The Brute Man

An irredeemably dark and dreary production, crushed not simply by the weight of the impending death of lead Rondo Hatton and the exploitation of his likeness, but also the unrelenting awfulness of almost every character. It could be said to bridge horror to noir, but there's not even a moral high ground to trample on. It's just nasty for it's own sake.

Rondo seemed to be playing a different character than the script called for, yet was strangely empathetic none the less. A psychotic? No. A man caught way over his head? Yes.

In a way it was Rondo Hatton's misfortune that was his only appeal for the big screen. That deformed face and body was frightening in a horror setting. They almost went with the sentimental monster with the blind girl here, but decided to go straight on with the murdering spree. Probable for the best, for Hatton wasn't a good enough actor to pull something like that off. So what we get is a evil psycho killer stalking his pray and killing them. No sympathy either way, and that's The Brute Man.

Mst3k: 8/10

Featuring perhaps the grumpiest grocery store owner you'll ever see (indeed, there's a lotta grumps in this one). But Dorothy, the kid boogie-woogie player, was cute ("I'm gonna be in the groove"...lol). Neal is remarkably free from remorse (or even awareness) regarding his culpability in the Creeper's face...er, fate. Oh yeah, and one more thing: if only it was as easy to cure blindness in real life as it is in the movies...