Scalpel Summer - The Unknown Man of Shandigor (1967)

Experience cinema’s most delirious visions of 20th century medical obsession in one of Chicago's most unique locations!
About this Event

This summer, the International Museum of Surgical Science and Stephanie Sack present SCALPEL SUMMER, a three-film screening series exploring surgery, science, and bodily transformation through some of cinema’s most delirious visions of 20th century medical obsession.

Tickets:

$15 GA Presale: Admission to either 7/23 or 8/20 screening

$10 Student Presale (Use code STUDENT at checkout)

$10 IMSS Member Presale (Use code IMSSMEMBER at checkout)

At Door

$20 at Door

$15 Student at Door

$15 IMSS Member at Door

Screenings
David Cronenberg’s Dead Ringers - SOLD OUT

Thursday, June 25, 2026

Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde, 1959, UK
Thursday, July 23, 2026

7:00–9:00 p.m.
Doors at 6:30 p.m.

The Unknown Man of Shandigor, 1967, Switzerland
Thursday, August 20, 2026
7:00–9:00 p.m.
Doors at 6:30 p.m.

After kicking off June 25 with a sold-out screening of David Cronenberg’s Dead Ringers, SCALPEL SUMMER continues July 23 with Hammer Horror’s Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde, Roy Ward Baker’s delirious reimagining of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale of divided identity. Starring Hammer Horror leading man Ralph Bates and genre favorite Martine Beswick, the film follows Dr. Jekyll as his search for immortality leads him into experiments with hormones, cadavers, and – but of course - M**der. Stylish, sartorial, and unsettling, Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde guides SCALPEL SUMMER to a gothic vision of gender identity run beautifully, bloodily amok.

SCALPEL SUMMER concludes on August 20 with Jean-Louis Roy’s The Unknown Man of Shandigor, a restored Swiss Cold War fever dream of mad scientists, mod assassins, nuclear secrets, and Serge Gainsbourg menace. At the center of the film is Herbert Von Krantz, a scientist of dubious mental stability who has invented a device capable of sterilizing and therefore neutralizing atomic weapons — a discovery that makes him the target of international spies, trench-coat clad killers, and a crooning Serge Gainsbourg. Set in an uncanny world of candlelit laboratories, surgical paranoia, and atomic dread, Shandigor transforms the 60s spy spoof film into a mad-science miasma.

Bio: Stephanie “La Gialloholique” Sack is a longtime cinephile and devoted enthusiast of high art horror cinema, with a special passion for films from the 20th century. Her love of film centers on exploring the artistry, context, and emotion behind works that have often been overlooked or misunderstood. Known for her thoughtful curation and infectious enthusiasm, Stephanie brings fresh perspectives to audiences eager to rediscover hidden gems of film history, particularly from her favorite genres of Italian Giallo, French Fantastique, and Soviet Sci-Fi. Through her ongoing programming and producing, Stephanie continues to champion films that challenge convention and deserve a second look.