Scalpel
Starring: Robert Lansing, Sandy Martin, Judith Chapman, Arlen Dean Snyder
Directed: John Grissmer
Studio: Arrow Video
Format: Blu-Ray
Disc Release Date: February 27, 2018
About:
HE LOST THE FACE OF THE WOMAN HE LOVED… SO HE GAVE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE.
US television staple Robert Lansing (Star Trek, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Twilight Zone) stars as a deranged surgeon in this twisty-turny psychological thriller from Blood Rage director John Grissmer.
In Scalpel, Lansing plays Dr. Phillip Reynolds, a man whose daughter Heather (Judith Chapman, As the World Turns, General Hospital) has run away from home a year prior following the suspicious death of her boyfriend. When he happens across a young woman one night, her face beaten beyond recognition, the unhinged Reynolds sees his an opportunity to put his trusty scalpel to use – hatching a plan to ”reconstruct” her face in the image of his missing daughter, and so claim her sizeable inheritance.
Photographed by celebrated cinematographer Edward Lachman, who would go on to serve as DP on the likes of Erin Brockovich and The Virgin Suicides, Scalpel is an exemplary slice of Southern-fried gothic, filled finally rescued from VHS obscurity in this revelatory new Blu-ray edition from Arrow Video.
My Review:
Scalpel is a Psychological thriller that deals with a psychopathic plastic surgeon who kills a few people and changes a face on another. The film follows are Main lead whom is a plastic surgeon that has killed his boyfriend. His daughter runs away and about a year down the line the Doctors father passes away leaving his home and 5 million dollars to not his son but his grand-daughter whom has been missing. One night while drive he finds a stripper who has been beating and her face basically ripped off. He sculpts her face to look like his daughter so they can split the money. Does this idea Work? Who else has to die? And why do I see double?
The story is creepy but not as much as I wanted. Don’t get me wrong it’s still a good watch but I wanted more from Robert Lansing’s creepy vibes. Like at the beginning of the film when is pressed up against his daughters window while she is having an intimate time with her boyfriend. His star was just creepy as hell. I Wanted more of that. We do get more creepy moments and another death scene but that’s about it as most of the story dealt with the stripper whom has transformed into his daughter and one point they star hooking up.
Over all the film was good and creepy at times but did wish it had more of that vibe. Acting was pretty good thanks to Robert Lansing the main female lead Judith Chapman who plays two characters. We Get some hints of nudity a no Gore.
With that said I give this film a 3.5 out of 5 stars. The Film does keep me interested through out but again damn I wish we had more creepy moments like when Robert Lansing was pressed up against the bedroom window.
Extras:
DIRECTOR-APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS
- Brand new 2K restoration from original film elements
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
- Original Uncompressed Mono Audio
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Brand new audio commentary by film historian Richard Harland Smith
- Brand new crew interviews
- Original Theatrical Trailer
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by The Twins of Evil
- FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Collector’s booklet with new writing on the film by Bill Ackerman
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