Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

The Incredible Melting Man 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 27, 2022

Writer/director William Sachs is quick to remind fans of 1977’s “The Incredible Melting Man” that the final cut of the feature doesn’t represent his original vision. Sachs was hoping to create a comedic take on Atomic Age horror/sci-fi offerings, looking to pants a serious subgenre from the 1950s with a goofy approach from the 1970s. The helmer’s vision was denied by studio executives, who wanted a more serious take on the birth of a screen monster, ordering reshoots to help transform a deliberately exaggerated effort into a more sinister one. “The Incredible Melting Man” is a confusing movie to watch due to this tinkering, but it doesn’t seem to work in its original form either, as Sachs doesn’t have the greatest imagination for anything he’s attempting here, and his sense of pacing is abysmal, slowing the picture to a crawl, which does nothing to help build suspense. A man melts, no doubt, but he often takes forever to do so.

Something went wrong for astronaut Steve (Alex Rebar), who returns to Earth after coming into contact with Saturn’s rings during a mission. Such exposure has corrupted his system, causing him to slowly “melt” away, in need of human cells to remain alive. Escaping from his hospital, Steve goes on the hunt for victims in the nearby town. On the case is Dr. Ted (Burr DeBenning), a scientist trying to help his friend, while General Perry (Myron Healy) wants the missing man eliminated, with the pair setting out to find Steve, who’s leaving behind a trail of bodies.

“The Incredible Melting Man” should be more fun than it actually is. It features the vivid presence of the eponymous monstrosity, with Hollywood makeup legend Rick Baker in charge of creating Steve’s decaying presence. Gobs of money aren’t available to the production, but they manage to make an interesting creature covered in fleshy goo, while additional gore is provided with crime scenes, creating a few R-rated highlights. The visual of the melting man isn’t in question, it’s Sachs’s sense of forward momentum, finding the director creating scenes filled with static staging, pregnant pauses, and repetition, which doesn’t inspire screen tension. “The Incredible Melting Man” is in no hurry to get anywhere, and this sense of delay and use of padding destroys the fear factor of the endeavor, if there was one to begin with.

Tonality is a mess in “The Incredible Melting Man,” as some of the movie is played for laughs, while the rest aims for melodrama, creating a situation where intent is confusing. Some of this can be blamed on studio involvement, but not all of it, with Sachs too crude of a filmmaker to really sell his idea of a sci-fi parody. He adds some weirdness, watching a photographer harass a model into taking nude pictures, and there’s a whole subplot concerning an elderly couple questing to steal lemons from a forbidden grove. Acting is also bizarre, with half the cast trying to create their characters, while the rest seem to be replicating work from a television variety show (Ted getting upset about a lack of crackers with his dinner is a good example of Sachs’s misbegotten sense of humor), making urgent scenes of survival ridiculous, while ridiculousness plays as normal behavior.

The Incredible Melting Man 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screenshots are taken from the Blu-ray release.

Originally released on Blu-ray in 2013 by Shout Factory (Jeffrey Kauffman's review is here), "The Incredible Melting Man" returns to disc with a UHD release from Vinegar Syndrome. Featuring a new scan of the 35mm original camera negative, the feature enjoys excellent detail throughout, helping viewers to appreciate the display of liquid skin and skeletal imagery as the eponymous character crawls across town. Makeup effects are superbly textured, along with facial surfaces and costuming. Living spaces and examination rooms offer clear decoration, and outdoor pursuits deliver deep dimension. Color is a little surprising, with the HDR pass creating an unexpectedly bright palette, with primaries downright explosive, making the endeavor look like "Suspiria" at times. Such intensity boils down to personal taste, with such "hotness" present, but may not be a problem for most viewers. The Blu-ray delivers a more subdued representation of the original cinematography. Delineation is ideal, working well with evening activities, offering deep blacks. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in good condition, with a few stretches of wear and tear, along with light scratches.

The Incredible Melting Man 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix offers crisp dialogue exchanges, offering clear emphasis with acting choices and a balanced sense of panic. Scoring cues support with authority, providing defined instrumentation and comfortable escalation with horror stings. Sound effects register as intended.

The Incredible Melting Man 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

UHD

• Commentary features writer/director William Sachs.

Blu-ray

• Commentary features writer/director William Sachs.

• "It's a War" (31:07, HD) is an interview with writer/director William Sachs, who explores his formative years, receiving photography inspiration from his father and a writing education in school. Sachs examines his move to a Cincinnati college, where troublemaking eventually pushed him into the Air Force. Film school in London helped to sharpen his desire to make movies – a life quest that brought him to Mexico and Italy to get a sense of many regional industries. The interviewee is very scattered, eventually working in anecdotes about other endeavors, such as "Galaxina" and "Spooky House," gradually making his way to "The Incredible Melting Man," which he remains frustrated with, watching the producers change his original intent. Sachs closes with a brief lesson on control, which he believes is the only way to truly make a feature.

• "Just Show Up" (15:02, HD) is an interview with second unit script supervisor Sandy King, who recalls tough choices while exiting UCLA. She was prepped for a career in animation, but elected to go the live-action way, soon taking all the jobs that were offered. King was only involved with "The Incredible Melting Man" for a few days, so her memories of the set are limited to a couple of evenings and locations, recalling the mood of the confused shoot. The interviewee examines her quest to meet job requirements while building her resume, and she laments the state of the business today, which isn't focusing on the art of cinema anymore.

• Interview (19:37 HD) is a dual conversation with writer/director William Sachs and makeup designer Rick Baker, from 2013. Originally titled "The Ghoul from Outer Space," Baker was extremely reluctant to join such a movie, shocked when producers agreed to meet his inflated monetary demand. Sachs is feistier, detailing how his original intent to make a comedy was torpedoed by the producers, who created an awkward horror picture instead. A candid assessment of actor Alex Rebar is offered, along with other casting choices, and Baker points out participation from other makeup legends, including Greg Cannom and Rob Bottin.

• Interview (2:56, HD) is a short discussion of "The Incredible Melting Man" with makeup artist Greg Cannom, who explore his participation in reshoots, working with Rob Bottin to execute Rick Baker's designs.

• Photo Gallery (:55) collects poster art, publicity shots, and film stills.

• And a Teaser Trailer (:44, HD) and a Theatrical Trailer (1:04, HD) are included.

The Incredible Melting Man 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Only Sachs knows what he wanted to do with "The Incredible Melting Man," ending up with a messy movie about a messy monster, and little of it hits intended beats of horror and comedy. There's the sight of a slimy villain taking lives, which may hit the sweet spot for genre fans, but it's hard to explain away the endeavor's baffling sluggishness, with Sachs getting way too leisurely with a premise that typically encourages a more robust and suspenseful approach.