THE DIABOLICAL DR. Z

Trapped: Blain, Karr and Montes

THE DIABOLICAL DR. Z (aka Miss Muerte/1966). Director: Jesus Franco.  

Dr. Zimmer (Antonio Jimenez Escribano) is a neurologist whose theories are poo poohed by the establishment. When he drops dead, his daughter, Irma (Mabel Karr), uses his methods to exact revenge on the scientists who made fun of him. Her father had already made a mind-slave of psychotic strangler Hans Bergan (Guy Maraisse), but now Irma does the same to Nadia, a performer who calls herself "Miss Death" (Estella Blain) and does an act wherein she plays a spider lady in a web. Nadia's boyfriend is another neurologist named Philippe (Fernando Montes), who is acquainted with Irma, who fakes her death. While Nadia is using her long, sharp fingernails laced with curare to kill people, Philippe is searching for her -- as the body count rises ... 

Mabel Karr and Fernando Montes

While The Diabolical Dr. Z is no horror masterpiece, there's just something about it, a variety of perfectly weird elements and an almost unpredictable nature, that blend together into something quite compelling at times and almost always interesting. As Irma, Karr makes an icy, heartless villainess who almost seems as mindless in her actions as those she enslaves. The film is distinguished by crisp, excellent cinematography by Alejandro Ulloa which makes the most of some intriguing locations, including an old, seemingly abandoned house and the cellars below. It certainly adds to the atmosphere and the film's quirky appeal. While the film doesn't have a huge budget, the production values are a lot better than those in the films Franco directed with Harry Townes as producer. Franco himself appears as Inspector Tanner, who never gets enough sleep due to his wife having triplets. He directed over 200 movies! 

Verdict: One of Jess Franco's better movies -- it's more than watchable. ***.