Monsters (TV Series) Mannikins of Horror (1989) User Reviews

Another Robert Bloch adaptation

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 22 July 2015]

MANNIKINS OF HORROR is a worthy episode of the MONSTERS TV show as it's an adaptation of the Robert Bloch short story. This was previously filmed as part of the Amicus anthology film ASYLUM back in 1972, and the earlier version was clearly the superior one, but this is nonetheless a decent stab at the same story.

The storyline involves a crazed mad doctor type who's been creating lifelike mannequins which he then sends off to do various evil acts, namely murder people who stand against him. The whole episode is conceived as a special effects showcase which highlights some brief but effective stop motion work, alongside a handful of enjoyably grisly moments. South African actress Glynis Barber (DEMPSEY AND MAKEPEACE) stars.

One of the best episodes from the series.

[poolandrews · 8/10 · 30 December 2008]

Monsters: Mannikins of Horror (the IMDb is definitely wrong, the on-screen title says Mannikins rather than Mannequins) is set in a mental institution where one time brilliant surgeon & inmate Dr. Collins (William Prince) resides, Dr. Jarris (Glynis Barber) feels she can help him but Collins obsession with the little clay men he sculptures with great anatomical detail including giving them hearts & brains convinces the institute warden Dr. Starr (Brian Brophy) that Collins is a hopeless case & beyond help. Starr removes the clay men from Collins room but soon discovers to his cost that that Collins & his creations have a unique bond...

Episode twenty three from season one of Monsters this originally aired in the US during May 1989, directed by Ernest D. Farino & the second Monsters episode to be based upon a story by famed horror author Robert Bloch after The Legacy (1988) from earlier in the season I am not sure why the word mannequins is spelt so oddly in the title (as it was in Bloch's original story) but it's a cracking episode all the same & one of the best from the entire series. I was very impressed with this on both conceptual & technical levels, maybe I'm overrating it but that's how I genuinely feel about it. The story based on one by Bloch had already been adapted & filmed as part of an anthology in the Amicus horror flick Asylum (1972) & the two share some similarities like character names, the setting & various incidents but feel quite different & I would say this is probably the better version. There's a subplot where it's hinted that it's set in a Government controlled state which doesn't really go anywhere but apart from that it's a terrific piece of horror writing & there's a really good solid intriguing story, some creepy scenes & a great ending which if you know the original story won't be a surprise but I suspect most won't have.

One aspect where this version of Mannikins of Horror is far superior to the one in Asylum are the killer puppets themselves which in Asylum were chunky toy like robots that never convinced you they were alive & move about freely while here they are sleek carved men from clay even including genitals for the males! The special effects used here is stop-motion animation & it works really well & a lot of time was obviously spent on it. In fact this whole episode looks quite high budget & polished with good production values, the sets are good & they are more convincing than usual & there's a certain expansive feeling to this episode as well. There's a couple of good gore scenes as well, someone has a knife stuck in their eyeball in close-up while someone else has their face squashed & mangled. The cast do alright & minor star Glynis Barber does OK.

Mannikins of Horror is another excellent episode of Monsters that has high production values & a filmic look, at twenty minutes the story could have used a bit more time but it works very well. Add that to some good special effects, a couple of decent gore scenes & a twist ending you have something a lot better than it has any right to be. I was impressed, an excellent episode.

Watch watch for those lethal little mannequin dudes!

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 2 August 2019]

Dr. Jarris (a fine and sympathetic performance by Glynis Barber) works in an asylum in an oppressive Orwellian society. Jarris tries to cure once brilliant surgeon turned hopeless unhinged lunatic Dr. Collin (a sound and credible portrayal by William Prince), who makes lifelike little clay mannequins with the pernicious ability to come alive and kill people.

Director Ernest Farino not only keeps the absorbing story moving along at a constant pace, but also adroitly crafts a spooky and claustrophobic atmosphere. Prince captures the unstable nature of his character without resorting to hammy histrionics. Brian Brophy lends sturdy support as smarmy hard-nosed head honcho Dr. Starr. The stop-motion animation mannequin figures are genuinely creepy. The gruesome punchline delivers a pleasingly nasty jolt, too. A worthy show.

A classic Robert Bloch story saves the show.

[b_kite · 10/10 · 28 March 2019]

Mannikins of Horror has Dr. Collin a former surgeon who had a mental breakdown and is incarcerated in an insane asylum. He began hallucinating that his body was coming apart, and in response began obsessively creating anatomically correct clay manikins. Dr. Jarrett befriends him, but Dr. Starr demands that the manikins be taken away for Collin's own good. But the manikins come to life and begin wreaking a horrible vengeance. Dr. Jarrett learns a terrible secret about them in turn.

Director Ernest Farino was better known for his visual effects work then he was his directing, but, in his first of four episodes he would direct, he puts his visuals to work in a classic adaptation of a great Robert Bloch story. I went into this one always remembering it for its stop motion effects, which are very good by the way, but, couldn't remember the rest of the story. I had seen the 1972 Amicus "Asylum" adaptation long ago, but, couldn't really remember that one either. For starters the acting is great with veteran William Prince being the standout. The rest of the three person crew does good jobs as well. The story here though is what really stands out you can see they actually tried with this one, and it all leads to a wonderfully horrific twist, with a nice gory effect, which I surprisingly didn't remember so it really hit me good. Overall, I was going into this review with an automatic nine star rating, but, since this is such a breath of fresh air after having to sit threw the last two horrible episodes, I decided to reward it a ten. I do believe it deserves it.

Great episode watch this one.

[Aba74 · 9/10 · 14 August 2020]

Best episode of the series. It's about time they use better special effects. The stop animation was quite effective. I wish other episodes were on this level. Madman in assulym has been done many times but this one was very effective.

Demons and killers from clay!

[blanbrn · 5/10 · 5 November 2020]

"Mannikins of Horror" episode 23 from season one of "Monsters" is one that's interesting, crazy, and far out as it's adapted from a short story from Robert Bloch("Psycho"). The tale involves a crazy once brilliant doctor who's now in an asylum and he's been put away because of his little hobby of creating clay like life mannequins. The scenes and special effects are okay, yet the story is a little predictable you can tell where it's going. Violence and acts of evil come in the end as that is where the whole episode was leading up to. Overall is watchable if you like the series still not one of the better ones.