Typically when I am talking with someone about films and the name Peter Cushing is mentioned I always think of him hunting down monsters, killing Dracula, or creating another monster as Dr. Frankenstein. After watching Corruption I will also think about him fighting a prostitute so he can kill her an extract the pituitary gland. Yes this film is very much different than anything else I personally have seen him do before. Being a fan of exploitation films and Peter Cushing this is a perfect match! Lets get into this autopsy!
Peter Cushing plays a surgeon who has everything going for him, a wife who is a beautiful model and a thriving career. Things change for the worst after his wife is hurt badly and is disfigured. Wanting his wife to be back to normal and happy he embarks on quest to perfect a tissue regeneration procedure that could help his wife. After trying it out it actually works, but only for a short amount of time and then it reverts back to her face being scarred. In order to keep her looking like she did before they must keep doing the same surgery which leads to vicious murders by the hands of this normally mild mannered surgeon.
I knew going into this film I was going to get something a bit different than what I normally have seen from films starring Peter Cushing. At first it seemed like any other film from the time period with a very 60's vibe and style. Things seem so happy and good, but after the wife gets hurt the tone of the film went into a more darker tone. Peter Cushing basically becomes a slave to his wife and is sent to kill to get what he needs to keep her looking beautiful. Now I get why he would do that and it's of course because he loves her. Now the only thing is there has to be a breaking point which he does reach, but it comes way too late. In ways it shows how obsessed people can be over their looks and how it can push them to do things they normally wouldn't do. I could be right about what this film could be saying or it is simply just a well done exploitation film. I personally really enjoyed Corruption and it is one I will watch more than once.
Of the cast I really think that Peter Cushing stands out the most and really does the best job. He is one of those actors who can take the crappiest film and make it awesome. What he does here is takes this mild mannered character and takes it on a roller coaster ride to hell as he becomes something he does not want to be. I also like his wife who is played by Sue Lloyd, she takes her character from this free going model who loves to party into this self absorbed psychopath who will do whatever it takes to get back and keep her looks. She really is the puppet master behind her husband and is even willing to sell him out when things go bad even though it's her scheme. Really those are the two main focuses of the film and each of them did an awesome job delivering the sleaze.
One last thing I want to mention about Peter Cushing's character is that he seems more realistic because when he attacks a women and tries to over power her and kill her he has one hell of a struggle. The women he goes to kill actually almost get away and even almost gets his ass kicked. Overall if you are looking for some great sleaze that has an iconic horror actor as the lead then you need to checkout this film! The presentation of this release is great, the grain is still intact and the picture is very clean. The colors are good as well and stick out great. The audio is great as well. Along with the great presentation there is also a ton of special features that include interviews, audio commentary, and alternative scenes!
I give this film a 4 out of 5 scalpels!
-Daniel "Damnation" Lee
Director: Robert Hartford-Davis
Lead Actor/Actress: Peter Cushing & Sue Lloyd
Genre: Horror/Exploitation
Blu-ray Release Year: 2013
Theatrical Release Year: 1967
Time Length: 91 mins.
Rating: Not Rated
Region Code: Region Free
Release Company: Grindhouse Releasing
Website:
www.grindhousereleasing.com
Typically when I am talking with someone about films and the name Peter Cushing is mentioned I always think of him hunting down monsters, killing Dracula, or creating another monster as Dr. Frankenstein. After watching Corruption I will also think about him fighting a prostitute so he can kill her an extract the pituitary gland. Yes this film is very much different than anything else I personally have seen him do before. Being a fan of exploitation films and Peter Cushing this is a perfect match! Lets get into this autopsy!
