Forget Frankenstein — These 2 Pre‑Code Horror Gems (Doctor X, Mad Love) Are Far Creepier
This Halloween, try a double feature of two pre-Code horror films that lean harder into medical madness than many classic monster sequels. Both movies blur the line between doctor and monster, and both were made before Hollywood’s Production Code tightened the rules on what could appear onscreen. For fans of old-school creepiness, they’re compact, strange, and still effective.
Doctor X
Doctor X (1932) is a pre-Code, early-color horror-mystery directed by Michael Curtiz. It stars Lionel Atwill and Fay Wray, and it uses two-strip Technicolor that gives the film odd greenish and pinkish tones. The plot revolves around a series of grisly, cannibalistic murders that happen under a full moon, which at first seem like the work of a supernatural beast but play out as a more human-built mystery.
Importantly, the film was released before the Production Code, so it includes subject matter that would later become taboo, such as explicit violence and voyeuristic elements. In addition, several actors and the director later became famous for other major films: Curtiz went on to direct Casablanca, and Fay Wray would star in King Kong.
For more on Universal’s roster of classic creatures that set the era’s tone, see this list of Universal monsters.
Mad Love
Mad Love (1935) is built around obsession and experimental surgery. It stars Peter Lorre as Dr. Gogol, Colin Clive as Stephen Orlac, and Frances Drake as Orlac’s wife. After Stephen loses his hands in an accident, Gogol performs a transplant that gives him the hands of a knife-thrower. Predictably, the new hands create psychological and physical complications.
Because Peter Lorre is central to the story, the film leans less on mystery and more on psychological horror and obsession. Moreover, the movie showcases period ideas about surgery and identity, and it keeps a tense, unsettled tone throughout. For those who like odd, character-driven scares, it remains striking today.
Where to watch
Both films are available to rent or buy. For example, you can find Doctor X on Amazon and Doctor X on Apple TV. Additionally, Mad Love has been reported as available to stream for free on Fawesome, though some copies there may use an incorrect aspect ratio, so be cautious.
In short, both are short, unsettling films that are easy to find for a rented watch or a quick stream, and they pair well for an evening focused on medical horror rather than monsters made of stitched-together parts.
