The representation of the "Mad Doctor" and its creation in "Miss Death" (Jess Franco, 1965)

Abstract

The figure of the mad scientist or mad doctor in cinema constitutes one of the characters with an undoubted presence in the fantasy genre. Although they have few similarities with real scientists, the mad doctors have a series of common traits, among which their desire for domination through the creatures that they themselves build stands out. In this article we propose to carry out a theoretical review of this character to later revisit the film Miss Muerte by Jess Franco (1965), which belongs to the fantaterror subgenre, and check whether both its protagonist and its creation, both women, fit the parameters established and whether these characters fit into the dramatic arc of the genre. On the other hand, the film will be related to other texts to consider its viability as an intertextual instrument. These objectives are addresed from the case study as a qualitative methodology where the film Miss Muerte establishes a turning point in Franco´s filmography.

arry out a theoretical review of this character to later revisit the film Miss Muerte by Jess Franco (1965), which belongs to the fantaterror subgenre, and check whether both its protagonist and its creation, both women, fit the parameters established and whether these characters fit into the dramatic arc of the genre. On the other hand, the film will be related to other texts to consider its viability as an intertextual instrument. These objectives are addresed from the case study as a qualitative methodology where the film Mis Muerte establishes a turning point in Franco´s filmography.