Classic Horror Month Quick Picks and Pans

Man Made Monster (1941) Lon Chaney Jr. stars as Dan McCormick, a carnival performer whose act involves working with electricity. His continued exposure to electric shocks has made him partially immune to the effects of electrocution. When he survives a bus accident that kills the rest of his fellow passengers, he captures the attention of Dr. Paul Rigas (Lionel Atwill). Dr. Rigas views McCormick as the perfect test subject for his experiment, to create a perfect human being that doesn’t require food, but consumes electricity in its place. When his experiment goes predictably awry, McCormick is framed for murder. Chaney brings much pathos to the role as the ill-fated McCormick, who starts out amiable but becomes increasingly morose as his situation becomes dire. It’s a solid effort from director George Waggner, which unfortunately became overshadowed by The Wolf Man (also featuring Chaney as the tragic lead), released later that year. Rating: ***½. Available on Blu-ray (Included in the…