Doctor Mordrid
A wizard battles evil to prevent Hell's gate from opening.
Doctor Mordrid is a 1992 American superhero film directed by Albert and Charles Band, with Jeffrey Combs in the lead role. The film began as a planned adaptation of Marvel Comics' Doctor Strange, but the studio lost the rights during pre-production. Rather than abandon the project, Full Moon proceeded with the character renamed and enough plot alterations to sidestep a lawsuit.
The story follows Anton Mordrid, a wizard sent to Earth by a being called the Monitor to prevent the evil wizard Kabal from opening a gate to Hell. Kabal requires the philosopher's stone and several alchemical elements to complete the spell, which would unleash his minions from the Fourth Dimension. For 150 years, Mordrid watches for signs of Kabal; as their confrontation nears, he poses as a criminal psychologist and becomes the mysterious landlord to Samantha Hunt, a police research consultant. Mordrid notices a string of thefts of the elements Kabal needs and begins hunting his foe. Samantha persistently tries to uncover Mordrid's secrets. The battle spills into the Magic Dimension, where other good wizards guard the gate but are defeated by Kabal, save one survivor who confirms Kabal's plans. Mordrid returns to Earth to prepare. After Mordrid is arrested for murder, Samantha tries to prove his innocence; he reveals his true nature and mission, and she helps him escape. In the final showdown at the Cosmopolitan Museum, Kabal animates a Tyrannosaurus skeleton to threaten police while opening portals to his demonic realm. Mordrid animates a mastodon skeleton to fight the dinosaur while he confronts Kabal, ultimately impaling him on the mastodon's tusk. With his mission complete, the Monitor calls Mordrid to cross into the Magic Dimension. Later that Christmas, he returns to Earth and invites Samantha to come with him if he is called away again.
The cast includes Jeffrey Combs as Dr. Anton Mordrid, Yvette Nipar as Samantha Hunt, Jay Acovone as Tony Gaudio, Brian Thompson as Kabal, Keith Coulouris as Adrian, Ritch Brinkley as Gunner, Pearl Shear as Sara Golden, Murray Rubin as Mr. Berstein, Jeff Austin as Detective Levitz, John Apicella as Morrie, Julie Michaels as Irene, Mark Phelan as Officer 1, Kenn Scott as Officer 2, Scott Roberts as Fireman, Steven Marca as Newscaster, and Jonathan Kruger as Armored Car Driver.
Produced by Charles Band and co-directed by him and his father Alb
- Release year
- 1992
- Director
- Albert and Charles Band
- Starring
- Jeffrey Combs
- Production company
- Full Moon Features
- Format
- Direct-to-video
- Genre
- Superhero film
Lore & Background
Doctor Mordrid follows Anton Mordrid, a wizard sent to Earth by a being called the Monitor to stop the evil wizard Kabal from opening a gate to Hell. Kabal requires the philosopher's stone and several alchemical elements to complete his spell. Mordrid watches for signs of Kabal for 150 years, eventually assuming the role of a criminal psychologist and becoming the landlord to Samantha Hunt, a police research consultant. When thefts of the needed elements occur, Mordrid begins his search for Kabal. Samantha persistently tries to uncover Mordrid's secrets, and after he is arrested for murder, she helps him escape after he reveals his true nature. The final battle takes place at the Cosmopolitan Museum, where Kabal animates a Tyrannosaurus skeleton while Mordrid animates a mastodon skeleton. Mordrid defeats Kabal by having the mastodon impale him on its tusk. Afterward, Mordrid is called to the Magic Dimension but returns on Christmas to spend time with Samantha.
Reader's Guide
Doctor Mordrid is notable as a direct-to-video superhero film that originated from a failed attempt to adapt Marvel's Doctor Strange. The film was produced by Charles Band and co-directed by him and his father Albert Band, who had previously made successful B-films like Robot Jox and Re-Animator. After losing the Marvel license during pre-production, the Bands rebranded the project as Doctor Mordrid and made enough changes to avoid a lawsuit. Some sources claim the film was never intended to be based on Doctor Strange, with the main character reportedly called 'Doctor Mortalis' when Empire International Pictures had the project, and concept art created by Jack Kirby. The film was released on VHS in 1992, later on DVD in 2012, and on Blu-ray in 2014. A collector's edition steelbook was released in Germany in 2017. The film gained renewed attention when it was featured on Season 13 of Mystery Science Theater 3000 in 2022. Two sequels—Doctor Mordrid II: Crystal Hell and Doctor Mordrid III: Shadow Queen—were planned but scrapped after Full Moon Features ended its distribution deal with Paramount Pictures in 1995. Dr. Mordrid also appears in a 2018 crossover comic, Dollman Kills the Full Moon Universe.
Did You Know?
- The film was originally intended to be an adaptation of Marvel Comics' Doctor Strange, but the studio's rights expired during pre-production.
- Some sources claim the main character was originally going to be called 'Doctor Mortalis' and concept art was created by Jack Kirby.
- Two sequels were planned—Doctor Mordrid II: Crystal Hell and Doctor Mordrid III: Shadow Queen—but were scrapped after Full Moon Features ended its distribution deal with Paramount Pictures in 1995.
- The film was featured on Season 13 of Mystery Science Theater 3000 on June 10, 2022.
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