Rating: 
Summary: Peter Cushing discovers the source of all the world's evil
Review: "The Creeping Flesh" is certainly an interesting combination of horror and science fiction, which teams Hammer's two greatest starts, Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, in thie 1972 film done for Tigon British/World Film Services. Set in the late Victorian period, Professor Emmanuel Hildern (Cushing) tells his tale of how he discovered that all the evil in the world has been caused by blood tainted from an Evil One known in New Guinenan lore as Shish Kang. Hildern uncovers what he believes to be the creature's skeleton and is amazed when water drops on a finger bone and grows new flesh. Hildern dedicates his life to making a vaccine that will free mankind from not only evil but insanity and sexual debauchery as well. Unfortunately, when he tests out his first batch on his daughter Penelope (Lorna Heilbron), she becomes, ah, rather uninhibited and probably insane. Meanwhile, the professor's brother, Dr. James Hildern (Lee), learns of this discovery and steal the skeleton for his research. Unfortunately, the doctor is caught in a rainstorm, which survives to revive the horrible Shish Kang. On the one hand you have to admire any film that tries to deal with the true origin of all evil in the world, even if the answer is that evil is a contagious disease passed on from an extraterrestrial monster (the "Evil One" idea seems a nod of sorts to the writings of H. P. Lovecraft). Although Lee is billed above Cushing for one of the few times in their career, he has very little to do in "The Creeping Flesh." Cushing's role has considerably more depth, as is usually the case when they pair up. The film is certainly stylish and director Freddie Francis ("The Skull"), but the plot by Peter Spenceley and Jonathan Rumbold is as convoluted as any you will find in horror film history. The "ending" offers a couple of levels of ambiguity that allow you to reassess everything you think you have seen, if you are so inclined.
Rating: 
Summary: Creeping Flesh
Review: "The Creeping Flesh" is certainly an interesting combination of horror and science fiction, which teams Hammer's two greatest starts, Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, in thie 1972 film done for Tigon British/World Film Services. Set in the late Victorian period, Professor Emmanuel Hildern (Cushing) tells his tale of how he discovered that all the evil in the world has been caused by blood tainted from an Evil One known in New Guinenan lore as Shish Kang. Hildern uncovers what he believes to be the creature's skeleton and is amazed when water drops on a finger bone and grows new flesh. Hildern dedicates his life to making a vaccine that will free mankind from not only evil but insanity and sexual debauchery as well. Unfortunately, when he tests out his first batch on his daughter Penelope (Lorna Heilbron), she becomes, ah, rather uninhibited and probably insane. Meanwhile, the professor's brother, Dr. James Hildern (Lee), learns of this discovery and steal the skeleton for his research. Unfortunately, the doctor is caught in a rainstorm, which survives to revive the horrible Shish Kang. On the one hand you have to admire any film that tries to deal with the true origin of all evil in the world, even if the answer is that evil is a contagious disease passed on from an extraterrestrial monster (the "Evil One" idea seems a nod of sorts to the writings of H. P. Lovecraft). Although Lee is billed above Cushing for one of the few times in their career, he has very little to do in "The Creeping Flesh." Cushing's role has considerably more depth, as is usually the case when they pair up. The film is certainly stylish and director Freddie Francis ("The Skull"), but the plot by Peter Spenceley and Jonathan Rumbold is as convoluted as any you will find in horror film history. The "ending" offers a couple of levels of ambiguity that allow you to reassess everything you think you have seen, if you are so inclined.
Rating: 
Summary: Big Bad Bones...
Review: Emmanuel Hildern (Peter Cushing) returns from New Guinea with a giant skeleton-fossil with an incredibly huge cranium. While cleaning one of it's fingers, Hildern watches in astonishment as the water he's using causes new flesh to form on the long-dead digit. Hildern cuts the finger off and keeps it in a jar. Through experimentation, Hildern discovers a serum made from the creature's blood that he believes can cure evil in human beings. Meanwhile, his daughter, Penelope (Lorna Heilbron) has discovered a secret about her mother that Hildern has kept hidden from her for most of her life. She goes bananas as a result, making her a great candidate for daddy's serum. Unfortunately, it causes Penelope to go completely berserk! She goes to a saloon, slashes a sailor's throat with a broken bottle, and sends an escaped lunatic falling to his death, before being apprehended. James Hildern (Christopher Lee) runs the local insane asylum, so of course, Penelope winds up with him. James uses Penelope's situation to blackmail Emmanuel into giving him the skeleton. When Emmanuel refuses, James returns by night to steal the bony spicimen. A rainstorm hits and soaks the skeleton, causing it to "flesh out" so to speak. A hideous monster is reborn to seek vengeance and spread evil across the globe. A nice twisty ending adds punch to this gothic tingler. A great flick, the title alone (much like "I Eat Your Skin" or "The Head") is reason enough to have it on your shelf! Would make a perfect double feature w/ HORROR EXPRESS ...
Rating:
Summary: Creepy Flesh
Review: Emmanuel Hildern, played by Peter Cushing, returns from New Guinea with a large prehistoric skeleton. While cleaning one of the fingers of the skeleton with water, the finger starts to grow flesh. Hildern starts to reflect on the origin of "evil" and creates a serum that he believes will be an antidote for evil. He injects his daughter with the serum, because he believes she may be insane, since her mother was. The serum does not work and causes his daughter to go insane. James Hildern, played by Christopher Lee, is Emmanuel brother and after finding out about the skeleton and steals it. The skeleton is exposed to the rain and the "Creeping Flesh" comes to life.
