Director John Grissmer only made two films, both of which have become rediscovered cult classics. “Scalpel” also known as “False Face” came in in 1977, then ten years later came “Blood Rage”. While “Scalpel” is more of a twisted family drama, “Blood Rage”, is obviously, a straight-up slasher film. “Scalpel” is a rather incestuous southern drama about a psychotic ego magical plastic surgeon named Dr. Phillip Reynolds, played by Robert Lansing.
Taking place in Georiga, the story opens with Dr. Reynolds talking with colleagues about how great it is to be a plastic surgeon. We see his larger-than-life ego in full display. We then go straight to the funeral of his brother-in-law, an exceedingly rich man who has left his whole five million dollar estate to his granddaughter, Heather. This also happens to be Dr. Reynolds daughter, who has since vanished after the death of her boyfriend at the hands of her father a year earlier. This is only the beginning of the crazy, convoluted plot. We then see a topless go-go dancer being brutally beaten outside a club and her face being smashed against a wall. She staggers away into the street only to be rescued by Dr. Phillips, who just happens to be driving by. He brings her to the hospital to get cleaned up. She has no identification and nobody comes to claim her. Reynolds hatches a devious plan to reconstruct her face to look exactly like his missing daughter in order to claim the inheritance. This girl, who goes by Jane Doe, agrees to this plan and will get half the money for her cooperation. Jane meticulously studies Heather’s voice and mannerisms. She is then reintroduced to the family and everyone is fooled. The only thing that could give her away is that the real Heather is a piano prodigy, and Jane can’t play at all. When she is encouraged to play for the family she fails horribly, but Reynolds is there to play it off and rescue her.
Things really start to get strange with the three of them living in the same house. What will the crazy Dr. Reynolds do now? What will the two Heathers Do? The third act really comes off the rails with hitmen, mistaken identities, and of course, more incest. Everyone has a plan, but the two Heathers team up to finally drive Reynolds stark raving mad. He is taken away in a straight jacket as the real Heather resumes her role in the family. While Jane makes off with her half of the inheritance and gets on a private plane to start a new life. With all its craziness and glaring plot holes, “Scalpel” is a movie that belongs in the ’70s and is a fun movie to discover late at night.