in 1820 edinburgh and two man hare and burke be look for a quick buck by turn to body snatch and supple their corps to an anatomist dr. knox . though and soon there obsession turn to murder and the doctor do not seem to worry how they be get their cadaver . but thing change when they go one step to far and get catch in the act . the flesh and the fiend be a historically realistic account of the true story about the murder that be commit by burke and hare in edinburgh of the early 19th century . this portrait of these two corpse robber turn serial killer cover disturb subject matter and the piercing dr knox emotionless state of mind make one shiver . the film also have some similarity to the brilliant the body snatcher ( 1945 ) and which also follow in the same vein and star the ever reliable boris karloff . the difference be this one be about the horror and morality about an issue of a scientific level and while the body snatcher be more a character drive film that look how guilt and greed and pride can personally destroy someone by become an unwanted ordeal . even this be more graphic in it depiction of the continuous violence that it become a real unsettling mix and especially on how we see these two men act with joy and lightness after and sometimes during their action . the first and last death showcase that perfectly . the sexual context too and do not go by unnoticed with undertone it be the real deal and director john gilling bring to the screen with such penetrated attention a provocative period piece that grip you with it unpleasantness . which by no mean make it a bad thing . for sure this flick would have be shock for it time and but that make it more the reason to seek it out . maybe it be make before it time . because the context of it doesn not seem to fit the era and but hey there a first for everything and right . also contribute to the story be that of the accomplished satire of class status and treatment and between the wealthy upper class and work class who live in a slum . this be mould into the plot with one of knox student see a working class girl and show how they live in two totally different world and but no matter their lifestyle and they share a unique bond that meet a tragic end . also through aspect of the plot you can tell it have a scathing attack on the upper class ( dr. knox ) by take advantage of the certain situation by get the poor to do their dirty work for them and while keep their hand basically clean . though and it might have some biting topic cover and but there still a sub plot involve knox niece that seem more or less irrelevant to the overall proceeding . but overall the film momentum never slow up and i be keep in awe by the simply amazing performance of the cast and the exceptional direction in construct the period . there be shade of dirtiness amongst this blunt atmosphere of lurk horror . the forbid street that be cover with such eerie building and stark lighting and dark shadowy pathway breaths an uneasy grittiness and that allude essence of it creep up in certain scene . the camera work also evoke some attention too while by hold together the film steady structure and menace by get deep into the terrify hysteria that this mess eventuate into . what stand out more so in the spotlight be the superbly portrayed character that there isn not a minor hiccup in the performance . peter cushing determine dr. knox whose all too blind by his work to see the wrong in his way and but this honour take a huge bump when it take a child to knock him off his perch . cushing play out that moment brilliantly by provide u that even though he an honourable man that can take it on the chin and but that moment he give u a small glimpse of remorse and to question his own action and which make you feel for him a bit . while and cushing stern performance be transfix and donald pleasence and george rise be incredibly persuasive a the colourfully upbeat body snatcher hare and burke that hold such a cold hearted and malevolent nature and with the carelessness of their greed cause their own downfall . the way they would go to any length to provide the good doctor with a corpse really do have shatter effect on the compulsiveness of their act . it be hard to see how immune they have become to it that now it be second nature and how the black humour of it flow between the two . pleasence and though who do play rise character like a puppet and really get your skin crawling and especially with his sly nature and body movement and reaction to when perform these callous act . while and rise performance be remarkably sufficient a the control brute . these two surefooted character that bounce off each other be what make the film and all that credit go to pleasence and rise to achieve this . the other cast member too be downright splendid dermot walsh a knox fellow doctor or friend and renee houston a burke wife and john cairney a one of knox medical student chris jackson and then you another equally good performance by billie whitelaw a the strong mind mary patterson . the script too and be flesh out rather well and by up the suspense and surprise but also question that of morality and the backlash of this touchy subject . and not forget the melodramatic spurt too and which add a down to earth approach . where the honour of knox work eventually come through and the end do kinda play the whole thing down . though honestly and the way it play out amongst the accuse and it show how class can have an easy influence on certain outcome . so there no poetic justice here and which make it more believable in the finish product . unrestingly gritty and hard boil thriller that hold miraculous performance all round .