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Around this time of year, you get all the ghosts, vampires, werewolves, and zombies coming out to play. I’ve noticed that one archetype of horror gets very little attention beyond a few sexy or goofy outfits among adults. So, let’s talk about why we love the Mad Scientist!
I think these characters are great because they’re human and insane. Many have this mentality that they are either helping humanity or they simply don’t care about the consequences of what they’re doing. So, morally they aren’t so much repugnant, but they’re out there. It’s strange because they can’t use the excuse of being a monster like other classic horror characters. Yet, they do monstrous things and truly love doing it. Even stranger is that their enemies never have this urge to slay them like other monsters, it’s typically stopping them or imprisoning them. Have to give them credit on always keeping their lab coats clean too.
I think them being human sets them apart and makes them interesting because you expect or hope they change their ways. A vampire doesn’t get that level of redemption and is expected to be slain by the end of the movie. The Mad Scientist is seen as a mortal man and deranged, but there’s a sense that they aren’t entirely evil. They create monsters, but are not monsters themselves in the eyes of audiences. Unfortunately, they tend to be forgotten or only remembered their insane laugh. Though, I will admit it is a great laugh that they get.
So, what do you think of Mad Scientists and their lack of spotlight? Also a classic to help you think:
Legends of Windemere 
I like the psychology behind the mad scientist. Classically, I think about Frankenstein first, or even Jekyll and Hyde. Today, I think more of the sci-fi scientist creating viral strains in his lab.
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The current guys are always creating zombies. I think we need fresh blood in the mad scientist realm. Though there is Dr. Horrible by Joss Whedon.
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I like when mad scientists are depicted as trying to do something, if not good, then in pursuit of scientific advancement. They believe what they’re doing will help in some strange twisted way. The plain ‘mad’ ones aren’t interesting.
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I agree. The ones that have a skewed morality instead of being plain bonkers are more interesting. They have that level of determination one typically sees in the heroes, so it turns into a battle of morals. Even better is when you can actually see the logic of the mad scientist. Maybe that cure for cancer with a 10% chance of zombism was worth the attempt. Just need to fix that one wrinkle. Although, the mad scientist always seems to go zombie or get eaten during those stories, so there goes the chance of making the cure.
I just remembered that there have been a few Spider-Man stories where Doctor Octopus is trying to do something good, but using crime to fund it. I have a comic somewhere that he is stealing things to make a cure for AIDS because a friend or loved one is dying of it. Spider-Man stops him and I think the cure fails or something. I remember it being a story where I was siding with the ‘bad guy’.
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What about the guy in The Human Centipede? That guy is a total mad scientist and the movie is beyond awful.
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I’ll take your word for that. Heard stories and all sounded like ‘Run away from this movie!’ Just plain creepy. How did you survive watching it?
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It was beyond gross. I finished to say I did. I was looking through my fingers at a few spots. Yuck.
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I’ll certainly avoid it. You’re a brave man.
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And they’re brilliant too, which makes them that much more difficult to stop. 🙂
Young Frankenstein is one of my favourite movies of all time, though I think it’s Marty Feldman who really stands out as the mad scientists assistant.
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It focused all my strength not to watch that movie after I wrote the post last week and scheduled it. Of course, my strength failed me.
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That movie can’t be beat!
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Definitely. Though I do love Blazing Saddles and Spaceballs too.
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I have to work on my mad scientist laugh and teach my hundreds of mutants to take over the world =P
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You still owe me spider powers! You promised when we were in high school, squirt!
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I guess I should have mailed you the spider that was around my radiation station back in grad school. My bad!
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You realize that would have probably lead to us getting a spider-powered mailman, right?
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I can’t help thinking of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series, where the Igors work for Mad Scientists. Hilarious! In the books I’ve read or shows I’ve seen, Mad Scientists (usually megalomaniacs) do a ton of gene splicing to create weird animal hybrids. Always entertaining.
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That’s the flavor now. I wonder if they go with scientific trends. You had times of disease-creating scientists, weapon builders, and the classic ‘create new life’ guys.
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I love mas scientists. My all time favorite is Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein. I love the line where he screams “He lives.”
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It’s a classic. One of my top funny/horror movies.
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Definitely, if you you’re mad enough to want to take over the world, you should become a scientist.
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People expect the scientists. I say Mad Author is less conspicuous. Though, I think someone is a lot further ahead in world domination than me. Not that I’m trying for that. Ruling the world feels like gaining a used car that nobody bothered to hide the dents and water damage on.
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