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The Man With the X-Ray Eyes

Play trailer Poster for The Man With the X-Ray Eyes 1963 1h 19m Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 26 Reviews 66% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Intent on enhancing mankind's ocular ability, the brilliant Dr. James Xavier (Ray Milland) invents a formula that allows him to see wavelengths of light outside the normal human spectrum. When his funding is suddenly threatened, Xavier tests the formula on himself despite the protests of his colleague Dr. Diane Fairfax (Diana Van der Vlis). While the formula proves initially useful in a variety of minor tasks, Xavier soon finds himself able to see things that no man was meant to see.

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The Man With the X-Ray Eyes

The Man With the X-Ray Eyes

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Critics Consensus

By turns lurid and disturbing, The Man with the X-Ray Eyes is a compelling piece of sci-fi pulp and one of Roger Corman's most effective movies.

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Critics Reviews

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Variety Staff Variety Director Roger Corman keeps this moving and Ray Milland is competent as the doomed man. Special effects on his prism-eye world, called Spectarama, are good if sometimes repetitive. Jun 6, 2007 Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Reader This queasy 1963 SF parable was directed--quickly and cheaply--by Roger Corman for American-International, drawing some of its strength from its tawdry drive-in overtones. Jun 6, 2007 Full Review Geoff Andrew Time Out Intelligent sci-fi movie has a powerful performance from Milland. Jun 24, 2006 Full Review Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid A rather inventive little "B" movie, with ambitious, sci-fi appeal. Rated: 3/4 May 12, 2024 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy This nifty slice of sci-fi basically plays like Corman's low-rent version of the 1957 classic The Incredible Shrinking Man. Rated: 3/4 Oct 28, 2020 Full Review C.H. Newell Father Son Holy Gore The psychological nature of this tale's examination of a doctor with a God complex, to an extreme length, makes it a major classic of the sci-fi genre. Rated: 4/5 May 6, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Daniel C. M A B movie that manages to actually and unironically be really good rather than the standard "so bad it's good. Though it certainly could have benefitted itself from a longer runtime; the few there is in the movie is executed perfectly, both by fine acting from the star Ray Milland and the script which manages to focus and touches on all the essential points that a Sci-fi pulp should, and does so perfectly. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/22/24 Full Review Nicholas B Definitely has it's moments. Ultimately it's an oddly haunting piece. It's B movie trappings lend the film both favourable and detracting elements, and Ray Milland is dependable as usual. Loved the ending, especially the dialogue. Not exactly a classic but certainly not a waste of time. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/30/24 Full Review Dave S Outside of a couple of his Poe adaptations, X: The Man With the X-Ray Eyes is probably Roger Corman’s best movie. After developing a medication to enhance the abilities of the human eye, Dr. Xavier (Ray Milland) decides to test the substance on himself. Before you know it, he’s seeing through the clothes of women at parties and, more importantly, helping to cure the ill. Once you get past the hokey title and some pretty shaky visual effects, it’s actually a surprisingly impactful movie as the good doctor, strutting about with some sort of Jesus complex, eventually finds himself on the run from those who are intent on persecuting him. Milland gives a standout performance throughout, as does Don Rickles in a small supporting role, and the production values are remarkably decent when considering the low budget that Corman was probably working with. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/21/24 Full Review Aldo G When it was released (I was five years old), my mother and I walked in at the conclusion of the movie. I was horrified. Today, the film is less horrific, but a testament to the good work of writer/director Roger Corman. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/10/24 Full Review Thom G The Man with the X-Rays is an outstanding low-budget sci-fi/horror film. It revolves around a fascinating problem, both scientifically and philosophically, which is compellingly developed throughout the film, provoking reflection. The film is engaging and Ray Milland's remarkable performance adds significant depth to his character, allowing the viewer to relate to his problems, choices, and obsessions. "I've come to tell you what I see..." Damn, what a memorable scene! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/07/24 Full Review Matt R "I've come to tell you what I see. There are great darknesses, farther than time itself..." I've experimented on myself by having seen five Roger Corman pictures in the last couple weeks. The latest movie I opened my eyes to is 1963's "X The Man with the X-Ray Eyes". Now I can say what I see. The "King of Shlock" is really a genius of low budget filmmaking. "X The Man with the X Ray Eyes" won the "Silver Spaceship" Astronave D'argento award at the first International Festival of Science Fiction Film and for good reason. Academy Award winning actor Ray Milland (Billy Wilder's The Lost Weekend) stars as a doctor who experiments on himself to be able to see what no other man can. He ends up seeing far more than he bargained for. The writing and acting are visibly some of the best ever for a low budget flick. "Presented in Pathe'Color and Spectarama" with cinematography by another Oscar winner Floyd Crosby (Tabu: A Story of the High Seas) is a visual delight. Sometimes the images are gruesome and disturbing as you see through Dr. Xavier's eyes. Other times, his point of view is playful and sexy, like at the party where he can suddenly see through people's clothes. Don Rickles is also great as Crane the carnival barker who puts the good doctor to work as Mr Mentallo. "X" is a thoughtful, sometimes disturbing, wonderfully entertaining picture worth seeing. "... And beyond the darkness, a light that glows and changes. And in the center of the universe, the eye that sees us all." Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis Intent on enhancing mankind's ocular ability, the brilliant Dr. James Xavier (Ray Milland) invents a formula that allows him to see wavelengths of light outside the normal human spectrum. When his funding is suddenly threatened, Xavier tests the formula on himself despite the protests of his colleague Dr. Diane Fairfax (Diana Van der Vlis). While the formula proves initially useful in a variety of minor tasks, Xavier soon finds himself able to see things that no man was meant to see.
Director
Roger Corman
Producer
Roger Corman
Production Co
Alta Vista Productions
Genre
Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 10, 2017
Runtime
1h 19m
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