While Brainstorm (1965) is certainly no masterpiece, it does possess the unassuming appeal of mid-sixties black-and-white filmmaking — in this case, in the form of a cynical noir mystery. It begins when Jim Grayam (Jeffrey Hunter) finds a car parked on the railroad tracks with an unconscious woman inside. Narrowly saving her life, Jim learns that the woman is Lorrie Benson (Anne Francis), the daughter of famed businessman Cort Benson (Dana Andrews) — who happens to run the company Jim works for. It quickly becomes apparent that Lorrie’s near-death experience was a suicide attempt, prompted by the cruelty of her powerful, controlling husband. Jim promptly falls for Lorrie, entering into an unwise affair that lands him squarely in Cort’s retributive crosshairs — but then gives him a risky, life-altering idea.
Written by Mann Rubin (who, incidentally, wrote a handful of unique Mission: Impossible episodes), Brainstorm is a capable, nicely shot B movie that transcends Hunter’s inscrutable antiheroism with menacing atmosphere and a simple, engaging story. At its best, it resonates with John Frankenheimer’s directorial output from this era, or perhaps a nonspeculative Twilight Zone episode — although ultimately it’s never quite as memorable or clever as either. Hunter’s stiff performance improves in the latter stages as his “brainstorm” takes hold, while Francis makes for a fetching catalyst and Andrews a more-than-capable villain. Inessential viewing, to be sure, but possibly low-level satisfying for fans of this cinematic era.
