She Devil (1957)
Starring: Mari Blanchard, Jack Kelly, Albert Dekker, John Archer
Director: Kurt Neumann
Synopsis: scientist injects beauty with fruit fly serum to cure her of TB but instead creates a monstrous bloodthirsting She-Devil……ooops!
Reviewed by: Ali Khan

A scientist succeeds in creating a serum that allows the body to adapt itself so successfully that it will 'instantaneously' heal wounds making the injected person virtually indestructible. When the serum is administered to a dying woman it not only cures her but also transforms her character. The patient is transformed from a sickly, timid woman 'who always did what others told her' to an ambitious, aggressive, confident woman who 'does exactly what she wants to'.

Not only does her character change but she is now also able to will physical changes transforming her from dark haired patient to blonde bombshell. Obviously threatened by the 'inhuman' soul they have created and with their male dominance threatened, the scientist who created the serum along with his accomplice struggle to find an antidote.

She-Devil is an interesting reflection of the times focussing both on man's tampering with nature - the woman was dying naturally before being administered the man made serum which transformed her into a 'creature with a warped soul'. An unnatural attempt at changing the course of nature had to produce unnatural effects. At the same time She-Devil reinforces what a woman was not supposed to be - ambitious, manipulative, confident and aggressive. All these were traits of the She-Devil.
She-Devil is an interesting reflection of male and female roles and particularly male dominance. Tell you what though, that serum would be more than useful in a place like Pakistan where it could be the start of female liberation and assertion.