From that idiot reporter to the scheme they tried to catch the murderer, this is so off the wall that it utterly fails. I know it was made in 1932, but there were lots of very good movies made that year. I always enjoy Lionel Atwill, but to see him as some sort of hero after all the trouble he's caused is ludicrous. And those scientists he surrounds himself with are equally silly. Of course, we have the romance. There's the pretty young daughter who must not have much of a social life, hanging around with all those ghouls, who falls for a guy who has no redeeming qualities. He represents that anything-for-a-story mentality that pervades so many movies of that era. I was surprised how attractive the film was. That must have been somewhat enticing to early movie goers, but, it's not enough. Don't bother. Oh, all those guys handcuffed to their chairs. If that isn't as bad as it gets, I don't know what is.

A wisecracking New York reporter (Lee Tracy) intrudes on a research scientist's quest to unmask The Moon Killer.This film has it all: a monster composed of "synthetic flesh", a murder mystery, an investigative reporter who could be Abbott or Costello. Even just a hint of romance (thanks to a pre-Kong Fay Wray).Many have remarked on the two-strip Technicolor process and how great (or awful) it looks. Indeed, it is worth noting that this green and brown technique makes an interesting alternative to black and white, and in many scenes really heightens the mood and makes a few things pop.But color or not, this is just a great film, in many ways a 1950s-style science fiction feature decades before its time.

There are Many Enjoyable Elements Incorporated in this Early Talkie/Technicolor Horror Movie. It is Directed with Flair and Style from One of Hollywood's Elite, Michael Curtiz and Shot in a Two-Strip Color Process that was Rare at the Time. It has Horror Icon's Lionel Atwill and Fay Wray. The Exciting Climax Lovingly Displays some Fantastic Horror Makeup and is Filmed in Eerie Closeups and is Quite Impressive. The Sets are Mad-Lab Expressionistic and there is Pre-Code Nastiness and Lurid Inclusions.The Movie is Visually Stunning at Times and is Always Interesting, Using Pulp Magazine Style Art Representations that were Popular at the Time with Bondage and Women in Peril Themes. The Horror Elements may seem Dated but are Still Chilling in a Retro Kind of Way. Fay Wray is a Beauty and is Exploited in a Beach Scene right up to a Money Shot. Lionel Atwill and His Board of Scientists are Creepy and Eccentric with Physical and Mental Scars that are, Again, Pulp Inspired. The Pre-Code Stuff Includes a Whore-House, Cannibalism, a Drug Addict and More. This is a Great Example of Uncensored Hollywood and is Only Brought Down Today by a Heavy Dose of Slapstick Humor and Stilted Love Interest with the Never Appealing Lee Tracy (although He has His Fans).

The police are investigating a series of murders where victims have been cut up by scalpel and cannibalized. The murders always take place on a night with a full moon. They trace the scalpels to a nearby surgical academy. The head of the academy, Dr. Xavier (Lionel Atwill), doesn't believe someone at the academy is the killer and asks police for a chance to prove this using his own scientific methods. Also on the trail of the killer is reporter Lee Taylor (Lee Tracy). Taylor is suspicious of Doctor Xavier but when he meets the doctor's daughter (Fay Wray) he becomes smitten. Allowed only 48 hours to prove his case, Xavier gathers all the suspects at his mansion to perform his experiment. But things don't go as planned and another murder is committed.Doctor X is a classic horror-mystery that has many points of interest for film fans. For starters, the two-color Technicolor process it was filmed in was new for the time. It also has great Max Factor makeup that looks especially nice in the early Technicolor. Another thing, it's a pre-Code film. Cannibalism, a major part of the plot, wouldn't have been allowed just a short time later. Lastly it's the horror debut of one of the greats of the genre, Lionel Atwill. Atwill would go on to a great career making many horror films, including two more with Wray the following year. He always brought class and dignity to his usually villainous roles. He's great here as well.The major complaint about the film seems to be directed at Lee Tracy's comic character. He is probably the worst part of the movie, but not because his performance is bad. He does fine with what he's supposed to do. It's just that comedy in horror films is usually best left to minor supporting roles not for the male lead in the film. However, I personally feel he's not obnoxious enough to hurt the film significantly. It's still very fun and very interesting, both from a film history perspective as well as sheer entertainment value. I would recommend all fans of classic horror films check it out.