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Emmanuel Hildern (Peter Cushing) is a scientist / researcher who believes that evil is actually a disease for which he intends to find a cure. He's discovered a very unusual skeleton, one that he hopes will throw all ideas of evolution out the window. Also part of the plot is his (half) brother James (Christopher Lee), head of a mental hospital, who intends to compete against him for a prestigious scientific honor, and daughter Penelope (Lorna Heilbron), born of a mother who'd gone insane and whom Emmanuel fervently hopes will not suffer the same fate.I give Peter Spenceley and Jonathan Rumbold credit for a marvelously ambitious and crafty script. As others here have noted, there's really enough plot threads here to fill out a couple of movies. The title phenomenon is just one of the ideas going on. The movie takes some interesting turns and leads to a fantastic twist ending.Colleagues Cushing and Lee do well in another of their many teamings, although there are stretches where one or the other is absent from the proceedings. Heilbron is absolutely lovely and appealing in the fine tradition of beautiful leading ladies in British horror films. Other fine actors such as George Benson, Duncan Lamont, and British horror mainstay Michael Ripper are solid in support.It's capably directed as always by horror veteran Freddie Francis, with decent period flavor and amusing special effects. Both the music by Paul Ferris and the cinematography by Norman Warwick are excellent. The movie builds in intensity until a climax when the real horror quotient of the film kicks into gear, with a rather interesting creature creation.I enjoyed this very much, and give it a hearty recommendation to other horror fans.8/10
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