The Curse of Frankenstein

Play trailer

The Curse of Frankenstein

1957

1h 23m

Horror

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

22 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Victor Frankenstein (Peter Cushing) is a brilliant scientist willing to stop at nothing in his quest to reanimate a deceased body. After alienating his longtime friend and partner, Paul Krempe (Robert Urquhart), with his extreme methods, Frankenstein assembles a hideous creature (Christopher Lee) out of dead body parts and succeeds in bringing it to life. But the monster is not as obedient or docile as Frankenstein expected, and it runs amok, resulting in murder and mayhem.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Seraphina Alaimo

New York Daily News

For the new film generation, some minor chills are offered in this well-done production.

Rated: 2.5/4

Sep 25, 2021

Full Review

Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

In its best scenes, it adds dynamism and British grit to a genre that had previously tried to get by on atmospherics and mood alone. It manages to be shocking without being especially frightening, and its virtues of performance and style remain striking.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 3, 2013

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Peter Cushing gets every inch of drama from the leading role, making almost believable the ambitious urge and diabolical accomplishment.

Oct 18, 2008

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

More explicit in its bloodletting than past horror yarns, with the use of color paving the way for a fresh new look to the established creature features.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 21, 2021

Full Review

Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

Director Terence Fisher creates an indelible gothic atmosphere, lighting the film for black and white but shooting in color, creating haunting elongated shadows that contrast beautifully with the vibrant Eastmancolour cinematography.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 8, 2021

Full Review

Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

Unaccountably a box-office sensation, this plodding and distasteful horror melodrama from Britain has only a few really eerie moments.

Nov 26, 2019

Full Review

Read all reviews

Dallas H

I do enjoy watching the Hammer Films with the classic monsters just as much as I love the classic black-and-white Universal Pictures monster movies.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/25/25

Full Review

Joel H

The Curse of Frankenstein brings new life to Mary Shelley’s gothic tale. This colorized film adaptation adds a sense of gruesomeness to the story, and it also is the first adaptation where I’ve felt like Victor Frankenstein is the real monster. Peter Cushing is delightfully devilish in that role, and I was surprised to discover it was his first part in a feature film. It’s also fun to see Christopher Lee as The Creature, who is quite horrifying. I don’t wish to downplay Universal’s classic 1931 Frankenstein, which is undeniably iconic, but The Curse of Frankenstein may be my new favorite adaptation.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/02/24

Full Review

NiB Y

This movie focuses more on the doctor rather the creature. Amazing performance by the even more amazing duo of Cushing as Frankenstein and Lee as the Monster, with some terrific makeup on the latter. Must see if you are horror fan.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/25/24

Full Review

Thom G

The Curse of Frankenstein doesn't bring anything new to the table compared to other versions of the story. Particularly, the philosophical questions are more refined in the original, and the tropes feel repetitive here. That said, the aesthetic and overall atmosphere are effective, as is the creepy creature.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/15/24

Full Review

Alec B

Love that Victor Frankenstein is such a massive asshole in this. Really makes for the best use of Cushing.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/28/24

Full Review

Ben T

Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing in their first appearance in a horror film for Hammer. Lee's portrayal of the creature is excellent. The make up is outstanding. The scene in which the creature the creature gets shot in the eye is a gory highlight in the film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/07/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Terence Fisher

Director

Peter Cushing

Victor Frankenstein

Christopher Lee

Creature

Hazel Court

Elizabeth

Robert Urquhart

Paul Krempe

Valerie Gaunt

Justine

The Evil of Frankenstein

57%

36%

The Evil of Frankenstein

Watchlist

The Brides of Dracula

79%

62%

The Brides of Dracula

Watchlist

Horror of Dracula

89%

81%

Horror of Dracula

Watchlist

Nightmare

71%

48%

Nightmare

Watchlist

The Satanic Rites of Dracula

33%

30%

The Satanic Rites of Dracula

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Victor Frankenstein (Peter Cushing) is a brilliant scientist willing to stop at nothing in his quest to reanimate a deceased body. After alienating his longtime friend and partner, Paul Krempe (Robert Urquhart), with his extreme methods, Frankenstein assembles a hideous creature (Christopher Lee) out of dead body parts and succeeds in bringing it to life. But the monster is not as obedient or docile as Frankenstein expected, and it runs amok, resulting in murder and mayhem.

Director: Terence Fisher
Producer: Anthony Hinds
Screenwriter: Jimmy Sangster
Production Co: Hammer Films
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 23m

Most Popular at Home Now