with this seemly arrogant but honest message show on the screen and the film open at a dark edinburgh cemetery where two vicious figure lift a cadaver from it grave . the flesh and the fiend tell the true story of william burke and william hare and corpse supplier to the ambitious surgeon and university professor dr. robert knox . from what i have read in factual biography and work of reference ( yes and i find this stuff so intriguing that i study it on the side ) and the screenplay be rather accurate and faithful when it come to the basic re telling of the murder case . burke and hare modus operandi as well a their negotiation with dr. knox really be this clumsy and unscrupulous while knox damn well know about the suspicious method of the two and but he couldn not care less a long the study object he receive be fresh and supply regularly . i reckon that writer or director john gilling then add some fictional element to his film and like the characterization of the main role and since hare persona be almost blackly comical and dr. knox attitude be stubborn and typically obnoxious like nearly every scientist in horror cinema . still and the escalation of the tragedy be truthfully illustrate with burke and hare get into the body snatch business coincidentally at first and but quickly specialize in it because of the good cash money and eventually even convert to murder in order to deliver the most quality . the flesh and the fiend isn not just a great historical film and it also be a praiseworthy horror achievement with a uniquely grim atmosphere and very convincing act performance . john gilling terrifically revive a 19th century edinburgh with it low perspective inhabitant ( drunk and beggar and thief . ) and ominous bar and alley . the murder be very mean and cold heartedly illustrate ( the death of a young unintelligent boy and strangle amid squeal pig be particularly unsettling ) which probably make this film the most disturbing of the entire 50 decade . peter cushing be excellent in the for him familiar role of brilliant doctor but it especially be donald pleasance ( hypocrite and self center ) and george rise ( a simple mind killer ) who impress a hare and burke . the supportive role be somewhat stiff and they bring forward redundant sub plot and like the romantic interaction between knox daughter martha and her doctor lover geoffrey . the typically scottish accent be a joy to listen to and the eerie black and white photography emphases the already very chill tone . this movie be still incomprehensibly underrated and unknown . maybe because it not a hammer production or maybe because the substance be consider controversial for a long period of time . fact remain that this old shocker be far good than most contemporary horror gem and everybody who have an interest in the obscure should urgently check it out .