Smartorhypo Highly Overrated But Still Good

ShangLuda Admirable film.

Cooktopi The acting in this movie is really good.

Hayden Kane There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

GL84 Attempting to work on a special formula, a doctor attempting to fix liver cancer in his patients inadvertently stumbles across a special formula that turns him into a dangerous criminal and tries to keep it under control while his personal life is threatened by the change.This one wasn't all that bad of a Blaxploitation effort or even a true horror film. What really works well for this one is the fact that there's quite a bit of fun to be had here with its traditional horror elements taking place within the confines of the blaxploitation story. The first half here showing his slow transformation into the titular beast following his honest quest to carry out the experiment for the necessary procedure and then just accidentally stumbling upon the change makes for quite a fun horror- based effort throughout here. Those scenes, from the patients' change in the hospital to the first round of changes he experiences where he goes out and begins attacking the goons on the city streets makes for some rather fun times here as this one really ups the action makes for quite an improved pacing during this section. There's even more good fun in the final half as the fact that this one really enhances the action with him going on a more pronounced and explicit rampage as it involves elements quite common-place here with the pimp encounter in the alleyway as well as the stalking and brawling inside the girlfriends' house that leads into the foot- chase that carries across the city which becomes quite fun and has a great overall resolution to it all. Still, while these are quite enjoyable, there are a few flaws to be had here that hold this one down. One of the main elements wrong with this one is the fact that there's just barely any action within here as the film goes for more of a slow-build to his change in favor of scenes showing his good- natured doctor career as well as the tepid and feeble romance that really drags the film to a halt. Each of these really holds it back, with the good-natured doctor role being so clichéd and hammered home in the first few minutes that it really doesn't need to be repeated throughout here to further that particular storyline while the romance is again clichéd and formulaic in these kinds of films. The way she steadfast refuses to accept the truth and stays with him as long as she does before she does turn him in for his crimes is way too long to really make an impact in here as the scenes of them leading up to that are just bland, boring and really make the film feel far longer than it really is since it's quite a quick film overall. As well, the make- up effects are simply terrible and look laughable more than terrifying which does make for a rather goofy main villain when it's hard to feel terrified by him. These here are what hold this one back.Rated R: Graphic Language, Violence, Nudity and drug references and use.

JoeKarlosi I love the film BLACULA (1972), but this Blaxpoitation flick is a dull misfire that had potential to be entertaining in an offbeat way early on, but then blows it. Bernie Casey is a laid back and soft spoken scientist whose experiments with a formula for liver preservation cause him to turn into a light-skinned albino who likes to go around killing people, especially hookers. There are some fun moments, like 'Hyde' beating up a group of thugs on the street, and later mowing down a chick with his Rolls Royce. The first transformation scene involves a female patient who Casey uses as a guinea pig, and her makeup is quite creepy, featured in a quick sequence that sends a chill through you -- but that's about all; most of this then turns into slow-moving tedium, unfortunately. Also features Rosalind Cash, known for her role opposite Charlton Heston back in THE OMEGA MAN (1971). The best I can conclude about DR. BLACK, MR. HYDE is at least it's not quite as bad as BLACKENSTEIN (1973). *1/2 out of ****

MartinHafer Wow, is this a cheap Blaxploitation film. Now it is true that many films of the genre have low budgets, but this one is strictly grade-z. Unlike other Blaxploitation films, this has almost no incidental music, has really poor camera-work and looks like it was made with an 8mm camera and $59.99 to pay the cast and crew. Oddly, however, the doctor drives around in a classic Rolls! What an odd dichotomy!Bernie Casey plays an incredibly stupid and listless doctor who is performing research on the side. My wife was laughing at how he didn't wear gloves and conducted his "experiments" like he had no idea what he was supposed to be doing. I thought it funny that the doc didn't seem to think it was a big deal when one rat he injected with a serum killed all the other rats! In fact, soon after this, he injected it in some poor lady--who became a crazed zombie and soon died. So naturally, he decides to try it on himself!! Wow, nobody is any dumber than Casey! And, after turning into a bad fighting machine that looks like he fell into a vat of flour while using the drug, he then insists on injecting others! Duh! Well, unfortunately it never really gets any smarter or more interesting. The only actor who seemed like a professional and had some presence about him was Ji-Tu Cumbuka as Lt. Jackson. Even the usually talented Casey seems like he was totally uninterested in making this film.Perhaps the film was meant to appeal to the audience's antipathy towards White folks, as the rat and Casey both turned white and became killing machines. But because the whole thing is so dull and listless, any attempt at social commentary is wasted--if it was even attempted in the first place.By the way, this is an odd observation, but if you do watch the film, notice the color spectrum. All too often, the film (which is already washed out) looks really bleak--with lots of browns and whites but very few blues or greens. They really should have noticed this, but considering the film was made by rank amateurs, it's not surprising it looked so craptastic (or is the word 'craptacular'?).Also, and I know this will sound cruel, but it was also amazing that there were so many unattractive women in the film that were naked. Couldn't they afford better?No humor, no suspense, no nothing--this film is a dog from start to finish. This film is only for the most hard-core nut who has already seen all the other Blaxploitation monster films, such as ABBY (sort of like the Black EXORCIST), BLACKENSTEIN or the Blacula movies (and I am one of those nuts who has seen 'em all--so you won't have to).By the way, the DVD extras have absolutely nothing to do with the film. Instead, it consists of some fan-created films involving superheros (the type usually shown at ComicCon or distributed on the internet). For fan films, they are amazing and look 1000x better than DR. BLACK, MR. HYDE.

phibes012000 I remember seeing this film advertised on an Atlanta TV station late night in 1976: then I saw the rating, "R", and being 10 years old with religious parents I knew I'd never see it. Little did I know then that VCRs were just around the corner. Dr. Pride is looking for cures in liver diseases, and he discovers a formula that doesn't do too much for the liver but makes the user a monster. After a botched attempt on an old lady at the hospital he tries it on himself...becoming Mr. White Monster. This film isn't very scary, but its mighty entertaining. I can see how William Crane (the director) probably was making a statement about drug abuse. Bernie Casey is good as the doctor. The film also stars Rosiland Cash and was distributed by Dimension Pictures (Kingdom of the Spiders & Ruby).