Movie spotlight
In 19th century Paris, a maniac abducts young women and injects them with ape blood in an attempt to prove ape-human kinship but constantly meets failure as the abducted women die.
In 19th-century Paris, medical student Pierre Dupin becomes fascinated by Dr. Mirakle's theories on the "beast" within humans. Meanwhile, a series of brutal murders are occurring, with the victims found with their throats torn out. Dupin and his friend, Henri, investigate the crimes, which seem to point towards a giant ape as the perpetrator, driven by Mirakle's experiments.
Despite its flaws and censorship issues, "Murders in the Rue Morgue" is considered a notable entry in Universal's classic horror cycle. Bela Lugosi's performance is often praised, though the film is sometimes criticized for its melodramatic tone and deviations from Edgar Allan Poe's original story.
A suspenseful, albeit melodramatic, horror film from Universal.
Bela Lugosi delivers a chilling performance as the mad doctor.
The film is more of a "creature feature" than a faithful adaptation of Poe's work.
Google audience: Audience reception is varied, with some appreciating the classic horror elements and Lugosi's performance, while others find the plot to be somewhat dated and the adaptation too loose.
The film was originally intended to be more faithful to Edgar Allan Poe's short story, which features a sailor and an orangutan, but was significantly altered due to studio demands and censorship concerns, transforming the story into a mad doctor narrative.
AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources
Bela Lugosi is at his most rigid best in this eerily spooky adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's story. It's 1800s Paris and amidst the fog and the cobblestones streets, young women are being kidnapped and disappearing without trace. What's this...