I think if this had been made in the 1960s it would have been a minor classic: the story isn't bad - a skeleton from New Guinea results in serum that drives people insane - and it's got Peter Cushing and Chris Lee (the former as a mad scientist, the latter running a lunatic asylum), plus stylish direction from Freddie Francis (who I've grown to admire more and more as a director).
But it never quite takes fire. I blame the early 70s washed out colour look and production design and resulting lack of atmosphere, but also the lack of action, sexiness and horror. It's all set up for the creature to go berserk, and for Lee and Cushing to cut loose, but it's all too restrained. It's never well motivated for Cushing to inject his daughter with serum, too much of the last act is set in darkness.
This is frustrating because these sort of movies helped wipe out the period horror movie genre which provided so much work for the British industry in the 70s. And it needn't have because there's a decent amount of imagination and talent on display - for whatever reason though it wasn't harnessed into something strong.
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