Jeanskynebu the audience applauded

Freaktana A Major Disappointment

Chirphymium It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Ava-Grace Willis Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

EyeAskance During the course of some covert experiments, noted scientist John Agar is inadvertently exposed to toxins which transform him into something resembling a flame-broiled Michelin Tire Man. He becomes grotesquely bloated, with skin bearing the distinct physiognomy of beef-jerky...worse yet, his touch brings certain instant death. Before long, he's on a predictable helter-skelter rampage in the city streets, apparently being driven doolally by the wild sounds of the film's low-grade beatnik jazz score. Throughout this distressing ordeal, Agar's love interest(Paula Raymond) wears a face of deep concern, but we know she's really hoping he'll die so she won't feel pressured to sleep with a pestilent man who looks like a campfire-toasted marshmallow.It's not hard to see why 20th Century Fox hid this one away in the deep-six vaults for decades. Some folks, however, feel a warm simpatico with bantam sci-fi schlock...these particular viewers may find an ambrosially campy allure in this ineffectual, yet reprievable, early-60s artifact. THE HAND OF DEATH is not likely to amaze or impress, but it does generally entertain...and at a mercifully brief fifty-odd minutes, it certainly doesn't overstay its welcome.

mopmonkey-1 I saw this movie at a theater as an 8 year old,and was literally scared under the seat. I haven't seen it since 1962, but vividly remember the monster he became. As young as I was, I remember finding it odd that he wandered the streets without garnering more attention. It IS a shame that it hasn't been made available on DVD; I'd grab it up in a minute. It would probably seem hokey now,but, on the other hand,maybe it would still impress, like " The Day the Earth Stood Still" (no insult intended to THAT classic). We don't have AMC available in Canada, so it appears that I'll have a long wait before refreshing my memory of my first REALLY scary horror movie.

Michael_Elliott Hand of Death (1962) *** (out of 4) A scientist (John Agar) experimenting with nerve gas accidentally infects himself and soon he's able to kill with the very touch of his hand. As days go on he also starts to form into a burned up monster. This film has gotten a lot of attention over the past several months since AMC started showing it in regular rotation. Most critics bash the movie but in my opinion this is one of the best "B" movies from the era. This certainly didn't deserve any Oscars but for a "B" movie it's damn entertaining from start to finish. There are plenty of campy moments but there's also some very nice cinematography and the look of the monster is brilliant.

spitspingola "Hand of Death" is a really generic, forgettable late 50's/early 60's Z-grade monster movie. John Agar plays a scientist working on some sort of experimental nerve gas and other top-secret government stuff. He exposes himself to too much of it, gains a nice tan (along with the touch of death) and eventually mutates into a sort of a dumpy, lumpy, clumsy, black-faced monster. He's basically a half-human half-charcoal briquette. His head looks like the Toxic Avenger only painted black. A good portion of the movie is him in monster form wandering around aimlessly. This is a pretty bad movie, there's absolutely nothing that sets it apart from other similar movies, and I can't think of anything in it that I hadn't seen in an older movie. Even the music is generic. In spite if this, I kind of enjoyed watching it, maybe due to the fast pace. Just when you're getting tired of it, it's over. It might be a good movie for Mystery Science Theater.