The Dark Eyes of London
The Dark Eyes of London

Movie spotlight

The Dark Eyes of London

1939
Movie
76 min
English

Insurance agent-physician collects on policies of men murdered by a disfigured resident of the home for the blind where he acts as doctor-on-call.

Insights

IMDb5.7/10
Director: Walter SummersGenres: Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Plot Summary

A scientist, Dr. Feodor Orloff, is secretly experimenting with making humans live longer by consuming the blood of his victims. He operates under the guise of a philanthropic mission providing cheap medical care, but in reality, his subjects are being drained of life. When Inspector Mike Jamieson investigates a series of mysterious deaths, he uncovers Orloff's sinister plot.

Critical Reception

While not a major critical success upon its release, "The Dark Eyes of London" is now considered a cult classic within the horror genre, particularly for its early use of suspense and the presence of Bela Lugosi. Its reception was somewhat mixed, with some praising its atmosphere and Lugosi's performance, while others found its plot somewhat predictable.

What Reviewers Say

  • Bela Lugosi's performance as the villainous doctor is a highlight.

  • The film effectively builds suspense despite its age.

  • Some plot elements can feel dated to modern viewers.

Google audience: Information regarding specific Google user reviews for this older film is not readily available.

Fun Fact

The film was controversial in some areas upon its release due to its depiction of medical malpractice and the gruesome nature of the murders.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Bela Lugosi tries hard here, but he really can't quite hold it all together as the doctor who is indirectly collecting insurance policies held on men who are brutally murdered. We know from early on just who is doing the killing and just wh...