Line #1 Film/XTheManWithTheXRayEyes


1	[[quoteright:310:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/x_the_man_with_the_x_ray_eyes.jpg]]
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3	''X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes'' is a 1963 SciFiHorror film produced and directed by Creator/RogerCorman and starring Creator/RayMilland, as well as Creator/DonRickles in a rare non-comedic role.
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5	Milland plays Dr. James Xavier, a man obsessed with expanding the range of human sight who resorts to experimenting on himself when his research is due to be defunded. His experiment works, and soon, he is able to see far outside the human spectrum, even through matter itself. The problem is, eventually he finds he cannot ''stop'' seeing...
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8	!!This film exhibits the following tropes:
9	* AccidentalMurder: This is what sends Xavier on the run, accidentally knocking Dr. Brant out of a window, and certain that no one will believe him.
10	* AsTheGoodBookSays: The preacher at the end alludes to the words of Jesus (found in Mark 9:47 and elsewhere): "If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out."
11	* BlackEyesOfCrazy: While not evil, Xavier's eyes turning black with gold irises demonstrates how inhuman his ability is making him.
12	* BlackEyesOfEvil: As Xavier continues using the x-ray eyedrops, his eyes begin changing color: at first, they're only [[BlackEyesOfCrazy gold irises on black]], but by the end of the film, they're entirely black.
13	* BlessedWithSuck: As Dr. Xavier eventually finds out, uncontrollable XRayVision is not good at all. By the final act, Xavier has constant headaches, can't sleep well because he sees right through his eyelids and by the final minutes he's seeing into the fabric of the universe itself (and he doesn't likes what he sees at all) and is in so much despair that [[spoiler:he decides to [[EyeScream rip out his eyes]].]]
14	* TheCameo: Creator/DickMiller as a heckler.
15	* ComicBookAdaptation: By Creator/GoldKeyComics.
16	* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: While "scientist performing experiment, makes him a monster" is a usual sci-fi plot, it's pretty obvious that there's a lot of parallels with [[DrugsAreBad drug]] [[DescentIntoAddiction abuse]] in Xavier's road to ruin.
17	* EldritchAbomination: In the end, [[spoiler:Xavier sees so much that he can perceive "the eye in the center of the universe" that "sees all". The preacher interprets his vision as Satan]].
18	* EyeScream: [[spoiler:At the end of the film, Xavier blinds himself to stop seeing so much. His empty sockets are the [[JumpScare final shot of the film.]] ]]
19	* TheFreakshow: After going on the run, Xavier becomes an attraction in a sideshow as Mentallo, using his x-ray vision to be able to see the contents of the envelopes held by the audience.
20	* FromBadToWorse: From theoretical physicist and beloved doctor, to being fired for malpractice when he pulls off a CowboyCop act in the surgical room to prevent a doctor from hurting a little girl with his misdiagnosis, to accidental murderer forced to go on the run, to working as a carnival freak to get some money, to being forced to become a BackAlleyDoctor via blackmail... and this is not even the worst of it.
21	* GoMadFromTheRevelation: Xavier grows increasingly erratic over the course of the movie, mostly for mundane reasons of sensory overload and the stress of being a fugitive. But at the end, when he sees the [[spoiler:"eye in the center of the universe"]], it unhinges him enough to [[spoiler:gouge out his own eyes]].
22	* GoneHorriblyRight: Xavier's serum ends up working too well. [[spoiler:Also, Xavier decides to [[EyeScream rip his eyes out]] when he stumbles into a revival meeting in the last two minutes of the film and the preacher hollers to the crowd to "rip out that which does you harm!" They definitely did ''not'' expect that.]]
23	* GrossUpCloseUp: The final shot of the film is [[spoiler: Xavier's bloody eye sockets after he has blinded himself]].
24	* InhumanEyeConcealers: As Dr. Xavier continues taking the XRayVision eyedrops, his eyes begin to deform. By the halfway mark, he's forced to wear heavy wraparound shades, both to shield himself from the SensoryOverload and to conceal his unearthly SupernaturalGoldEyes. In the end, he's degenerated into full-blown BlackEyesOfEvil and deprived of his shades, forcing him to walk around with his eyes clenched shut -- which he can manage because he can see through his own eyelids.
25	* LetXBeTheUnknown: The "X" in the title has several meanings: It refers to the protagonist's name, '''X'''avier, doubles the reference to '''X'''-rays (which are already an example of this trope), and suggests the unknown powers unleashed by Xavier's e'''x'''periment.
26	* MundaneUtility: Xavier uses his power to see through matter to spot medical problems, to peep at women, and to cheat at cards.
27	* NakedPeopleAreFunny: One of the few moments of levity in the film is Xavier going to a party and seeing everybody in it naked because of his XRayVision.
28	* ParanormalGamblingAdvantage: Xavier uses his abilities to clean up at the blackjack table. Turns out it's easy to win if you always know what card is next. However, he's far too obvious (to the point of calling out the next card before it's flipped) and he gets kicked out by security.
29	* PowerIncontinence: The problem with Xavier's x-ray vision is that it can't be shut off and it only becomes stronger over time. It gets to the point where there is literally nothing in the universe he can't see through.
30	* PowerPerversionPotential: When Xavier is invited to a party for medical personnel, he starts seeing past everyone's clothes, and he's clearly enjoying watching.
31	* ProfessorGuineaPig: Dr. Xavier is the first (and only) human subject of his experiment.
32	* SupernaturalGoldEyes: Near the end of the film, after one too many doses of the drops, Xavier's eyes turn gold [[BlackEyesOfCrazy and black]].
33	* XRayVision: This is the primary manifestation of Xavier's powers in the film. He uses it as a doctor, as a voyeur, and to cheat at cards. Eventually, he finds it hard to navigate the world because he can no longer control it, and he cannot see what is in front of him without special glasses.
34	* UngratefulBastard: When Xavier does a CowboyCop act to prevent a fellow physician from hurting (or maybe killing) a little girl by operating on the wrong spot, the man immediately tells Xavier after the operation is over that he will have him sued for malpractice.

Context Film / XTheManWithTheXRayEyes