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The Incredible Two-headed Transplant - Blu-ray Review

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4 beersBruce Dern attaching two heads to a monkey.  Hell, Dern attaching two heads to anything!!!  If that image doesn’t get you excited for a schlock film full of nastiness, then I doubt little else will.  You should probably stop reading and click somewhere else. 

Still here?  Okay.  Then let’s continue…

And yet, in the early 1970s, the whole 2-headed thing was a legitimate sub-genre in B-movie kingdom.  And, with promises of a semi-nude Pat Priest (you know, the second actress to play Marilyn Munster in The Munsters) as Dern’s hot wife and Top 40 DJ Casey Kasem as his best friend with wise words to boot, how could a film titled The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant fail to entertain?

Truthfully, it does not.  Oh, sure, nothing about its set-up is believable but, when you are laughing this hard, who really gives two shits about believability?!  Dern is Dr. Roger Girard and the doctor is IN.  Take that “in” wherever you want: insane, in house, in residency, in hot water because it’s all true.  He’s converted a second bedroom into a glistening white lab and hired an assistant to help keep his experiments quiet and free of distractions…like his wife. 

Except she’s feeling ignored.  Complicating matters is the arrival of Manuel Cass (Albert Cole), a senseless killer who has eyes for Girard’s wife.  When his attack is thwarted by the doctor, a Frankenstein-sized man-boy (John Bloom), and the boy’s father, Dr. Girard must do the unthinkable to save lives: put two-heads where there should be only one. 

All hell breaks lose as a maniac is granted new life on a giant’s body.  Unfortunately for him, he’s sharing the body with another man’s head attached and he has the intelligence of a child.  What should be a toll free ride on the highway to hell turns incredible weird real quick, as a murderer must dance around the logic of a hug-seeking child in order to go about his wicked business.

Directed by Anthony M. Lanza and released by American International Pictures in 1971, this b-movie is true drive-in fodder.  It’s stupid, hilarious, and goofy as hell.  In a modern day viewing, it’s also a non-stop riot featuring a two-headed hillbilly man-child in overalls and Marilyn Munster in a big ol’ cage for her own, ya know, protection.  

How could a person not be entertained by this low-grade madness?

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The Incredible Two-headed Transplant - Blu-ray Review

MPAA Rating: R for some violence
Runtime: 87 mins
Director: Anthony M. Lanza
Writer: James Gordon White, John Lawrence
Cast: Bruce Dern, Pat Priest, Casey Kasem
Genre: Horror | Sci-fi
Tagline: This brain wants to LOVE...this brain wants to KILL!
Memorable Movie Quote: "Aaaagh! I gotta teach the moron to walk."
Distributor: American International Pictures (AIP)
Official Site:
Release Date: July 21, 1971
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: November 24, 2015
Synopsis: Dr. Roger Girard is a rich scientist conducting experiments on head transplantation. His caretaker has a son, Danny, who, although fully grown, has the mind of child. One day an escaped psycho-killer invades Girard's home, killing Danny's father before being gunned down himself. With the maniac dying and Danny deeply unsettled by his father's death, Dr. Girard decides to take the final step and transplant the killer's head onto Danny's body. Of course, things go horribly wrong and the two-headed creature escapes to terrorize the countryside.

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[tab title="Blu-ray Review"]

The Incredible Two-headed Transplant - Blu-ray Review

Blu-ray

Blu-ray Details:

Available on Blu-ray - November 24, 2015
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Discs: 25GB Blu-ray Disc; Single disc (1 BD)
Region Encoding: A

It could be argued that the 1080P transfer from Kino-Lorber is far superior to the film itself.  Perhaps some would say much better than the film deserves.  this is easily as good as the film has ever looked on digital.  There is a tightness and depth to the low-grade film and the skin tones and colors look balanced.  The linear DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel does a competent job.

Supplements:

Commentary:

  • The commentary is actually a hilarious RiffTrax audio commentary with Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy, and Bill Corbett.  Some people suggest you NEVER actually watch the film and, instead, start here.  I like both.  Funny stuff regardless.

Special Features:

Kino includes a solid interview with screenwriter James Gordon White, a radio spot, and a theatrical trailer for the film as bonus items.

  • James Gordon White Interview (15 min)
  • Radio Spot
  • Theatrical Trailer

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