Der Würger

Forget all those naysayers that talk about Bela Lugosi's inability to act, or that he was only good in Dracula and hammed it up in everything else, or that all his Poverty Row films are cheaply made, thin pieces of poor excuses for celluloid. The Human Monster, also known as Dark Eyes of London, is cheaply made and does star Bela, but it is a wonderful film. It tells the story of Bela the insurance broker who loans money to people and signs them up for an insurance policy, only later to kill them for the money. Bela uses a home for the blind as a cover-up for his operation. Lugosi is simply wonderful in his dual roles, and is as menacing as ever playing both the brokering fiend and the head of the Blind Home. This film is low on set and costume design, and has some pretty average performers, but make no mistake that it is an average horror thriller. It simply is a sight to behold!

In London, the Scotland Yard Detective Inspector Larry Holt (Hugh Williams) is assigned to investigate a serious of deaths apparently in accidents. However, a further inquiry shows that all the victims are men without family and insurance policy released by the insurance agent Dr. Feodor Orloff (Bela Lugosi) and the beneficiary is a home for blind administrated by Prof. John Dearborn (Bela Lugosi). When Henry Stuart is found drowned, his daughter Diana (Greta Gynt) comes to London and helps Holt and his American partner Lieutenant O'Reilly (Edmon Ryan) in their investigation.

"The Dark Eyes of London" is an interesting B-movie with a good dark story and a great performance of Bela Lugosi. Unfortunately the quality of the VHS released in Brazil impairs the cinematography of the film. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "O Monstro Humano" ("The Human Monster")

This is one of Lugosi's top movies. It's right up there with Dracula, White Zombie, Son of Frankenstein, and the Raven. Lugosi plays a dual role as a lecherous insurance salesman and kindly Dr Dearborn, a kindly blind teacher. Lugosi is at his sinister best as he knocks off people for their insurance money using the blind to do his bidding.

In one truly evil sequence, Lugosi makes one of the blind men deaf when he discovers that he had tried to warn someone about Lugosi. I won't spoil the ending. Not to be missed for Lugosifiles.

Dr. Orloff has been endowing funds to the Dearborn Institute for the Blind, but is using the institute as a home for his sinister activities. Orloff has been ordering the murders of a series of men who have named Orloff as their insurance beneficiary, as collateral for a monetary loan. Scotland Yard Inspector Holt, also teaming up with Lt. O'Reilly (from Chicago) and Diana Stuart, daughter of the latest murder victim, try to uncover the connection of Orloff, the Dearborn Institute, and the murdered men. I enjoyed this movie more than I expected I would. Lugosi gives a very good performance, and the movie has a good aura of mystery about it which only enhance the audience's attention, despite the film's modest small budget. Rating, 7.

In London, five bodies have washed ashore on the Thames. Scotland Yard is baffled.

Simultaneously, Dr. Feodor Orloff (Bela Lugosi) is closing a sale on his latest life insurance policy. Orloff, a pillar of the community, also operates a home for the "destitute blind", overseen by the kindly Mr. Dearborn. We learn rather quickly that Orloff might not be as "compassionate" as he appears to be.

When the Yard comes calling, Orloff is all too happy to help. It seems that his customers are "coincidentally" the poor souls that have been found so waterlogged, lately! Can the police connect the dots before more deaths occur?

THE HUMAN MONSTER is the perfect Lugosi vehicle. It's a very dark crime drama, with mystery and a heavy dose of horror. Bela really plays up the sheer sadism of his part, coming off as utterly devoid of mercy or human feeling. Greed drives him, and any means is justified in securing what Orloff wants.

Special mention is due for Orloff's hulking, blind henchman, Jake (Wilfred Walter), who dominates every scene he's in. Orloff's creepy, zombie-like secretary (Julie Suedo) is also worth mentioning, as she stares impassively ahead, never saying a word.

Co-stars Hugh Williams as the intrepid D.I. Larry Holt, and Greta Gynt as the inquisitive Diana Stuart...