El genio del mal

New York City houses one man above all others, the possibly immortal Dr. Anton Mordrid. Mordrid is the sworn protector of humanity, using his magical powers to keep his brother and rival, Kabal, chained up so that he may not enslave the human race. Well, wouldn't you know it? A prophesy comes true and Kabal breaks free, and begins collecting elements (including platinum and uranium) for his alchemy experiments. With the help of a police woman named Sam, can Mordrid defeat his evil brother? "Dr. Mordrid" comes to me courtesy of Charles Band in the Full Moon Archive Collection. I had not heard of it, which is a bit odd given that I'm a big fan of Jeffrey Combs (Mordrid) and the film isn't that old. But now it's mine and I can enjoy it again and again. The film certainly is fun in the classic Full Moon style. Richard Band provides the music (which doesn't differ much from all his other scores) and Brian Thompson plays the evil Kabal. We even have animated dinosaur bones! What more do you want? Of course, the cheese factor is high. I felt much of the film was a rip-off of the Dr. Strange comics. And the blue pantsuit was silly. And plot holes are everywhere (I could list at least five, but why bother). And why does the ancient symbol of Mordrid and Kabal look suspiciously like a hammer and sickle? Combs has never been a strong actor, so he fits right in with the cheese. These aren't complaints. Full Moon fans have come to expect these things and devour them like crack-laced Grape Nuts. I'm guilty... I loved this film.

If you're not a Full Moon fan, or a Jeffrey Combs fan... you may want to look elsewhere. But if you like the early 1990s style of movie-making and haircuts, you'll eat this up. Stallone and Schwarzenegger fans might like seeing Brian Thompson as a villain, looking as goony as ever and not being able to enunciate English beyond a third grade level. I did. I wish there was a "Mordrid II", but the company that makes a sequel to practically everything (is "Gingerdead Man 3" really necessary?) passed on this one.

It follows the story of the talented Doctor Mordrid (Jeffrey Combs), a suspect inhabitant at a block of apartments. An unspeakable evil has come into our dimension and wants to rule over Earth, and only a mysterious sorcerer known as Doctor Mordrid can stop him. Mordrid must put ego aside and develop the secrets of a hidden world of mysticism and alternate dimensions. Doctor Mordrid, helped by his neighbour Samantha Hunt (Yvette Nipar), must act as an intermediary between the real world and what lies beyond, utilising a vast array of metaphysical abilities and artifacts to protect Earth and the universe against his nemesis Kabal (Brian Thompson). Open your mind !. Change your reality !. Question reality !. Change your destiny !. The impossibilities are endless!. Expand your mind !.

A trilling and fantastic film in which a battle of wits takes place between two immensely powerful sorcerers from the 4th dimension, both of whom cross over into present time with two very different missions -one wants to destry Earth, one wants to save it. Fantasy and science fiction come together in this imitation of 'Marvel's Doctor Strange' with well-known actors from the best B-series: Jeffery Combs (Re-animator) and Brian Thompson (Cobra). Jeffrey Combs and Brian Thompson are popular in the Star Trek universe, guest starring in multiple episodes and both acted in a same episode of Star Trek: Enterprise. Jeffrey Combs plays the powerful sorcerer Doctor Mordrid, whose mission on Earth, for more than a century, is to be prepared for the lethal attack of the Lord of Death and the first signs of his arrival have just occurred. The film produced by 'Full Moon', the distributor and producer of low-budget horror and fantasy films created by Charles Band, who here also serves as writer and co-director along with his father Albert Band.

It contains traditional special effects by means of stop-motion, in the wake of Ray Harryhausen; in fact, there's a spectacular fight between a bony Tiranosaurius Rex and a skeletal Mamouth. In addition, a rousing and spectacular musical score by Richard Band, 'Full Moon' and 'Empire' regular composer. The motion picture was mediocrely but professionally directed by veteran filmmaker, Albert Band; he was one of Hollywood's most prolific directors who started his career in the early 50s and continuing the legacy, his son, the equally prolific producer/director Charles Band. Albert Band began financing a number of motion pictures through the sixties, seventies, and eighties decades and helped his son, Charles, to bring together his own production company, 'Empire Pictures', in the early eighties. Upon the collapse of Empire Pictures in the early nineties, Band continued to work with his son and help bring a number of low-budget and medium budget films to the Hollywood screen or direct to video releases. Albert Band directed some Westerns, such as : ¨She came to the Valley¨, ¨Massacre at Grand Canyon¨, ¨The Young Guns¨ and ¨The Tramplers ¨ at his best . Furthermore, he made terror and Sci-fi , such as : ¨Aliens Gone Wild , Prehisteria , Prehisteria 2 , Robot War , Ghoulies II , Satán's Dog¨ and all kind of genres. While his son Charles Band has written/produced/directed a lot of films, such as: ¨The Creeps, Hideous, Dollman vs demonic toys, Puppet master, Crash and burn, Trancers , Trancers II: the return of Jack Deth, Dungeonmaster, Metalstorm: the destruction of Jared Syn, Parasite, The alchemist¨. Rating : 5.5/10, acceptable and passable . The flick will appeal to Jeffrey Combs fans, worthwhile watching for his followers, that's why he's an actor that has a 'cult status'.

Two sorcerers battle in the fourth dimension,one(Brian Thompson as a Kabal)trying to destroy the Earth,the other(Jeffrey Combs as a Anton Mordrid)trying to save it."Doctor Mordrid" is an enjoyable fantasy fare which offers plenty of cheese.The plot is pretty silly and the gore is completely absent,but the film is very short and entertaining.So if you have enough time to kill give this one a look.My rating:7 out of 10.

Its a Full Moon production with Jeffrey Combs, both of which were at the top of their game. Problem being Jeffrey Combs is an amazing actor and everyone else in the film is pretty stiff (except the Dr. Strange character is supposed to be stiff). Originally a kids film they shoved some nudity and gore into to take a voluntary R for the home video market.

Pros: The sets are actually pretty good. Look at Doctor Mordrid's apartment and see how much the New Dr. Who ripped them off. (keep in mind this film was Micro-Budget)

Brian Johnson - the muscle-man actor most famous for being the bad guy in "Cobra" and playing the Alien Bounty Hunter in X-Files. Actually seems the least confused of all the cast.

Jeffrey Combs - the all-time pro at turning nothing into something without hamming it up. This movie fails, but not for lack of craft.

Cons: KIDS MOVIE: Full Moon was trying to branch out of direct-to-video horror and got cold feet right before this went into production. After losing the Dr. Strange license they threw everything against the wall hoping it would stick. See "Shrunken Heads" if you want to see their "real" attempt at a kids movie.

Not Dr. Strange - on the script rewrite they had to put in their own muddled mythology. Very Very strange. Not sure if it was supposed to be injected into the same universe as the other Full Moon movies.

No sequel! Truly a travesty of justice! I'll throw them a couple grand for a Dr. Mordrid vs Re-animator movie!

This film surprised me a little. I watch a lot of horror/sci-fi films and this is a straight-to-video release that caught me off guard a little. I believe this is Full Moon's best movie thus far and one of Jeffrey Combs best performances. Good movie.