The Thing with Two Heads

The Thing with Two Heads, released in 1972, is a science fiction horror film directed by Lee Frost. The movie stars Roosevelt Grier, Ray Milland, and Don Marshall in leading roles.

The plot of the movie revolves around a rich but racist doctor, Max Kirshner (played by Ray Milland), who is terminally ill and on the brink of death. In an attempt to extend his life, he finds a solution in the form of an experimental surgical procedure that involves transplanting his head onto a healthy body. Kirshner conducts the procedure, but to his surprise, his head is transplanted onto a body of a black death-row inmate named Jack Moss (played by Roosevelt Grier), who has been mistakenly convicted of a crime he did not commit.

Understandably, Jack Moss is bewildered and outraged upon waking up from his surgery to find another man's head attached to his body, and what's worse is that Kirshner's head is still alive and aware. The two heads share control of the body, and hilarity ensues as they navigate their bizarre situation.

Meanwhile, the police and the medical community are trying to track down the duo, and Jack Moss is on the run, hoping to prove his innocence before he is brought to the electric chair.

The performances of the actors are commendable, especially Roosevelt Grier, who brings great humor and pathos to his portrayal of a man who is forced to share his body with a person who has been his oppressor his entire life. The scenes where the two heads are bickering over control of the body and trying to communicate with each other provide some of the most entertaining moments of the movie.

The film brings up themes of racism, mortality, and identity, as both characters are forced to question their beliefs and understandings of the world around them. It also highlights the issue of wrongful incarceration and the biases in the justice system, as Jack Moss is convicted simply because of his skin color.

The special effects of the movie, though dated by today's standards, are still impressive for the time period. The filmmakers used split-screen technology to portray the two heads on the same body, and the result is often convincing and believable.

The Thing with Two Heads is a fun and unique addition to the science fiction and horror genres. While it may not be everyone's cup of tea, it is a movie that should be watched with an open mind and a willingness to suspend disbelief.