Surgeon

An exceptionally good direct-to-video Horror film
I saw this film a couple of years ago on HBO and loved it. I very much enjoy direct-to-video horror films and The Surgeon did not disappoint. I definitely would want this film in my horror collection. An interesting double feature would be the horrifyingly good The Dentist. Both are among the best in direct-to-video horror.

Stick out your tongue and say "Ho-hum"
From a director you've never heard of comes a totally derivative horror film starring a cast of mostly unknowns with a few prominent faces tossed out in cameos. Yep, it's time to review Carl Schenkel's (who?) 1995 film "The Surgeon." O.K., maybe I'm being a bit too harsh here. Schenkel apparently lensed the Christopher Lambert vehicle "Night Moves" and the early Denzel Washington picture "The Mighty Quinn," so he's not completely obscure. But, in the words of Janet Jackson, "What have you done for me lately?" The answer must inevitably be "not much" if "The Surgeon" is any indication. One great thing about exploring the highways and byways of the horror genre is the constant discovery of movies I have never heard about before. I spend a lot of time trying to follow the ins and outs of horror movies and I STILL come across stuff almost every day that has me scratching my head in bewilderment. Then it's time to track down copies to watch, a task made infinitely easier thanks to the...

"Let's Play (Mad) Doctor!"...
I started watching THE SURGEON after seeing Malcolm McDowell's (A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, THE BARBER, EVILENKO) name attached to the project. Well, the bad news is, his character dies within 20 minutes. The good news is, the movie is still great without him! An insane surgeon, who seems to have developed a regenerative, miracle cure for disease, is relieved of duty, only to return to the hospital for bloody vengeance. What saves this movie from being DR. GIGGLES 2 is an original story, interesting characters, and a genuinely frightening killer. Both James Remar (DEXTER) and Peter Boyle add heft to the proceedings w/ their respective roles as doctor and police detective. Definitely worth a watch or two...

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