A good premise is at the core of this entertaining Roger Corman film: doctor / researcher James Xavier (Ray Milland) hopes to access that part of the visual spectrum that human eyes usually don't get to see. He develops a solution - administered in the form of eye-drops - and tests it on himself, finding that then he is able to see through all manner of objects. His intentions start out as honourable, but as the story progresses his mind deteriorates and he's not above using his new power for selfish purposes. The film is basically divided into two parts. The first leads up to his accidental killing of his friend and colleague Sam Brant (Harold J. Stone), and the second half is devoted to his life spent as a criminal in hiding. First he becomes a performer in a carnival, then a sleazy new acquaintance, Crane (the well cast Don Rickles) convinces him to become a "healer". Soon Xavier feels the law closing in, and his beautiful blonde fellow doctor Diane Fairfax (Diana Van der Vlis) comes back into his life to lend what assistance she can. The excellent Milland makes this a pleasurable viewing; he's believable every step of the way, and his supporting cast is strong. Corman stock company players Dick Miller, Jonathan Haze, Barboura Morris, and John Dierkes, along with busy genre actor of the period Morris Ankrum, all appear uncredited. The arresting special effects are a highlight, and Milland gets to sport some memorably creepy contact lenses. There's some humour to be enjoyed here, especially in an early party sequence that's also very mildly titillating, as Xavier can see what all the dancers look like underneath their clothes. And Rickles, who's great, adds some more with his cheerful performance as the trashy opportunist. "X" has a great trippy feel; at 79 minutes it does feel a little padded at times, but it still tells a pretty good story in an involving way and leads to what is a very striking finish. Seven out of 10.
Review of X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes
