Donovan's Brain Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Donovan's Brain Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 22, 2016

An adaptation of Curt Siodmak’s 1942 novel, 1953’s “Donovan’s Brain” isn’t really a horror story, with a rather leisurely command of the macabre. Instead, the picture pulls most of its power from mad science and telekinetic manipulation, achieving suspense through oddity as a brain residing in a fish tank of cloudy fluid manages to take control of the genius that put it there. Delivering a quintessential 1950s tale of sci-fi torment, there’s a lot to like about “Donovan’s Brain,” which is generally credited as the production that inspired a rash of similar head-gone-mad features.

The glue in this strange saga is star Lew Ayres, who delivers an exceptional performance as a devoted but reckless scientist who’s taken position of a human brain that once belonged to an evil businessman. In place of medical exploration, mind control is unleashed, but instead of dishing up a series of murders or ghoulish events, “Donovan’s Brain” remains conversational. Debates on Godly intention and scientific lines crossed tend to dominate the tale, while the overall thrust of wickedness comes in the form of financial shenanigans, not bloodthirsty events. The adjustment takes some getting used to, but “Donovan’s Brain” succeeds with eerie encounters and overall strangeness, while technical achievements are enjoyably cheesy, with boundaries on special effects easy to spot.

Donovan's Brain Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.37:1 aspect ratio) presentation brings "Donovan's Brain" to Blu-ray with encouraging clarity, offering a fresh new scan of the feature for HD consumption. Detail is most impressive here, supplying a crisp look at production's achievements and set decorations, while facial close-ups are sharp and costumes retain fibrous qualities. Black and white cinematography is nicely balanced, and delineation isn't troublesome. Grain is fine and filmic. Source has its share of mild vertical scratches and speckling, but no major areas of damage.

Donovan's Brain Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is incredibly loud (word of advice: lower volume before putting the disc in the player), but it holds together well enough, with a few surges of violence hitting crackly highs. Dialogue exchanges are secure, with deep and crisp dramatics. Scoring is bold but palatable, fulfilling suspense needs with a commanding presence. Atmospherics are more serviceable than memorable. Hiss and pops are detected throughout the listening experience, but nothing distracts.

Donovan's Brain Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historian Richard Harland Smith.

• "Trailers From Hell" (2:41, HD) offers thoughts from director Joe Dante, who shares the source material's history and the movie's influence on the genre, inspiring numerous rip-offs and tributes.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:02, SD) is included.

Donovan's Brain Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Perhaps genre fanatics new to "Donovan's Brain" won't receive the quaking experience promised in the early going, but the picture generally keeps on task, building tension through confrontations and interference from sleazy supporting characters. It's an enjoyable effort with pleasing darkness and thespian confidence (future First Lady Nancy Davis appears as the scientist's wife), helping to give the silliness of an all-powerful floating brain some necessary gravity.