Body Parts (1991)

Great Film overall

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

Other than Jeff Fahey's over the top performance, this is a silly film. Basically an updated Hands of Orlac, where a killers body parts are used in a transplant and begin taking him over, since he wants to get put back together, there isn't much originality. Barely even a popcorn film.

Psychologist Bill (Jeff Fahey) interviews a convicted killer and goes home to his wife Karen (Kim Delaney) discussing his wants and desires. The next day while in traffic, a tire breaks off a car's axle and Bill immediately stops his car to avoid the accident. Unfortunately, the truck ignores the ensuing chaos and crashes into Bill's bumper. Bill crashes through the rear window. At the hospital, Dr. Agatha Webb (Lindsay Duncan) gives Bill an arm transplantation. Everything seems to be going fine during rehabilitation until Bill suffers hallucinations. Jeff Fahey carries "Body Parts" all the way to the inane finale. The first act meanders, the second act is okay, but the third act is completely off-the-rails. Impressive stunt work, creative murders, and an insane car chase await the unexpected viewer.Corny dialogue plagues the screen. Suspension of disbelief would be an understatement for this film. Essentially, "Body Parts" rips off "The Hands of Orlac."

Although much of "Body Parts" spirals way out of control sacrificing any smidge of believability, the film is never dull, and has definite entertainment value. The presence of Brad Dourif is another plus, as he is always a most interesting character actor. The movie features a couple spectacular car wrecks, an unbelievable chase scene featuring handcuffs, and some unexpected plot twists. All I can say is that this definitely did not go in the direction I expected. If you go in anticipating something original for a change, and are willing to have a complete believability blackout, then you will not be disappointed. - MERK

As bad and ridiculous as this movie was, i found the premise compelling and the questions it posed. Jeff Fahey started to look more and more demonic as the movie went on, and his hair changed too. I wouldn't recommend the film, but i think it was horrifying in a Frankensteinian way and fun in the way Blue Velvet was fun, in that dark, film noir kind of way,but Parts was without the aesthetics. I had to laugh because certain scenes reminded me of Robinson Crusoe on Mars, and then in other parts i actually wondered what was going on, like maybe there was a cohesive, tightly woven plot. I think i was mistaken on that. Too bad, the movie sort of had some kind of appeal. Anyone agree? I kind of thought the painter who received the other arm was a classic nut case in a way that was so over the top as to be humorous.I actually felt that his family relationships were kind of honest and touching, even though they saw their dad unraveling. Perhaps one of the highlights of the film.