The Incredible Melting Man (1977)
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11% of critics liked it
(9 reviews) -
27% of users liked it
(1,618 ratings)
Essentially a seedy '70s version of The Quatermass Experiment, this painfully cheap production from writer/director William Sachs involves the horrific plight of returning astronaut Steve West (Alex Rebar), the sole survivor of a disastrous expedition to the rings of Saturn. The fatal outcome of… More Essentially a seedy '70s version of The Quatermass Experiment, this painfully cheap production from writer/director William Sachs involves the horrific plight of returning astronaut Steve West (Alex Rebar), the sole survivor of a disastrous expedition to the rings of Saturn. The fatal outcome of the mission apparently involved the discovery of a space-borne virus, or radiation, or something (it's never made quite clear) that killed the rest of the crew and is causing West's flesh to melt and slough off his body. For reasons unexplained, the only relief from the pain of his condition can be found by consuming live human cells. After munching on a few bystanders, West escapes into the surrounding woods, pursued by NASA researcher Dr. Nelson (Burr DeBenning) and a disorganized posse of military monster-hunters. Unable to stop his rapid dissolution or resist his cannibalistic urges, West agonizes over his dilemma (as indicated by laughable scenes of Rebar trying to register emotional anguish through layers of goop), but he still finds time to terrorize a few locals, including the topless Rainbeaux Smith and a pair of comic-relief oldsters trying to score some lemons. The film's notorious ad campaign rallied the makeup FX work of Rick Baker, but his talents are largely wasted thanks to AIP's frantic cost-cutting and a truncated shooting schedule that forewent many of Baker's elaborate prosthetics in favor of a cheap latex mask covered with gallons of syrup. Future Silence of the Lambs director Jonathan Demme contributes a brief cameo. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi
- Directed By
- William Sachs
- Written By
- William Sachs
- Genres
- Science Fiction & Fantasy, Horror
- In Theaters
- Jun 1, 1977 Wide
- Studio
- Orion Home Video
Critic Reviews
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, Time Out
This Z-grade effort, lacking any low-budget energy, takes its cue from the central character: it's tacky and bumbling and sinks into its own morass long before its subject finally dribbles apart, slurp, glub.
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Tom Buckley, New York Times
Each spring brings similar releases to fill the need of drive-in operators for something cheap to put on the screen for the kids in the cars to ignore or laugh at.
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John Beifuss, Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
The movie almost begs for 'Batman'-style sound-effect captions, but provided by Don Martin: 'Sklishity, skloshity!' when the Melting Man leaves his gluey footprints; 'Poit! when his eyeball plops to the ground.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
When it makes moral statements, the film is at its best, although that's not saying a whole lot. The dialog is simplistic.
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Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
A rather clunky, atrociously acted potboiler.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Cast
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Alex Rebar
as Steve West The Incredible Melting Man
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Burr De Benning
as Dr. Ted Nelson
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Myron Healey
as Gen. Perry
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Michael Alldredge
as Sheriff Blake
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Ann Sweeney
as Judy Nelson
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Lisle Wilson
as Dr. Loring
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Julie Drazen
as Carol
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Stuart Edmond Rodgers
as Little Boy
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Chris Whitney
as Little Boy
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Edwin Max
as Harold
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Dorothy Love
as Helen
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Janus Blythe
as Nell
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Jonathan Demme
as Matt
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DeForest Covan
as Janitor
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Dave Hull
as Houston Control
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Leigh Mitchell
as Carol's Mother
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Cheryl Smith
as The Model
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Keith Michl
as Maintenance Man
