B movie icon Bruce Campbell co-wrote this, and made his directorial debut with this sly, knowing slapstick comedy that owes a notable debt to Steve Martins "All of Me". He plays William Cole, an arrogant American industrialist come to Bulgaria (with his wife (Antoinette Byron, 'Home and Away') in tow) to look into business opportunities. Unfortunately, he crosses paths with Tatoya (Tamara Gorski), a crazed gypsy maid, who soon murders him. But his life is saved by another crazed individual, Dr. Ivanov, a scientist played by Stacy Keach. Ivanov has off-the-beaten-path ideas about melding brain matter "like they were those interlocking toys", and Cole now has another mans' mind taking up space in his body. And this man can control some of his actions; only Cole can hear what he says. Together, the two of them set out to get revenge on Tatoya.
"Man with the Screaming Brain" is apt material for ever-engaging Campbell, who once again really gets an opportunity to show off his comedy chops. He's quite funny, and receives fine support from the other actors. Ted Raimi is a standout as Pavel, the doctors' dim-witted henchman who thinks of himself as a very hip guy. (Raimi even does a closing credits rap number!) Some of the highlights include Cole & his new unseen cohort trying to order food & drink at a restaurant, and the misadventures of the wife, who ends up in her own ridiculous situation. Winnipeg-born Gorski ('Hercules: The Legendary Journeys') is so good as the lovely but lethal antagonist that viewers will be anxiously awaiting her demise. Vladimir Kolev ("The Fourth Kind") is fun to watch as easygoing Russian cabbie Yegor.
Some viewers may deride this for being too cheap, or too cheesy, but seeing that it IS supposed to be humorous in nature, aspects like this aren't all that important. Campbell gives the story pace and energy, and some laugh out loud moments, as he carries on in the tradition of all of those B level mad scientist movies of the past.
Seven out of 10.
"Man with the Screaming Brain" is apt material for ever-engaging Campbell, who once again really gets an opportunity to show off his comedy chops. He's quite funny, and receives fine support from the other actors. Ted Raimi is a standout as Pavel, the doctors' dim-witted henchman who thinks of himself as a very hip guy. (Raimi even does a closing credits rap number!) Some of the highlights include Cole & his new unseen cohort trying to order food & drink at a restaurant, and the misadventures of the wife, who ends up in her own ridiculous situation. Winnipeg-born Gorski ('Hercules: The Legendary Journeys') is so good as the lovely but lethal antagonist that viewers will be anxiously awaiting her demise. Vladimir Kolev ("The Fourth Kind") is fun to watch as easygoing Russian cabbie Yegor.
Some viewers may deride this for being too cheap, or too cheesy, but seeing that it IS supposed to be humorous in nature, aspects like this aren't all that important. Campbell gives the story pace and energy, and some laugh out loud moments, as he carries on in the tradition of all of those B level mad scientist movies of the past.
Seven out of 10.