The Hyperboloid of Engineer Garin (DVD)

This is an amazing mad scientist film laced with espionage and intrigue. Garin is a mad inventor who has created (with stolen plans) an apparatus called the Hyperboloid. It is a death ray of unparalleled destructive power. He is bound and determined to hold supreme power over Earth and commits atrocity after atrocity, with little regard for the consequences of his actions or the effect they might have on mankind. He is of course bewitched by a beautiful woman, who helps speed him along on his course to self-destruction. The scenes of death ray carnage are astonishing. Watch as Garin blows a war fleet of battleships out of the water. Wow. The film features beautiful black and white cinematography the use of light and shadow is excellent! The many rogue-ish characters are masterfully portrayed by an assortment of soviet thespians. But what really helps this film is its off-beat music score, which has, in certain moments, a bit of a tongue-in-cheek quality to it. The Hyperboloid of Engineer Garin is a film you don't want to miss. Subtitled in English. From 35mm.

• science fiction