheric cinematography
  
  

Must See?
No; this one isn’t must-see.

Links:

• IMDb entry
• NY Times Original Review
• Time Out Capsule Review
• DVD Savant Review