The Incredible Melting Man (1977)

The film was shot in fourteen days.

The Incredible Melting Man is a 1977 American science fiction horror film directed and written by William Sachs. Produced by Samuel W. Gelfman1, the film is renowned for its grotesque special effects, crafted by the celebrated makeup artist Rick Baker. While the movie was intended to be a horror film with dark comedic undertones, many of the lighter elements were reportedly removed, resulting in a more straightforward, albeit peculiar, horror narrative.

The film centers on astronaut Steve West (played by Alex Rebar), who becomes the sole survivor of a disastrous space mission to Saturn. Exposed to intense radiation during the mission, West returns to Earth, only to discover that his body is gradually melting.

As he deteriorates, he becomes psychotic and embarks on a murderous rampage, driven by an insatiable need to consume human flesh in a futile attempt to halt his decay. West is pursued by Dr. Ted Nelson (Burr DeBenning), a scientist and one of his former colleagues, who attempts to track him down before his condition worsens. As West melts away both physically and mentally, his violent spree claims the lives of multiple victims,

including innocent bystanders. The movie culminates in a tragically ironic ending, where West fully disintegrates into a puddle of goo, leaving only a pair of eyeballs behind, marking a grim conclusion to his transformation.

Cast

  • Rebar, Alex (July 9, 1940 – Nov 19, 2021) – Played Steve West, the astronaut whose exposure to radiation on a space mission causes him to melt and become violently psychotic. His desperate attempts to stop the deterioration drive the film’s plot – Microscopic Liquid Subway to Oblivion, Tales of Canterbury, The Incredible Melting Man, Number One with a Bullet, Amityville 4: The Evil Escapes , TV episodes of The Young and the Restless, The Incredible Hulk, CHiPs, Voyagers!, Simon & Simon, Murder, She Wrote
  • DeBenning, Burr (Sep 21, 1936 – May 26, 2003) – Played Dr. Theodore “Ted” Nelson, a scientist and West’s former colleague, who is tasked with tracking him down before he kills again – Beach Red, Sweet November, City Beneath the Sea, J.C., Adventures of the Queen, The Incredible Melting Man, The House of the Dead, Cruising, Wolfen, Armed Response, A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child, TV episodes of Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie, The New Adventures of Wonder Woman, The Return of Captain Nemo, Hawaii Five-O, Hart to Hart
  • Healey, Myron (June 8, 1923 – Dec 21, 2005) – Played General Michael Perry, a military figure involved in efforts to contain the threat posed by Steve West. He is a key authority figure in the film – Young Ideas, Salute to the Marines, The Iron Major, Crime Doctor’s Man Hunt, Blondie’s Big Moment, The Corpse Came C.O.D., Blondie’s Reward, Wake of the Red Witch, Gun Law Justice, Across the Rio Grande, Batman and Robin (Serial), South of Rio, Haunted Trails, Kill the Umpire, I Killed Geronimo, Lorna Doone, Journey Into Light, Combat Squad, Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki, The Unearthly, The Shakiest Gun in the West, True Grit, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, The Incredible Melting Man, Claws, Ghost Fever, Pulse, Little Giants, TV episodes of The Cisco Kid, The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, Cheyenne, Judge Roy Bean, State Trooper, Maverick, Wagon Train, Bat Masterson, The Texan, Rawhide, Zane Grey Theater, Laramie, Gunsmoke, The Virginian, Bonanza, Daniel Boone, The Guns of Will Sonnett, Kung Fu, Adventures of Superman, Sea Hunt, Perry Mason, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Adam-12
  • Alldredge, Michael (Apr 13, 1941 – Dec 19, 1997) – Played Sheriff Neil Blake, the local law enforcement officer who becomes entangled in the search for the melting man – Ruby, The Incredible Melting Man, Shoot the Moon, The Entity, The Sting II, Scarface, Iron Eagle, Ghost Town, Robot Jox, The Taking of Beverly Hills, TV episodes of All in the Family, Charlie’s Angels, Serpico, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, The Rockford Files, Police Story, The Jeffersons, Kojak, One Day at a Time, The Bob Newhart Show, Rhoda, Barnaby Jones, Lou Grant, Alice, Hart to Hart, The Incredible Hulk, The Dukes of Hazzard, B.J. and the Bear, Dallas, Fantasy Island, The Greatest American Hero, Private Benjamin, Three’s Company, Joanie Loves Chachi, Knight Rider, Taxi, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, The A-Team, Hill Street Blues, Family Ties, The Twilight Zone, Who’s the Boss?, Quantum Leap, Columbo, Murder, She Wrote, ER, Jag
  • Wilson, Lisle (Sep 2, 1943 – Mar 14, 2010) – Played Dr. Loring, a colleague of Dr. Nelson who provides insight into West’s condition – Cotton Comes to Harlem, Sisters, The Incredible Melting Man, Just Between Friends
  • Demme, Jonathan (Feb 22, 1944 – Apr 26, 2017) – Played Matt Winters, a supporting character in the film and one of Steve West’s victims. Demme would later become a famous director – The Incredible Melting Man, Director 1974-2015, for films like The Silence of the Lambs and Philidelphia
  • Blythe, Janus (July 19, 1948 – present) – Played Nell Winters, the wife of Matt Winters. She encounters the danger of the melting man as his rampage unfolds – The Centerfold Girls, Phantom of the Paradise, C.B. Hustlers, The Cheerleaders, Eaten Alive, Drive-In Massacre, The Hills Have Eyes, The Incredible Melting Man, The Hills Have Eyes Part II, Spine, Invasion of the Scream Queens, TV episodes of Zuma Beach, Marilyn: The Untold Story
  • Smith, Cheryl (June 6, 1957 – Oct 25, 2002) – Played Sandra, a young woman who falls prey to Steve West during his killing spree- [Singer and actress], Evel Knievel, Caged Heat, The Swinging Cheerleaders, Video Vixens, Phantom of the Paradise, The Pom Pom Girls, Revenge of the Cheerleaders, Massacre at Central High, Slumber Party ’57, Logan’s Run, Game Show Models, The Incredible Melting Man, Fantasm Comes Again, Laserblast, Up in Smoke, Nice Dreams, Vice Squad, Parasite, Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid, Independence Day, TV episodes of Hart to Hart
  • Lolich, Mickey (Sep 12, 1940 – present) – Played the Security Guard, a minor role in which he is another one of the melting man’s victims, [Major League Baseball player, actor] The Incredible Melting Man

