While some are downright terrible, I have enjoyed quite a bit of films that have been released under the Full Moon Features/Productions/Entertainment/Studios/Pictures label over the years. The very best of them always seem to have one thing in common. That one thing, just like in Charles Band’s 1992 fantasy film, Doctor Mordrid, is the fact that the star of the film is Jeffrey Combs.
Jeffrey Combs stars as a doctor once again. This time he isn’t Dr. Herbert West, but instead Doctor Mordrid, an ancient sorcerer, who after 100 years in human form, must finally do what he was always meant to do — protect the human race from the evil that is Kabal!
Doctor Mordrid Master of the Unknown contains everything that made the old Full Moon films so great. With music composed by Richard Band, the ever-impressive effect and animatronics work of David Allen, and the wacky ideas of Charles Band, who co-directed with his father, Albert, Mordrid is made up of the perfect formula!
At a rather short runtime of 74 minutes, including credits, this film gets to the point rather quickly. There is no extra fluff or unnecessary baggage presented. Just straight to the point magic and sorcery. Jeffrey Combs is great as always. I’ve enjoyed him in every movie I’ve seen and this one is no different. His nemesis in the film, Kabal, is played by Brian Thompson. This guy is naturally creepy and would fit into the “bad guy” role of almost any film he wanted, I’m sure, making his role as the malevolent antagonist seem like a walk in the park. Rounding out the cast, Yvette Nipar plays the role of Mordrid’s love interest, Samantha. She, too, did a great job, helping to bring the plot back to earth and give us humans something to relate to in this strange world of the black arts.
If you enjoy the classic films of Full Moon and Charles Band, then you certainly don’t want to miss out on Doctor Mordrid. You can purchase a Blu-ray copy from the Full Moon website, which features tons of special features, including never-before-seen, uncut, behind-the-scenes footage and a rare interview.
I give this film 3.5 amulets out of 5.
I’ve seen parts of this and it seems like one of Charles Bands not-so-good movies. Still would like to watch it some day. Jeffrey Combs indeed is litterally always good