Criminal psychologist Bill Chrushank is involved in a horrifying car accident that leaves him an amputee. He is rushed into surgery where Dr. Agatha Webb performs a transplant operation replacing his right arm. Following a trying time in rehab, Bill is released from the hospital and eager to get back to his work and family. The new appendage has a tattoo only given to death row inmates and Bill uses his connections at the police department to run his new fingerprints. It turns out the donor was a recently-executed serial killer who supplied several transplants that day. Bill begins suffering intense nightmares featuring visions of extreme physical violence. Things take a surprising turn when the arm begins acting independently and aggressively. He talks to his doctor for assistance and later tracks down the other recent transplant recipients, asking if they are having any strange side effects. The real trouble begins when the donor returns, intent on reclaiming his body parts by any means necessary and continuing his murder spree.

Body Parts begins as a psychological thriller that asks the intriguing question: Where does Evil live? Is it in the heart, the mind or the flesh? Director Eric Red (Bad Moon) explores the idea of tracing the roots of bad behavior and its effect on society with this high-concept Frankenstein story based on the novel Choice Cuts by Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac. Red adapted the material and co-wrote the screenplay with three other writers to create a genre movie that starts off full of promise, but loses its way down a paranoid avenue of the old “evils of science” variety. Despite its narrative shortcomings, Red shines as a director, creating many suspenseful moments and playing up the horror elements of the story.

Jeff Fahey (Psycho III) delivers an intense performance as Bill Chrushank, the man with the evil arm. It is fun watching him slowly lose control of his behavior and switch from mild-mannered psychologist to desperate man on the edge. Dr. Agatha Webb, wonderfully portrayed by Lindsay Duncan (Prick Up Your Ears), is the icy surgeon more interested in advancing medical science than the effect it has on her patients. On the opposite end of the personality spectrum is Karen, Bill’s supportive wife, played by the lovely Kim Delaney (Hunter’s Blood). She and Fahey work well together and are believable as a troubled couple trying to protect their children.

The supporting cast is made up of some familiar faces, starting with the always-watchable Brad Dourif (Exorcist III) as fellow arm recipient Remo Lacey. He plays a painter whose recent transplant has improved his creative output and he sees no problem with it. His character introduces the idea that all of this bad stuff may simply be in Bill’s mind. Zakes Mokae (The Serpent and the Rainbow) plays another intimidating authority figure in Det. Sawchuck, the man who brought the serial killer to justice and is now wrapping up loose ends. The underrated Paul Bem-Victor (Tombstone) is convicted felon Ray Kolberg, Bill’s patient before the accident. He is the audience’s introduction to evil and leaves quite the impression despite his limited screen time.

Body Parts quickly abandons any lofty aspirations of psychological reflection for more traditional popcorn thrills. Eric Red keeps things moving at a brisk pace which audiences simply have to run with in terms of a narrative timeline, as everything seems to rush together and overlap for dramatic purposes. There are some moments when characters do dumb things because the script tells them to and there is a fair amount of luck involved, but Red keeps it interesting. One highlight comes later in the picture during a high speed chase in which occupants of separate vehicles are handcuffed together. Ultimately this is a goofy ride that aims to please and in this it succeeds. You won’t learn a lot about the nature of man and the script’s views of science are horribly outdated, but the end result manages to deliver some decent chills.