Story: Dan (Lon Chaney, Jr.) was just in a horrific accident that left others dead, but he managed to survive, despite some incredible odds. When his bus crashed into a pylon, the electricity fried the vehicle and everyone inside, at least everyone except for Dan. He credited his survival with his experience with electricity on the sideshow tour circuit and his moment of fame from the incident draws him a lot of attention. Dr. Lawrence (Samuel S. Hinds) invites him to be studied a little, but when Lawrence takes a reprieve from his work, assistant Dr. Rigas (Lionel Atwill) makes a bold move. He wants to start some risky, cutting edge experiments, but will his reckless quest for progress led to discovery or ruination?

Entertainment Value: This was a fun one from Universal, a brisk and enjoyable romp that has some of that Universal horror magic on tap. The story is silly, but a fun concept and it makes sense in a b movie world, which is all that matters here. I love the mad scientist angle and Lionel Atwill is a masterful choice for that role, while the electric man core narrative is interesting and held my attention. At about an hour in length, the pace is brisk and there’s little room for filler, so while not every scene is a classic, for the most part Man Made Monster keeps the audience entertained. The finale ramps up the fun of course and of course, I loved the special effects on display in this one. The electric effects looks cool and helps the movie stand out, not to mention the terrific cast, so this films earns a solid recommendation.

This movie has a couple really solid performances, thanks in large part to skilled casting that put Lionel Atwill and Lon Chaney, Jr. into roles they could thrive in. Atwill is a master at the mad scientist routine and he adds so much to Mad Man Monster. I don’t think he does much here that we wouldn’t see in his other, similar roles, but he nails the part and elevates the material, without question. In the lead is Chaney and he shines, with just the right kind of character for him to make the most of the role. The part isn’t demanding in terms of thespian skills, but it does need a certain type of presence, which Chaney has and then some. He is able to be the brute that intimidates and commands the screen, as well as a sympathetic soul that draws you in to connect. I really enjoyed both of these featured efforts and Chaney’s turn alone makes this worth a look. The cast also includes Anne Nagel, Samuel S. Hinds, and Frank Albertson.

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