The Manster |  | Directors: George P. Breakston, Kenneth G. Crane
Actors: Peter Dyneley, Jane Hylton, Tetsu Nakamura, Terri Zimmern, Norman Van Hawley
Studio: Retro Media
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.95
Buy New: $2.75
You Save: $12.20 (82%)
New (12) Used (9) from $2.75
Avg. Customer Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 108781
Format: Black & White, Dvd-video, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 72
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
UPC: 802993104594
EAN: 0802993104594
ASIN: B00007ELFG
Theatrical Release Date: March 28, 1962
Release Date: January 28, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: Brand new. Sealed.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
 Half Man! Half Monster! Manster! August 23, 2008
It's a unique take on mad scientist / mutant theme with a bit of Jekyll and Hyde. It is also set in Japan, which gives the film's otherwise familiar story another merit. The simple story involves one Japanese scientist Dr. Robert Suzuki (Tetsu Nakamura) performing an unauthorized "experiment" on the body of an American journalist Larry Stanford (Peter Dyneley) without the latter's knowing.
"Manster" (1962) is a black-and-white film of which tone is different from those horrors produced by Universal or Hammer. As one of the reviewers on IMDb has pointed out, the film's touch is closer to those Japanese horror films made around this era, like "The Human Vapor" (1960) where the story gives more emphasis to the tragedy of each character than it does to the mutated bodies and the murders committed by the "mansters." Also, "spooky" sound effects are similar to those used in Japanese ghost movies of that day.
I am pretty impressed with some of the film's technical aspects. Even by the standard of the contemporary horror films, the effects are just acceptable, far from great, but it is easy to imagine "the third eye" scene had really scared the kids back in the early 60s.
Some English-speaking films, even today, describe Japan or other Asian countries in a ridiculous way, but they got Japanese things right (for the most part) in "Manster." The interior of the Japanese inn or bathhouse is authentic (perhaps they really shot there in Japan), and so are the town's streets or the policemen and squad cars. Some conversations are spoken in Japanese, which are almost perfectly done.
You cannot expect the same kind of fun as watching a campy Grade Z movie, which "Manster" is not. Still, this is an unexpectedly enjoyable film.
 Keep a eye on your shoulder.......... July 16, 2008
Great creepy classic. A doctor experiment goes wrong, then all hell brakes loose. A eye on a shoulder that become a monster. Seen lots of copy of this film. Retromedia is the best print so far. Keep them classic coming Fred O'lay.
I never forgot the creepy scene with the eye on his shoulder (3.5 stars) April 21, 2008
There are a few scary old movies I recall seeing when I was a kid back in the mid 70s, usually on a Saturday afternoon TV program called "Science Fiction Theater." One had this doctor who gives some kind of injection into this guy's shoulder and later, when it's hurting like crazy, the guy pulls his shirt back and there's an eye growing in the skin! It was enough to scare a 7 or 8 year old to death back then, and I never forgot it.
Recently I discovered the movie was called "The Manster," and I found it cheaper on Amazon than renting it (if the rental stores actually had it, that is). The basic storyline is the mad scientist Dr. Suzuki, experimenting with unsuspecting victims, in this case Larry Stanford, a foreign correspondent working in Japan. I'm not sure what the doctor's goal was, but the reporter spends most of his time drunk and enjoying himself with geisha girls. Soon he gets the eye on his shoulder and the urge to kill someone. Eventually a full head pops out, followed by more killings, police chases and... the plot isn't hard to figure out.
But remember, this was a B movie - it probably wasn't that good when it was new in 1962. It's in black & white and for the most part the special effects and acting are decent - the worst exception being the actress who plays the reporter's wife. It was kind of fun to watch, especially with the kids who found it mildly frightening, or at least didn't laugh out loud.
ALPHA DVD VERSION October 8, 2006
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I FIRST SAW THIS MOVIE ON A LOCAL TV PROGRAM CALLED 5:00 SHOWTIME IN THE MID-1960's & BEING A YOUNG LAD AT THE TIME FOUND THE MANSTER SOMEWHAT UNSETTLING, MORE ADULT-THEMED & LURID THAN THE USUAL BRIDE OF THE MONSTER/COSMIC MAN STUFF... WHICH IS WHY IT BECAME AN INSTANT FAVORITE!
YEAH IT'S KINDDA HOKEY & CHEAPLY MADE BUT IT'S CERTAINLY ENTERTAINING AND STILL FUN TO WATCH. THE HERO ISN'T REALLY A HERO (AN ALCOHOLIC SCUMBAG PERHAPS ) & THE MAD DOCTOR ISN'T REALLY ALL THAT MAD (HE DOESN'T EVEN WANT TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD WITH AN ARMY OF MANSTERS ).WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A LOW-KEY NOIRISH MASTERPIECE OF NIGHTMARE PROPORTIONS...OR JUST A GOOD TIME AT THE SAKI BAR. THE MANSTER STALKS HIS VICTIMS IN JAPANESE BACK-ALLEYS & THE KILLINGS ARE STRIKING & WELL DONE. AND OF COURSE THERE'S THE EYEBALL ON THE SHOULDER SCENE. IT'S ALL SO TERRIFYING & BLEAK YET FASCINATING & INANE. RECOMMENDED.
I VIEWED THE ALPHA DVD & IT PLAYED FINE...NO SKIPPING, NO FREEZING...& THE PICTURE QUALITY WAS VERY GOOD,CLEAR & QUITE WATCHABLE MAKING THIS DVD AN EXCEPTIONAL BARGAIN. AS WITH THE FILM ITSELF, THE ALPHA DVD VERSION IS RECOMMENDED.
 sucks May 19, 2006
0 out of 7 found this review helpful
this has to be one of the worst movies ever made - it makes plan 9 from outer space oscar material and a winner at cannes
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