MovieChat Forums > Food of the Gods II (1989) Discussion > Dr. Delhurst's death (SPOILERS)

Dr. Delhurst's death (SPOILERS)

posted 15 years ago by Koosh_King01
6 replies | jump to latest

Does anyone else thing that Dr. Delhurst's death is one of the most disgusting things ever? I'm 25, and I thought I had gotten past the stage where a horror movie could disturb me the way this one did with how it kills off Delhurst. I was wrong.

The effects are pretty crummy, and Colin Fox's hammy performance is amusing to watch, but what bothers me is the execution (no pun intended).

For starters, the camera lingers way too lovingly on every single stage of Delhurst turning into a giant tumor, from the first bumps on his face to him just turning into goo on the floor. My other issue with it, is it goes on forever. He dies one of the slowest deaths I've ever seen in a movie. And on top of all of this, upon finding him in the final stages of his transformation, Neil cracks a joke ("Edmund? You look terrible.").

Most of the other deaths either happen entirely offscreen, or onscreen very briefly. So why focus on Delhurst so much? Were they that in love with the idea of someone dying by turning into a tumor? Did the poor guy really even deserve such a fate, for the crime of wanting to make money? If anyone deserved a lingering death it was Dean White.

I guess that despite how bad the movie is, it's a testament to old-fashioned practical effects and mood (the music makes the scene twice as eerie) providing the desired effect. Clearly we're meant to find Delhurst's death disturbing. I'm just saying it worked a little too well for me.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Koosh_King01 15 years ago

I'm unsure I agree that Delhurst deserved to die really. What did he do but perform experiments on a few dogs and monkeys? Unethical, yes, and most likely deserving of a good punch in the face and a kick to the balls, but death? Seems too harsh a punishment (especially since, the vanity project aside, the guy WAS trying to find a cure for cancer).

Having said that, I've softened my attitude towards this scene, and even if I don't think Delhurst deserved what he got, I've concluded that him not deserving such a horrible fate is the point. It is after all a HORROR movie. We're not really supposed to enjoy what happens to the characters. We're meant to find his death disturbing.

I've really changed my tune about this film overall. Whereas it pissed me off in my initial viewing I've grown to like it enough that I'm getting the DVD. I still think it's god its fair share of problems (most of them originating from the unbelievably stupid Dean White), but overall it's fun in a so-bad-it's-good kind of way. Plus the soundtrack kicks major booty.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] jawsfan 14 years ago

I do remember being extremely shocked the first time I saw it, and I remember this particular scene really freaking me out. The music is pretty creepy in this scene, and every time I thought the scene was over, it kept getting more and more horrific... it's an excellent scene that does exactly what it should: DISTURB. I do remember washing my hands unusually frequently after seeing the scene.

[–] surte 11 years ago

I was traumatized for years with this, you are not alone. Obviously I also watched it as a kid. It made specifically traumatized about food...'cause you know, when a (young) child all you can eat is that sort of warmed up half-liquid mush in a bottle (my english is totally lacking here, not my first language anyway but still hope you get it) and up until I was able to eat more solid food I was reminded myself of Dr. Delhurt's gory death. Specially when my mother was in a hurry and didn't blend the mush food well enough. I'd have to swallow lumps of the mush then, which reminded me of the moving tumors on Dr. Delhurt's body. Guess this was disgusting on it's own alone :) Would like to see some freudian (it was not all about sex, right) interpretation over this.

[–] Woodyanders 7 years ago

Delhurst's agonizingly protracted death was indeed quite gross and hence one of the definite highlights of the film.

I've been chasing grace/ But grace ain't easy to find