Other Cast

  • Ann Sweeny as Judy Nelson
  • Julie Drazen as Carol
  • Edwin Max as Harold
  • Dorothy Love as Helen Nelson
  • Leigh Mitchell as Carol’s Mother
  • Stuart Edmond Rodgers as Little Boy
  • Chris Witney as Little Boy
  • Don Walters as Photographer
  • Samuel W. Gelfman as Fisherman
  • Bonnie Inch as Nurse
  • Westbrook Claridge as Security Guard

The production of The Incredible Melting Man was a low-budget affair, reflecting the common practice of 1970s B-movie horror films. Director William Sachs, who was dissatisfied with the final edit of the film due to studio interference, envisioned the movie with a stronger emphasis on satire and black comedy. However, the producers opted for a more serious horror tone in hopes of capturing a broader audience.

Sachs (born July 3, 1949) is an American filmmaker known for his work in low-budget genre cinema, particularly in horror, sci-fi, and exploitation films. In addition to The Incredible Melting Man, Sachs directed Galaxina (1980), a sci-fi comedy starring Dorothy Stratten, Van Nuys Blvd. (1979), a youth-focused film about California car culture, and There Is No 13 (1974), a psychological war drama. His other directorial efforts include Hot Chilli (1985), a teen sex comedy, and Exterminator 2 (1984), a gritty action film that he reworked after being brought in during post-production.

