Fiend Without a Face

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Cast & Crew

Marshall Thompson
Major Cummings

Kim Parker
Barbara Griselle

Terry Kilburn
Capt. Al Chester

Michael Balfour
Sgt. Kasper

Gil Winfield
Dr. Warren

Shane Cordell
Nurse

Stanley Maxted
Col. Butler

James Dyrenforth
Mayor

E. Kerrigan Prescott
Atomic Engineer

Kynaston Reeves
Professor R.E. Walgate

Peter Madden
Dr. Bradley

Robert MacKenzie
Constable Gibbons

Arthur Crabtree
Director

John Croydon
Producer

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Audience Reviews for Fiend Without a Face

• Oct 07, 2020

  The fear of possible radiation seepage from a nearby facility (it could happen!) fuels this new age romp (it was new in the 1950s!) wherein a scientist accidentally creates a monster (also a big fear way back when) that lives by sucking your brains out, which it does despite not having a stomach, or even a body. So it's kinda campy, so what? It takes a minute to ramp up the action, ramp up the fun, but once it does it does alright.
  Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
• Dec 24, 2011

  I walked into Fiend Without a Face somewhat cold. I halfway expected a plot involving evil brains of some sort, and I got exactly that. I'm not like most people in that I try not to read as much as I can about what a film is going to be about before I see it. Walking in cold gives me the most honest reaction, without any preconceived notions or having my hopes dashed when it sounds great only to find it to turn out to be terrible. Well, this movie isn't terrible, but it's not great either. However, I do find it fascinating that it's actually a British production, set in Canada with mostly American and Canadian actors, but all shot in England. I also find it intriguing that people were actually frightened by flying brains on mostly visible wires. I'm not detracting from the film because effects like this weren't easy (the stop motion stuff was actually very good), but I wonder just how well that stood out to audiences in 1957? Its real shortcomings are in the face that it's laborously paced and contains far too much plot and not enough character. It also spends most of its time spewing exposition. The one scene that was at least halfway effective is when Jeff is locked in a crypt... only to be released several hours later. It starts out rather creepy, but ultimately goes nowhere, and the explanation for why he was locked in the crypt in the first place is absurd. So yeah, the movie certainly won't win you over with a fantastic script, plot or dynamite performances, but its ridiculousness and setting you should find intriguing enough to warrant seeing it.
  Tim S Super Reviewer
• Jun 13, 2011

  Overall, Fiend without a Face works as a 50s science fiction film that at times may be a little cheesy or far stretched, works. For the time, and on a tiny budget, it is a successful creature film with some amazing stop animation. If you're into older sci-fi, you'll find yourself eating this up.
  

  Chris B Super Reviewer
• Jul 20, 2010

  My friends, since you're weary, and need change of pace, I present to you all: Fiend Without a Face. I was just a young kid, up late at night, when brains that were glowing flew into my sight. The rads caused the problem, as the science will show, and the characters decisions are foolish we know. But a good gun will save you, if you hit the brain right, just like the zombies that now give us a fright. In fact, on reflection, it looks like Romero, may have gotten his early ideas from this tale filled with marrow. It was cheesy and fun looking back on it now, but the sight of those monsters scared me -- holy cow! It's now food for Rifftracks and MISTY -type shows, but nostalgia like this drove my need for this prose. And now I return you to your favorite station, and hope that your brains will come back from vacation. -Rostron
  Mark K Super Reviewer