The Monster and the Girl
The Monster and the Girl

The Monster and the Girl

1941Movie65 minEnglish

After a young woman is coerced into prostitution and her brother framed for murder by an organized crime syndicate, retribution in the form of an ape visits the mobsters.

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Insights

IMDb5.5/10
Director: Stuart HeislerGenres: Horror, Crime, Mystery

Plot Summary

A young man is framed for murder and sent to death row. While awaiting execution, he befriends a gorilla in the prison zoo. After his execution, his scientist friend uses his brain to control the gorilla, turning it into a vengeful killer that targets those responsible for the man's wrongful conviction.

Critical Reception

This low-budget horror film from the early 1940s received a mixed-to-negative reception during its release, often criticized for its simplistic plot and predictable scares. However, it has since gained a cult following for its unique premise and its place in the lineage of mad scientist and revenge-themed horror movies.

What Reviewers Say

  • The film is often considered a B-movie with a somewhat far-fetched premise.
  • The use of a controlled ape for revenge is a notable, if unusual, plot device.
  • While not a critical darling, it offers some primitive thrills for genre fans.

Google audience: Audience reception is largely unavailable due to the film's age and limited release, but it is generally viewed as a dated but somewhat campy horror flick.

Fun Fact

The film's premise of using a gorilla's brain for revenge was an early example of mad science tropes being blended with animal-centric horror.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
JPV852

JPV852

Seems like Paramount, in their attempt to get into the monster-horror genre, spliced in two movies, one a crime-drama the other a monster sci-fi thriller, and makes for an entertaining (if not silly) little flick, though still pretty weak. ...