Movie Review: Indestructible Man

Indestructible Man 

C.G.K. Productions, USA, 1956. 

This movie is part of Horror Classics 50 Movie Pack by Mill Creek Entertainment.

Condemned criminal Charles "Butcher" Benton (Lon Chaney Jr.) is about to be executed. Benton ripped off the crime gang he worked with and his dirty attorney Paul Lowe (Ross Elliott) wants to know the location of the heist money. Butcher threatens to kill Lowe, Squeamy Ellis (Marvin Press) and Joe Marcelli (Ken Terrell). 

Paul Lowe

Joe and Squeamy

Lt. Dick Chasen (Max Showalter a.k.a Casey Adams) is frustrated about not getting evidence against Lowe's gang. With Butcher's execution the case is closed but Dick decides to find the heist money and bust Lowe's gang. He goes to meet burlesque dancer Eva Martin (Marian Carr) who was Butcher's ex-girlfriend but she does not know much. Later Lowe comes to search for map Butcher sent to Eva.

Lt. Dick Chasen

Eva

Professor Bradshaw (Robert Shayne) needs a fresh corpse for his cancer research. Executed Butcher will do. Electricity (300000 volts) and chemicals revive him. Butcher can not speak but he gains strength and invulnerability. Meanwhile Lt. Dick goes to have a date with Eva. Eva tells his life story: she won a beauty contest but could get job only at burlesque club. Her friend dated Butcher but left him, so Butcher cried on Eva's shoulder. Then Butcher turned out to be a criminal, who would have thought? 

It's alive!

Charles 'Butcher' Benton

Meanwhile Butcher goes after Lowe's gang leaving behind a trail of bodies. He kills some cops who try to arrest him and even bullets can not stop him. Eva calls Dick to warn that Butcher is going after Squeamy. However Squeamy has escaped but Joe is conveniently near so Butcher vents his anger by throwing the crippled man down the stairs. Another unlucky cop sees the murder so Butcher kills him too. Butcher then goes to kill Lowe but coincidentally (?) finds Squeamy. Also Squeamy makes close contact with concrete floor. 

Down Joe goes.

Later the police interrogate the witness (Marjorie Stapp) of another wanton act of violence. Lowe tries to ask another burlesque dancer Francine (Peggy Maley) about Eva's whereabouts. Eva is in the police station where she gets new flat shoes. Lowe goes there to demand police protection. The police use the opportunity to make him confess. How to stop Butcher is the question.

Eva gets new shoes

Francine

Low budget combination of Film noir and scifi horror. Interestingly this is another film (together with "The Beast of Yucca Flats") that may have influenced Hulk, Lon Chaney Jr. even looks a bit like Hulk. The characters can't be blamed for too much street-credibility (especially Eva seems to be incredibly gullible) and some events look quite random (possibly some scenes were cut). This is not one of Chaney's best but still quite entertaining film. Mute Chaney chasing down his opponents is fun to watch as the guy is like a ruthless force of nature. Also Chasen narrates the story like in classic hard-boiled detective stories.

Rating: Average 

Starring: Lon Chaney Jr., Max Showalter, Marian Carr, Ross Elliott, Stuart Randall, Ken Terrell, Marjorie Stapp, Robert Shayne, Peggy Maley, Robert Foulk, Reita Green, Roy Engel, Madge Cleveland, Chet Brandenburg, Russell Custer, Joe Flynn, Dorothy Ford, Lyle Latell, Eddie Marr, Marvin Press, Fred Rapport 

Director: Jack Pollexfen