The Incredible Melting Man was shot on a relatively tight schedule, primarily in Southern California. Locations included various outdoor sites in the vicinity of Los Angeles. Notably, the scene where Steve West is first revealed to be melting was filmed in Griffith Park,

a well-known public area in LA. Rick Baker’s groundbreaking work on the special effects is widely considered the highlight of the movie. Baker, who would go on to achieve fame for his work in An American Werewolf in London (1981) and other major productions, was tasked with creating the horrific “melting” effect for West.

To achieve the gruesome Melting Man monster, makeup effects artist Rick Baker fashioned a slightly over sized skull-shaped helmet for actor Alex Rebar to wear. The piece was painted flesh tone and then was cover by a gooey concoction of syrup and paint. The drippy substance would have to be re-applied for every take of the Melting Man. At the end of each shoot Rebar would have so much of the sticky stuff on him that he would literally have to peel his costume off.

The transformation is shown in agonizing detail as West’s body oozes and sloughs off, culminating in some of the most memorable practical effects of the 1970s. Baker’s makeup effects helped elevate the film beyond its budgetary constraints, and his depiction of West’s grotesque disintegration became the iconic aspect of the film,

gaining it cult status over the years. the movie helped Baker further establish himself in Hollywood as a master of practical effects. Despite his later critique of the film, it served as a stepping stone for his career. The film was plagued by budgetary limitations, which affected the quality of production.

Director William Sachs has mentioned that many of the scenes had to be reworked or simplified due to financial constraints. Sachs’ original script envisioned a much more satirical take on the genre, with comedic elements intended to poke fun at traditional monster movies.

This aspect was largely toned down by the producers. Over the years, despite being panned by critics, The Incredible Melting Man has gained a cult following, primarily due to its unique special effects, over-the-top premise, and its campy style. It has been riffed on the

popular TV series Mystery Science Theater 3000. Upon release, the film received largely negative reviews, with many critics pointing out the weak script and lackluster performances. The special effects were the one area where the film was frequently praised.

Audiences at the time didn’t fully appreciate the film’s outlandishness, but it has since become a favorite among fans of 1970s B-movies, enjoying midnight showings and screenings at genre film festivals.

The movie suffers from bad acting, while the make-up is incredible. There are dumb things like a man’s torn off head that floats like a volleyball down a small stream, drops over a waterfall, and bursts like a cantelope when hitting a rock, spilling blood (that shouldn’t even be there by now).

There is no attempt to explain the melting which could have added an interesting aspect. I’ll give it 2 out of 5 stars.

Further Reading
Footnotes
  1. Samuel W. Gelfman (born May 30, 1927 – died August 15, 2019) was an American film producer known for his contributions to the independent and exploitation film scenes of the 1970s. He began his career in the film industry as an agent and later transitioned to producing, becoming a key figure in Roger Corman’s New World Pictures. Gelfman is best known for producing gritty, low-budget films that blended action, drama, and social commentary. One of his most notable works is Caged Heat (1974), a women-in-prison exploitation film directed by Jonathan Demme. Gelfman also produced Cockfighter (1974), directed by Monte Hellman and starring Warren Oates, and Cannonball! (1976), a car-chase action film by Paul Bartel. His other notable works include Deathsport (1978), a sci-fi action film, and The Incredible Melting Man (1977), a sci-fi horror film that became a cult classic. In addition to his work in exploitation films, Gelfman also produced The Stunt Man (1980), a more ambitious, critically acclaimed film directed by Richard Rush. Gelfman was respected for his ability to bring talented directors and actors into the independent film world and for his contributions to shaping 1970s B-movie cinema. ↩︎
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Author: Doyle

I was born in Atlanta, moved to Alpharetta at 4, lived there for 53 years and moved to Decatur in 2016. I've worked at such places as Richway, North Fulton Medical Center, Management Science America (Computer Tech/Project Manager) and Stacy's Compounding Pharmacy (Pharmacy Tech).

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