There are horror and noir elements but the intention is really like earlier, pre Universal Monster films and horror films of the 1930's. The dark elements--well staged and photographed-- are almost instantly blunted by comedy. The premise of multiple murders with an ax is itself almost immediately made fun of by the police in the film so we are never meant to take it seriously.
And the comedy isn't badly done. The two leads are very good, with the "gal" being almost too stupid for today's politically correct society. Aryes especially helps hold the film together and keep it entertaining. Rathbone is fine as the super evil doctor but the reason I'm writing this review is to say this is, at its heart, a comedy more in line with Abbott and Costello's monster comedy movies than in line with any true Horror film or noir films. I suppose CAT AND THE CANARY should be mentioned as being the type film this one aspires to be--though it is not in the same league as that film.
This well directed film does suffer from a case of split personality and the middle of the film probably does become a little to cutesy--though the stars keep it from ever being flat or dull--even when the script loses its sense of balance between elements.
And the comedy isn't badly done. The two leads are very good, with the "gal" being almost too stupid for today's politically correct society. Aryes especially helps hold the film together and keep it entertaining. Rathbone is fine as the super evil doctor but the reason I'm writing this review is to say this is, at its heart, a comedy more in line with Abbott and Costello's monster comedy movies than in line with any true Horror film or noir films. I suppose CAT AND THE CANARY should be mentioned as being the type film this one aspires to be--though it is not in the same league as that film.
This well directed film does suffer from a case of split personality and the middle of the film probably does become a little to cutesy--though the stars keep it from ever being flat or dull--even when the script loses its sense of balance between elements.