Mente asesina

Library archivist Warren (Joe McDonald) discovers the notes of a mad scientist and starts putting his mind bending work to use. Naturally, the milquetoast guy is immediately no longer taking smack from his boss and talking up the object of his affection. These mind techniques are great! Too bad about the hair loss and oozing sores that come as a result of using them. Shot in Denver, CO., this might be best know for a few gooey creations by Vincent Guastini and Ted Bohus (masters of that field circa 1987). That is only in the last 15 minutes though and nothing else much is going on here. The most interesting thing is co-star Wade Kelly (as nerd Larry) looking like the spittin' image of Jerry Lewis. The sad news? I've watched this film twice (once in 1990 and again this year). And, yes, I realize I've watched a 90 minute film called MIND KILLER twice and that point has dawned on me.

A creature-feature in which the creature has one minute of screen time out of about ninety. The audio mix is so terrible that what people are saying is often completely unintelligible due to loud music or ambient noise. It's as though the movie is purposely attempting to annoy the viewer with noises. Howling coyotes and TV static conspire to drive the viewer insane along with the film's antagonist. I hope whoever worked the sound on this movie stubs a toe for his terrible work on this project.

The only reason I give Mind Killer two stars instead of one is because I honestly can imagine a worse movie.

If you come across this on Tubi or wherever, SKIP.

Warren is a socially inept and very shy young librarian who is highly susceptible to self-help manuals.While pouring over one such book he discovers that by expanding his mind he can control his environment and the actions of other people.Disturbed by his changing personality his co-worker Larry and his room mate Brad attempt to help but instead become the objects of his wrath.Eventually Warren loses control.His overtaxed brain turns into a monster and bursts from his skull.The horribly mutant brain-creature takes on a life of it's own."Mind Killer" is an enjoyable horror trash with terrible acting and extremely bad creature effects.The central character of introverted Warren is an interesting touch.This movie is cheaply made and has that real cheap feel to it,but I have seen worse and more boring horror films.5 out of 10.

My review was written in November 1987 after watching the film on Prism video cassette.

"Mind Killer", previously titled "Brain Creature", is a modest made-for-video horror feature from Denver filmmakers.

Joe McDonald is featured as Warren, a nerd working in the library's basement archives, who unsuccessfully hangs out with fellow nerd (and trivia expert) Larry (Christopher Wade) in singles bars where the girls won't give either of them a tumble.

When Warren finds a book by Vivac Chandra on total mind control, he is suddenly full of energy and confidence, causing women to be entranced by him. Film ventures into sci-fi territory as Warren and later Larry develop psychokinetic powers. Warren uses his new mental abilities to try and force pretty librarian Sandy (Shirley Ross) to obey his will, but several yucky makeup effects later, Larry uses a machine to subdue Warren, who has mutated into a brain monster.

Film's cheapo production values are very restricting, with the brain monster looking like a leftover from the minor horror pic "The Deadly Spawn". Vincent Guastini's makeup effects bring back the boring bladders-under-the-skin and dripping goo motifs of countless horror films. Acting is adequate, on the level of regional theater.

I liked the premise, but the movie is really very bad.

The movie starts off with a woman approaching a door with some sort of monster or mutated human being behind it. Who that might be and how this scene relates to what follows doesn't become apparent for some time.

A librarian who has no luck with women is devoted to self-help books and videos, though they do him no good. He discovers a manuscript by a deceased local author that gives him psychic powers after he finishes reading it in one go. He becomes manipulative, and he starts losing his hair.

The movie is pretty uneventful until towards the end when the effects of the manuscript have really taken hold. It's not worth watching.