The Awful Dr. Orlof

A minor classic of European horror cinema, this 1962 film by Spanish cult director Jesús “Jess” Franco borrows liberally from Georges Franju's lyrical Eyes Without a Face, although it plays less as a poetic nightmare and more as a spooky Universal horror movie with a sadistic streak. German actor Howard Vernon stars as the titular mad scientist, kidnapping and killing young music-hall beauties—with the help of a blind, bug-eyed psycho murderer named Morpho (Ricardo Valle)—so he can use their skin to repair the scarred face of his daughter. Franco pushes the limits of Spain's 1960s censorship laws here, while also applying off-kilter shots and a gloomy fog-bound atmosphere to his gorgeous locations (elegantly lensed in black-and-white by cinematographer Godofredo Pacheco). The Awful Dr. Orlof remains one of the best-known offerings from the otherwise disreputable Franco, a cult director with over 100 productions to his credit. Remastered from an archival 35mm print of the French edition (the English-dubbed version is also included), extras include audio commentary by film critic Tim Lucas, behind-the-scenes featurettes, an archival interview with Franco, and a photo gallery. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)