Roger Corman’s 1960s ‘X-Ray’ Movie To Be Remade
Mar 11, 2009 by Ross MillerIt seems like a day can’t go by without news coming out of another remake being in the works. Today it’s Roger Corman’s (the man …
It seems like a day can’t go by without news coming out of another remake being in the works. Today it’s Roger Corman’s (the man who gave us such B-movies as Death Race 2000 and The Little Shop of Horrors, amongst many others) 1960s flick X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes that’s being remade.
Well, at least they’re doing a bit of digging into movie history as opposed to just remaking the first thing they lay their eyes on…
Spanish director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (28 Weeks Later) has struck a deal with MGM to make a film based on Corman’s ’60s flick – it will be produced by Mandeville Film partners David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman along with Enqirue Lopez Lavigne, and will be executive produced by Lou Arkoff.
For those of you who don’t know, here is the synopsis of the original:
Ray Milland stars as a scientist who is near a breakthrough in X-ray vision technology when his funding is cut off. Desperate to show results, the doc applies eye drops that eventually cause him to lose control over his growing powers.
Fresnadillo hasn’t directed a film since 28 Weeks Later which was a couple of years ago now, but is in Hollywood this week meeting with writers for X (as is the presumed title for the time being).
I have to be totally honest and say that I hadn’t heard of the original 1963 film before I read this news. But going by the synopsis it’s certainly a unique story that, because of the possible futuristic directions they could with the whole x-ray angle, combined with the obvious horror aspect, could shape up to be something pretty cool.
Screen Rant will have it’s eye on this one and will keep you up-to-date on its progress through the development stages.
By any chance are there any B-movie lovers out there who have seen the original? And if so is a remake warranted?
Sources: ComingSoon.net and Variety
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I have seen it and liked it. But it was the music and acting that really made the original a classic. With today’s special effects, this could be great. Also, Milland’s character got into trouble because he kept putting the drops into his eyes to make them even stronger. If he had stopped at the point where he could see into a persons body, he could have been OK. But no, he had to see into the atomic realm as well and that is when he screwed up. He had to develop glasses to block much of what he was seeing but it still wasn’t enough to prevent him from going insane. At the end, he stumbled into a church where the pastor was reading from the New Testament where Christ said, “If thine eye affend thee, pluck it out”, at which point he did, and the movie ended.
If you saw it today, the effects would look cheesy but I think you would like the acting and score.
I guess I should have put a SPOILER WARNING in that post for those who haven’t seen the original. Vic, please add that warning to my post.
I remember seeing this film when I was a kid and the lasting impression it left me with was how the main character was becoming less and less able to control the effect and saw things like power lines suspended in mid air because he could no longer see the wooden poles.
As remakes go, this could easily be a good choice. The changes in the level of technology should allow for a slew of new angles being played this time around. Sounds like a good thriller could come of this.
@Kahless
I really don’t think we need a spoiler warning on a 40 year old Roger Corman movie.
Vic
@Vic
Yeah, I know but some might have complained. Just trying to be cautious, I guess.
This movie had a profound effect on me even though the SFX were incredibly dated.
John, you’ve killed it for Ross! One of the all-time great endings though.
I’ve been saying this was ripe for remaking ever since Hollow Man. Just don’t give it to Paul Verhoeven.
I can see where this one is ripe for a remake and update. Hm. Scientist develops X-Ray Vision — pawn of Homeland Security, anyone? Until he sees too much.
The ending of the original is still chilling, though. **SPOILER**, unless you’ve read the above comments. After Milland’s character tears out his eyes in the church, he looks up and the last line is an agonized “I… can… still… see!”
Now, if a high-tech CGI re-make can keep the psychological elements of the original, we might be onto something here.