Synopsis: An astronaut on an ill-fated voyage to Saturn returns only to be transformed into a slowly melting, murderous mass.
Science fiction and horror tend to go hand in hand. You can’t think about the infiniteness of space without wondering what horrors lie hidden in the darkness. Physical and non-physical alike. The Incredible Melting Man plays on the latter before diving into the former and becoming an all out body horror.
While traveling to Saturn, three astronauts get blasted with radiation entering Saturn’s rings. Two perish but Colonel Steve West (Alex Rebar) survives. Returning to Earth badly burned. West wakes up in a hospital bed discovering the flesh on his face and hands melting away in goopy piles. In hysterics, he kills a nurse and flees the hospital. Dr. Ted Nelson (Burr DeBenning), a scientist friend of West, discovers that West has become radioactive, gone insane and is now a monster that needs to feed on human flesh in order to slow the melting process.
West then goes on a killing spree, leaving gooey piles of his flesh as a breadcrumb trail. With Dr. Nelson close behind trying to track him down to help him before he kills again. It kind of reminds me of Frankenstein in a way. Nelson being the doctor trying to justify the actions of a misunderstood monster to terrified townsfolk.
Anyway, this is where Rick Baker’s effects shine. The dripping visage of West has to be some of the most gruesome, albeit uncomfortable looking appliances to wear. But it doesn’t stop there. There are some amazing practical effects in this film that just beg to be seen. All I need to say is, a decapitated wax head falling down a waterfall, only to crack open spewing blood when it hits the rocks. Chef’s kiss.
The movie culminates with a showdown at a power station. Nelson gets shot in the face by unknowing security guards after getting West to finally show empathy as his human side peeks through. West then murders the security guards before dissolving in a grotesque pile of goo. The morning comes and a janitor nonchalantly mops up the mess as a radio voice-over announces another manned mission to Saturn.
Written and directed by William Sachs, The Incredible Melting Man feels like an homage to the nuclear creature horrors of the 1950’s. It has that Atomic Age feel to it. Though widely panned upon its release, it has gained a bit of a cult movie status over the years. From being mocked on Mystery Science Theater 3000 back in the 90’s to popping up in the film Home Alone in the form of a poster on Buzz’s door. This flick has its place in film history, be that good or bad.
The plot is basic but you don’t really need much beyond that. A man gets blasted by radioactive rays while visiting the rings of Saturn, returns to Earth and proceeds to melt the entire film. All while terrorizing, killing and eating victims along the way. Driven by the amazing effects of Rick Baker, this flick delivers what I expect from a body horror of the era. A disgusting monster, some grotesque kills with touches of dark comedy and a Scooby Doo-esque chase scene. What can I say? I’m a simple man and I know what I like.
If you haven’t seen this and want to experience it for yourself, The Incredible Melting Man can be found streaming on Tubi.
3 out of 5
So grab your popcorn, kill the lights and join me again tomorrow as we continue our journey on this strange little trip down the 31 Days of Horror rabbit hole. See you soon…
