Botanist returns from a year lost in the Ugandan jungle with discoveries that bridge the gap between the plant and animal kingdoms. Instead of conducting proper scientific research, he goes potty and turns his pet chimp into a giant ape, using him to kill those he fancies his enemies (i.e. just about everyone he crosses paths with).

Schlocky mad scientist film is bad, but bad in an enjoyably watchable way. Gough's scenery-chewing is perhaps more fun to watch than a guy in a tatty ape costume runnning about in front of rear screen projections. It's also a bit more frightening. The only real detriment, besides some awful performances from the younger players, is Herman Cohen's unsavoury misogyny that once again permeates the film. While not quite as bad as Horrors of the Black Museum, it is still obvious. The dialogue between Claire Gordon and Gough is smarmy to the point that it feels lifted wholesale from a 1970s porn film. As for the tongued phallus-shaped plants in Gough's greenhouse. . .Those caveats aside, the film somehow maintains its watchability, Margo Johns is quite good, and the ending is rather touching, in its own goofy way.

-Dave W.