Watch X: The Man with X-Ray Eyes

X: The Man with X-Ray Eyes is a science fiction horror movie released in 1963 directed by the legendary Roger Corman. The film stars Ray Milland who plays Dr. James Xavier, a researcher fascinated with the idea of having x-ray vision. Dr. Xavier creates a serum that he believes will expand the human eye's capabilities and allow him to see beyond normal human perception.

As the experiment progresses, Dr. Xavier applies the serum to his own eyes, which quickly enables him to see through objects and clothes. But, due to the potency of the serum and Xavier's obsession to push himself further, the experiment ultimately proves disastrous. As a result, Dr. Xavier’s eyes become increasingly sensitive to light, and he soon realizes that the power comes with a terrible cost.

Feeling alienated from his former life with the side effects of the serum, Dr. Xavier becomes consumed by his newfound ability, taking him to a mental institution for safety. Once he regains his composure, he quickly heads out to Las Vegas to try his x-ray skill in a gambling casino, which leads to his involvement in conflicts and even supernatural events.

Despite being produced on a low budget, the movie artfully combines horror, science fiction, and drama, taking inspiration from H.G. Wells' “The Invisible Man” and “The Island of Dr. Moreau.” Director Corman masterfully uses the iconic lens-point-of-view shots to depict the world through Xavier's eyes, giving life to the character’s lyrical, abstract thoughts and hallucinations.

With the help of impressive visual and sound effects, director Corman evokes a sense of intrigue and dread within each scene. The film's sense of unease is palpable, as Dr. Xavier’s situation becomes progressively more disorientating and nightmarish.

The X-Ray vision portrayed marvelously in the movie is also an apt metaphor for science gone wrong. The Dr. Xavier character’s determination to explore the unknown is as much of a force in the narrative as the serum doing the experiment. The serum’s effects evoke natural human curiosity, and Dr. Xavier's intense desire to learn how our environment works are an attempt to push himself further, even when it is already detrimental to his sanity.

Ray Millard's performance as Dr. Xavier is outstanding, capturing both the character’s intellect and his tragic descent into madness. Diana Vander Vlis also delivers an admirable performance as Dr. Xavier's long-suffering assistant, Dr. Diane Fairfax. Harold Stone gives a solid performance as Crane, a carnival performer who befriends Dr. Xavier, but later proves to his undoing.

Full of suspense, horror, and drama, X: The Man with X-Ray Eyes is a compelling exploration of the human psyche, the risks of scientific experimentation, and giving in to human curiosity. The power of cinema brings X's haunting themes to life and renders them both colorful and thought-provoking.

Overall, X: The Man with X-Ray Eyes is an enduring and enjoyable film even today, perfect for fans of old-school science fiction and horror who want a captivating movie about the dangers of the human mind while in pursuit of knowledge.

X: The Man with X-Ray Eyes is a 1963 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 19 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6.