The Man With the X-Ray Eyes (1963)

Mad science leads to cosmic horror (well, a decent-sized hint of it anyway) as Second Sight releases Roger Corman's classic science fiction picture as a limited edition Blu-ray with a host of extras.

The researches of Dr James Xavier (Ray Milland) has led to him creating a serum 'X' that allows the eye to see through objects to what lies beneath. He's tried it out on monkeys and when it comes to human tests he decides to use himself as a subject. Initially he finds he can read documents covered by other papers, then at a party he finds he can see through everyone's clothes. 

Soon he can see further, diagnosing a child's heart condition and performing surgery for it against the clinical decision of his superior (John Hoyt). A threat of malpractice, plus an incident where he accidentally pushes a colleague out of a window, leads to Xavier going on the run & becoming a carnival sideshow attraction. But for him, the worst is yet to come.

A neat bit of 'meddling in things man must leave alone' is given a cosmic edge to it (and some great dialogue ) by a screenplay co-written by Ray Russell (Sardonicus and a number of very fine short stories) and Robert Dillon (PRIME CUT). The idea that Milland's Xavier is being tormented by what he can see at the edges of the universe has its roots in Lovecraft, but Roger Corman's no-nonsense direction keeps it all very sober until that final, classic, scene which I will leave you to discover for yourselves if you haven't already.

Second Sight's Blu-ray includes two commentary tracks, one from Corman and another fact-packed one from Tim Lucas. There's also a Corman interview and another with Kat Ellinger, as well as Joe Dante talking about the film and Mick Garris providing commentary on a Trailers From Hell segment devoted to it.

The disc comes in a sturdy slipcase with new Graham Humphreys art. The case also includes a double sided poster (UK quad art on one side, the new art on the other), plus a book with new writing on the film from Allan Bryce and Jon Towlson. 

Roger Corman's THE MAN WITH THE X-RAY EYES is out on limited edition Blu-ray from Second Sight on 

Monday 4th May 2020