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Famed herpetologist Dr. Carl Stoner (Strother Martin) approaches a former student now professor, Dr. Ken Daniels (Richard Shull) to find an assistant, as his last one left suddenly one day and he needs help in his experiments. Daniels recommends David Blake (Dirk Benedict), and when approached, David agrees to take the job (it also gets him out of being bullied by a larger student). When David meets Stoner's daughter Kristina (Heather Menzies), there is a mutual attraction and they begin a romance. Stoner is not too keen on this however and reprimands his daughter when he realizes she is sleeping with David.
From the outset of their working relationship, Stoner begins to give David a series of injections, in order
to protect him from snake bites occurred during the course of their work. But David is starting to notice strange side effects - such as inexplicably peeling skin! Stoner assures him that is normal, and a one-time thing, as he helps to peel David's shedding back.
David and Kristina go on a date to a local carnival and discover that one of the attractions is a snake man. Naturally, they are curious, being both interested in snakes, so they check out the exhibit. The man appears to be a snake man indeed. But there is something about him that seems off. He seems distressed, as if he is trying to tell them something. By the time Kristina figures out what is familiar about him, she realizes what is happening to David and rushes home to save him and confront her father.
This is a bit of an odd film. I've been aware of it for years but never attempted to watch it until a coworker suggested it. Strother Martin shines as the mad herpetologist. You might remember him from Cool Hand Luke, and his famous line - "What we got here is a failure to communicate"! Heather Menzies, who plays the daughter, was a popular young actress in the 70s, and was married to actor Robert Urich who is probably best kniwb fir Vega$, Dirk Benedict, who plays David, was in the 70s sci fi show Battlestar Galactica.
The plot is, even for the 70s, ridiculous. I found the scenes with the snakes unrealistic. And as for the idea of turning a human being into a snake - first of all, why? Stoner's motivation is never clear, at least not in my book. That being said, Menzies as the loyal daughter does a good job, and Dirk Benedict, clearly not the bright bulb in the box, is clueless as to what is happening to him. The scenes with Strother Martin and real snakes are clearly not him, and the special effects leave something to be desired. Even so, it's worth watching to see Martin. So I'll give this film 3 Stars.
