THE FROZEN DEAD (1966) starring Dana Andrews

Though I watch horror films all year, viewing naturally goes into overdrive during October when every channel cranks up their Halloween offerings. In order to cut down on endless hours spent scrolling through streaming offerings, I usually pick a vague "theme" for the month. This year I settled on horror (and horror/sci-fi) released in 1966, the same year that I premiered. First up ... THE FROZEN DEAD!

Dana Andrews (CURSE OF THE DEMON, ZERO HOUR!) stars as Dr. Norberg, a Nazi scientist who lives at an English country estate. But it’s not all tea and crumpets as the bad doctor has been busy re-animating a troop of Nazi soldiers who have been on ice since the end of WWII. 

When Nazi brass show up expecting a significant development in the process, they discover that Norberg’s assistant, Karl, has jumped the gun and the results are not what they had hoped. Further complicating matters is the arrival of Norberg’s niece, Jean, her friend, Elsa, and Ted Roberts, an American scientist who has had success unfreezing brains. Mayhem ensues. 

Unfortunately, I’m making it all sound better than it really is. The flick has some great visuals and a haunting final scene, but there’s way too much blah, blah, blah. The flick feels more akin to the mad doctor movies of the 1950s than the game-changing NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, which would hit screens just two years later. 

GRADE: C+