Monsol E
Another monster born of nuclear radiation attacks japan...but this time, instead of a Kaiju, it's KILLER FLUBBER.
A green puddle of goo is melting people, leaving only their clothes behind. one of the victims happened to be a drug dealer that the cops were after...this sets them on the monsters trail!...eventually...
The bulk of the runtime is scientist-guy and dealers-girlfriend trying to convince the cops that there's a nickelodeon slime monster doing the killings...which of course they don't believe, despite witness testimonies, and plausible proof that such a creature could exist..."this is the difference between police and scientists" said the cop...you said it, baka. EVENTUALLY...when one cop gets melted in front of another, they start to take it seriously.
There's also a subplot about catching the other guys in the drug ring, but it didn't amount to much, other than lots more stress for the girlfriend.
The monster was hard to see in it's humanoid form, but looked ok. The effects to make the slime move around were neat, and the way it dissolved people was actually unsettling and pretty cool. It was ultimately defeated by lighting Japan's sewers on fire...so...that's a first in my book.
This movie doesn't stand out much amid all its peers, but is still fun.
Even though the monster is small, Toku/Kaiju fans should have a good time.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
10/18/23
Full Review
Audience Member
From the director of the original Godzilla film, Ishirô Honda, which was a more high minded of sci-fi story about the dangers of nuclear weapons than were it's subsequent sequels, comes another tale excoriating the dangers of radiation and "H-Bombs." In this atomic-age story follows police detectives investigating the sudden disappearance of a suspected narcotics dealer only to figure out he was the victim of secret H-Bomb tests in the Pacific, which turned him and others into a sort of intelligent black slime that dissolves anyone or anything it touches. This story is pretty silly and watching the terrified denizen's of Tokyo run from slow moving slim will not trike much awe or terror in audiences. Interestingly, the American drive-in classic "The Blob" came out this same year and did manage to make a scary film about a growing blob of slime, which goes to show it can be done. However, in this film's favor, director Honda incorporates a number or film noir elements into the story and production, which makes this film stand apart from your typical Toho monster movie. It features some terrific nightclub scenes with fun music and atmosphere, as well as scenes shot around Tokyo, which had a cool Japanese "Mad Men" vibe. Overall, the ideas and action were not all that interesting, but if you're interested in later 1950s Japanese pop culture or are interested in a different kind of Japanese monster movie, you should check out "The H-Man."
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
01/31/23
Full Review
Audience Member
The mysterious disappearance of a drug runner results in both police and gangsters scrambling Tokyo for clues. Both parties suspect that the runner's girlfriend (Yumi Shirakawa) knows something, but a scientist (Kenji Sahara) suspects a radiated mutant is the true culprit. The H-Man is a weird hybrid of horror, noir, and sci-fi, but its appealing eccentricity is hobbled by pacing issues. It does have its own brand of oddball charm, but I'd only recommend it to hardcore fans of Japanese monster movies.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
02/05/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Kinda boring, but that is mostly due to the fact that its a detective movie with a monster subplot that only kicks in halfway. The effects are ok, but you sit through a lot to get there...
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
02/12/23
Full Review
Audience Member
"Liquid Monster Dissolves Human!" Following similar themes as Godzilla but with less building smashing and more people puddles, The H-Man centers around a group of scientists and police officers attempting to restrain a living pool of goo slithering under the sewers of Tokyo. The film is filled with far too much chit chat and not enough puddle murder, but the puddle murder it does contain is heaps of drippy fun. A really strange flick that would be great to watch next to The Blob or THEM! VF.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
02/10/23
Full Review
Audience Member
What a strange old flick this is. This ain't no Godzilla. I thought this was going to be a Sci-Fi, dangers-of-radiation tale, which it was, but it actually turned into more of a horror story.
There was a man who was turned into a liquid by radiation who naturally starts to kill people, but first we are lead through a tale of a gang of thugs and the detectives that pursue them. This is definitely a different Japanese film that takes a lot of patience to sit through. Unfortunately, that patience isn't really rewarded when the movie reaches its conclusion. The melting effect is pretty neat, though. I'll give it an extra nod for that.
Rated 1.5/5 Stars •
Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars
02/15/23
Full Review
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