Donovan's Brain

Poster tagline: A DEAD MAN’S BRAIN IN A HIDDEN LABORATORY TOLD HIM TO KILL! KILL! KILL! THE HANDS BELONGED TO THE HUSBAND, BUT THE BRAIN BELONGED TO A MAN NO LONGER ALIVE!!! As usual, the advertising exaggerated, but it wasn’t that bad really. The premise, a brain removed from a dead patient, placed in an aquarium it gradually grows, luminesces and controls the mind of the protagonist, is appropriately pulpy, but it's nothing to scoff at; this is a very professional piece of work. The filmmakers make do with two rooms for more than half of the runtime, but it's still quite a pleasure to watch, thanks to the great performances of the central trio of actors and the focused direction. The atmosphere gradually thickens properly into slightly horror-like, perhaps a bit disappointing only at the very end, when one would have expected a more intense build-up. The main character, a kind of "Jekyll and Hyde" in one, thanks to the goofy idea of a brain controlling him, could tempt unwanted self-parody, but the great Lew Ayres handles it with honor, his transformation is believable and the reactions to his behaviour by the other actors are adequately played. I really have nothing to complain about. (17/09/2013)