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Summary: BRITISH CINEMA AT IT'S BEST
Review: Long before the existence of turgid costume dramas like HOWARD'S END and THE REMAINS OF THE DAY there was a British cinematic movement that believed in entertaining the viewer. THE CREEPING FLESH was one of last triumphs of this great tradition.
All the best elements of hammer horror appear in this classic: beautiful photography, atmospheric direction, the study of evil, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee (only the great Andre Morell is absent). This classic contains horror, philosophy, comedy and typically great performances from lee and Cushing. It's not my favourite Hammer film (there are about 10 others I love as much and even more) but it's still a great film.
Alas, we British no longer want to make films like this, we seem to want to make boring costume dramas and tired "realistic" dramas about how limited modern life is. I say TO HELL WITH REALITY, WATCH HAMMER HORROR! in response to the reviewer from Canada, yes this is not a hammer film, but neither is it an Amicus production... it is, along with the Ghoul, in fact a Tyburn production, which is what hammer turned into. I can't remember amicus making many decent films (beast must die and the skull are a hoot though)
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Summary: The creeping plot
Review: Many British horror films tended to dwell on very similiar themes. This one is somewhat different, but it could have been much better if they spent more time developing it. The film begins focusing on the skeleton of an ancient creature that could be the missing link. Peter Cushing begins studying it and we learn that water makes skin grow back on the skeleton in seconds. This is pretty interesting, but then they fly off on a sub-plot about Cushing daughter learning that her mo ther went insane and she begins to follow suit. This part tends to go on and on showing us the insides of a seedy pub (all British horror movies are required to show a pub, I think it's a rule over there) and a confrontation with an escaped criminal. Christopher Lee plays Cushing's half brother and rival and he wants the skeleton Cushing has. The middle of this film is slow, but when it starts to rain, the movie cuts loose. The last ten minutes of this film is great, both the story and the visuals. This is overall decent film, just don't give up on it in the middle because it will redeem itself.
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Summary: NOT a Hammer Film--But Good Creepy Fun Anyway
Review: Several reviewers have erroneously identified this as a film from the great Hammer Films. It's not--"The Creeping Flesh" is an Amicus production, from one of Hammer's British rivals. However, this has the great gothic horror atmosphere that was one of Hammer's trademarks. And it has Lee and Cushing, perennial Hammer stars, in wonderful performances. The plot is surprisingly complex, with some neat twists, and the creature, when it appears, is memorable. Recommended for all fans of horror who believe that plot, not f/x, matter.
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Summary: Classic English Horror
Review: So we have Christopher Lee (Dracula, Lord of the Rings, and Star Wars Episode III) and Peter Cushing (Star Wars and Shock Waves) in this 1973 film about "a terrifying journey through the nightmare worlds of evil, insanity, and terrible revenge." The film is wonderfully directed by Freddie Francis of such infamy as "Tales From the Crypt," "Son of Dracula," The Ghoul," and "Legend of the Werewolf." Plot: A paleontologist comes to believe that evil is a blood-borne illness and that the vehicle for said disease is the re-animated flesh of a skeletal specimen recently recovered from New Guinea. Convinced that his wife had contracted this evil prior to loosing her mind, he is driven to concoct an immunization in an attempt to save his daughter from a similar fate. As this is a horror movie, things don't quite go as planned. I own the movie on VHS and so eagerly anticipate its DVD release.
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Summary: The World, the Flesh and a Devil in an unusual Amicus film.
Review: The best aspect of this film is perhaps during the opening credits, where we see various sections of a truly fascinating painted canvas ecompassing all the aspects of the plot you are about to witness conveyed in a series of panned shots. The colors of this prop are brilliant. The second is perhaps when evil approaches and you see only an ever growing shadow of a caped figure rising ever larger over the front of the house! The story is well written, with an unusual idea on the origin of evil and implies a "book of revelation" portent for the future. The musical score is haunting and the acting and sets are fair. Two banes of humanity, Insanity and Evil are the focus of what our two adventurers are trying to solve, mainly to get the 10,000 pound Richter prize and the fame that would follow. However, a series of tragic foul-ups by lab assistant "Egors" release a catastrophe on all mankind, or so we are led to believe! Not the best film that this dynamic duo of horror ever made but very different and well plotted with a lot of Edwardian laboratory mumbo jumbo thrown in for "atmosphere".
Rating:
Summary: The World, the Flesh and a Devil in an unusual Amicus film.
Review: The best aspect of this film is perhaps during the opening credits, where we see various sections of a truly fascinating painted canvas ecompassing all the aspects of the plot you are about to witness conveyed in a series of panned shots. The colors of this prop are brilliant. The second is perhaps when evil approaches and you see only an ever growing shadow of a caped figure rising ever larger over the front of the house! The story is well written, with an unusual idea on the origin of evil and implies a "book of revelation" portent for the future. The musical score is haunting and the acting and sets are fair. Two banes of humanity, Insanity and Evil are the focus of what our two adventurers are trying to solve, mainly to get the 10,000 pound Richter prize and the fame that would follow. However, a series of tragic foul-ups by lab assistant "Egors" release a catastrophe on all mankind, or so we are led to believe! Not the best film that this dynamic duo of horror ever made but very different and well plotted with a lot of Edwardian laboratory mumbo jumbo thrown in for "atmosphere".
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