Reckoned to be the strongest of Spanish director Jess Franco's stark black and white output, this very stylish sci-fi horror is bulging with memorable set-pieces. The story as a whole, as with many Franco projects, comes second to this - it meanders somewhat and lacks a true focus. But that's alright; the lack of traditional linear story-telling only adds to the weirdness on display here - and there is a great deal of weirdness indeed.
Antonio Jimenez Escribano plays elderly Doctor Zimmer, albeit briefly, leaving his daughter Irma Zimmer (Mabel Carr) to continue his experiments, using some charming low-budget laboratory equipment no respectable mad scientist would be without. Even in 1965, Franco's predilection for sex appeal comes in the form of Miss Death, or Nadia (Estella Blain), who performs various exotic dance routines in a titillating costume. Jesús Franco himself, young and animated, plays Inspector Tanner. Marcelo Arroita-Jáuregui who played Doctor Jekyll/Orloff in 1964's 'The Mistresses of Doctor Jekyll', plays doomed Doctor Moroni here. Equally short-lived is Doctor Vicas is played by prolific Howard Vernon, a Franco regular even at this early stage.
Some of the effects are truly wince-inducing - simply carried out but none the less teeth-clenching for that, and, as has been said before, Jess had a real feel for black and white imagery - each scene is stark and interestingly laid out, often expressionistic in tone. The 'heavy' here is augmented criminal Hans Bergen (Guy Mairesse), who although suitably ruthless and solid, isn't quite upto the standard of Andros or Morpho from Franco's previous horrors.
'The Diabolical Doctor Z' sits very comfortably alongside 'The Awful Doctor Orloff (1962)' and 'The Mistresses of Doctor Jekyll (1964)' (possibly, the former still has the edge for me, primarily due to Vernon's untouchable central performance).
Antonio Jimenez Escribano plays elderly Doctor Zimmer, albeit briefly, leaving his daughter Irma Zimmer (Mabel Carr) to continue his experiments, using some charming low-budget laboratory equipment no respectable mad scientist would be without. Even in 1965, Franco's predilection for sex appeal comes in the form of Miss Death, or Nadia (Estella Blain), who performs various exotic dance routines in a titillating costume. Jesús Franco himself, young and animated, plays Inspector Tanner. Marcelo Arroita-Jáuregui who played Doctor Jekyll/Orloff in 1964's 'The Mistresses of Doctor Jekyll', plays doomed Doctor Moroni here. Equally short-lived is Doctor Vicas is played by prolific Howard Vernon, a Franco regular even at this early stage.
Some of the effects are truly wince-inducing - simply carried out but none the less teeth-clenching for that, and, as has been said before, Jess had a real feel for black and white imagery - each scene is stark and interestingly laid out, often expressionistic in tone. The 'heavy' here is augmented criminal Hans Bergen (Guy Mairesse), who although suitably ruthless and solid, isn't quite upto the standard of Andros or Morpho from Franco's previous horrors.
'The Diabolical Doctor Z' sits very comfortably alongside 'The Awful Doctor Orloff (1962)' and 'The Mistresses of Doctor Jekyll (1964)' (possibly, the former still has the edge for me, primarily due to Vernon's untouchable central performance).