What better plot for catfights than when you have two sultry dames, jealous of one another, and one turns into a...cat-monster! There are two sultry actresses in this film, June Vincent as a laboratory assistant, and Janis Wilson as the nubile daughter of a mad scientist. Even in 1948, a catfight between the two of them would have been great cinema. Even if one turns into a huge cat creature. Today we have a tale of mad scientists, their secret serums, an annoying hunk who loves both dames, and...a cat creature. Let us look at 1948's "The Creeper," directed by Jean Yarbrough.
Dr. Lester Cavigny (Ralph Morgan) and his lovely assistant, Gwen (Vincent) are sad because the crates with their serums have been destroyed. They invented a serum to cure death or something during their experiments in the West Indies. During those experiments, Lester's sultry daughter Nora (Wilson) got sick, delirious, and may have changed into a cat creature and shredded some natives...today we call this PMS. Apparently, Lester's partner, Dr. Bordon (Onslow Stevens) wants to steal the serum and take full credit. Oh, across the hall are two rival scientists, the weird Dr. Van Glock (Eduardo Ciannelli) and Dr. John Reade (John Baragrey), an annoying hunk. Initially John loves Gwen, but when she becomes "distant," he instantly moves in on Nora, who may be insane and a cat monster...as many babes are.
Now people begin being shredded in and around the lab. Nora has black-outs and exhibits symptoms of schizophrenia. Gwen is all to eager to point this out in an attempt to win John back. Now the cops are interested in Nora as a suspect in the murders around the lab. Uh oh...the cat creature's carnage enters the lab and cast members begin dying horribly. Nora is found unconscious near the crime scenes and the cops are looking at her closely. Now Gwen makes a bigger play for John and the dolt that he is, he seems receptive. Even worse, Dr. Bordon is hounding Nora for her dad's notes, but Nora refuses to give them up, distrusting her dad's partner. Oh, did I mention, Nora's dad was the first victim of the cat thing? Fear not, there will be plenty more.
Is Nora the cat creature? Just what is this serum, and did this serum cause Nora to change into the cat monster? Even if Nora is not the monster, will there still be a catfight between Gwen and her? This is a creepy, atmospheric one that also serves as a good mystery. For some caddy babes and probably catfights, see "The Creeper."
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