Doctor Mordrid

Doctor Mordrid is one of those rare films that is completely under the radar, but is totally worthwhile. It really reminds me of the old serials from the 30s and 40s. Which is why I'd have loved to see follow-up movies... but judging by the rest of Full Moon's output there simply weren't enough tits to satisfy the typical audience. Unfortunately, thanks to a completely superfluous sacrifice scene there two too many for a family audience - which is unfortunate, because without em' this could have been a Harry Potter-style magicfest that kids would have eaten up. Both Jeffrey Combs and Yvette Nipar are great - I wasn't sure if Ms. Nipar hadn't wandered off an A-list picture onto this film, she was very believable. No, seriously! Anyway - it's a shame they didn't have the bucks to license Dr. Strange, because I think this could have been a total kiddie phenom.

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!

Back in the early Nineties, direct-to-video specialists Full Moon Entertainment unsuccessfully tried to secure the movie rights for Marvel Comics' Doctor Strange, but having been thwarted, they just shrugged their shoulders, tweaked the script and made DOCTOR MORDRID instead. And I'm glad they did. Despite being low budget, it's clear that a respectable amount of money was spent - there are impressive sets, props and some delightful stop motion animation courtesy of David Allen and Randall Cook. Jeffery Combs plays the title character, and it's great to see him in a heroic leading role. Brian Thompson provides some reliable villainy, and there's fine support from Yvette Nipar (a talented and extremely pretty actress who sadly never had the career she deserved) as the police consultant and neighbour who become Mordrid's sidekick and romantic interest. Considering the numerous and seemingly never-ending PUPPET MASTER, TRANCERS, EVIL BONG, GINGERDEAD MAN and KILLJOY movies that Full Moon has relentlessly churned out, it's a crying shame they never made a single sequel to this.

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.

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.