Plant Man

  (imdb)

THE MUTATIONS-1974-After a lengthy lecture by a German college professor Dr. Nolter (Donald Pleasence with an accent), we learn he's a mad scientist working in genetics with plants and humans. He gets help from an angry deformed man Lynch (Tom Baker) who hangs out at a freak show run by Burns (Michael Dunn). Others in the show include The Alligator girl, the frog man, pincushion man, bearded lady, human skeleton, human pretzel and Popeye (Willie Ingram who could actually make his eyes pop out an inch from their sockets). Students Tony (Scott Anthony), Heidi (Julie Ege; LEGEND OF THE 7 GOLDEN VAMPIRES) and Lauren (Jill Haworth; HORROR HOUSE) welcome American scientist Brian (Brad Harris; THE FURY OF HERCULES). Tony discovers Nolter's secret. He's crossing plants with animals and plans to use Tony as his human experiment. Tony is turned into a plant man and terrorizes his girlfriend Lauren. Later, Heidi is kidnapped by Lynch for the Nolter's next victim. When Brian goes to rescue her, he's nearly killed by Lynch but Burns convinces "the freaks" into killing Lynch and feeding his body to guard dogs. Tony, now a full-grown plant man breaks into Nolter's lab and kills his creator. The place is set on fire and Brian saves Heidi but… 

THE MUTATIONS is a low budget sleazy little film with a crazy plant monster that's fairly ludicrous but considering Academy Award winning cinematographer Jack Cardiff directed it, it could have been better. He was no stranger to directing as this was his fiftheeth outing (but also his last). Co-star Tom Baker started his memorable run as TV's Dr. Who the same year. Donald Pleasence was also in the horror anthology FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE in '74. Sadly, this was the last film for Michael Dunn, who died in London shortly after completing his scenes.

Thanks for reading!

"That's All Ya Got? Ain't Ya Got No Geek or Nothin'?"

SHE FREAK-1967- After a rather lengthy intro showing scenes from a country carnival (with some dizzying shots from a Ferris wheel) a barker explains "There are only two kinds of freaks . Those created by God and those made by man" when touting their unseen big freak attraction.

The story then goes flashback to Jade (Claire Brennen) an unhappy waitress in a greasy spoon run by Greasy (Claude Earl Jones). When a carnival agent (Ben Moore from HG Lewis' 2000 MANIACS) passes through, Jade decides to join up with the troupe where she becomes....a waitress!

She's befriended by a stripper named Moon (Lynn Courtney) and seems to get along ok until she sees the freaks (all we see is a woman who kisses a python and a sword shallower) and gets upset. Later on she's romanced by the "freak show" owner Mr. St John (Bill McKinney in his film debut) but also has an affair with a roustabout named Blackie (Lee Raymond who later directed THE ADULT VERSION OF DR. JECKYLL AND MR. HYDE). Meanwhile Shorty, (future cousin Itt Felix Silla) hangs around ominously. She and St. John get married but her animosity towards the freaks continues. She also continues her affair with Blacky and when St. John catches them Blacky kills him. Jade takes over the show and her first order of business is to fire Shorty. Finally the unseen "freaks" take their revenge (a fire eater, strange looking old lady, a skinny guy and a wild man) and turn her into "one of them". Greasy has the last laugh in the finale which ends with a Bible quote!

SHE FREAK is obviously an un-credited remake of the Tod Browning classic FREAKS and you know right away once the star freak isn't show at the beginning. The best part is really the actual footage of the carnivals being erected and packed up plus many of the rides and attractions in action. There's some bad acting and dialogue but much of it is long non-dialogue scenes with musical background. The weirdest part is that no "real" freaks are seen till the very end which may have disappointed movie goers.

A lot of exploitation hands were in on SHE FREAK. It was written and produced by exploitation vet David Friedman and Byron Mabe directed and edited it. Don Sonney was a co-producer and Ed Wood associate Harry Thomas did the make-up. Billy Allen did the cool guitar/percussion soundtrack. Director of photography Bill Troiano worked other weird stuff like THE MUMMY AND THE CURSE OF THE JACKALS. William Bagdad (from TV Mikels movies) has a funny role as a tough guy who gets stabbed with a screwdriver.

A real carnival magician, The Great Vanteen has a small role too (according to his website he also played "the wild man" who attacks Jade in the climax). This is just about the only movie star Claire Brennan made (she did some TV later on). According to IMDB she and co-star Felix Silla had a child together. She died of cancer in 1977 at the age of 43. Roadshow legend Donn Davidson created an alternate version called ASYLUM OF THE INSANE which featured one or two added scenes.

Thanks to my pal Tony for getting me this and thanks for reading!