DanTheMan 2
While I definitely feel that Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed was the perfect ending to Hammer's series on the good doctor, but for all intents and purposes, Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell isn't half bad. Although it really does feel like a movie from another time, but from the mature viewpoint of a director at the end of his career. Terence Fisher's haunting, melancholy swansong is a much more credible effort than it should have been, although the script is often heavy-handed with odd moments of slapstick permeating an otherwise well-trodden story on the notions of playing god, psychological torture and uncontrollable rage. The Monster, played by a returning David Prowse, is easily the worst aspect of this film, the gorilla suit is simply laughable and otherwise took me out of the film. Cushing, on the other hand, delivers his lines with a clipped precision that brings absolute and continued conviction to the role, finally at peace with the character's blatant disregard for anything living or dead, cleaning up and getting back to work like nothing had happened. Just like his character Cushing never stopped working even in poor health, dedicated to the end, never faltering and that really epitomises Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell best, an epitaph for Hammer horror itself.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
10/27/23
Full Review
Audience Member
This is a nice little take on the Frankenstein story and the final film in Hammers Frankenstein run. The monster isn't your typical looking monster either, looking more like Bigfoot, the person must have been one very hairy man before Dr Frankenstein got his hands on him and there is a nice bit of Gore in this as well. I would recommend this to anyone who is into the old 70's Hammer
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
01/28/23
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Audience Member
Better than its reputation. This is a very worthy ending for Cushings run as the Baron. The gore factor is kicked up for this one considerably. The Monster is menacing and pitiable all at once, while Frankenstein is as morally bankrupt as ever.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
01/31/23
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Audience Member
Upon being imprisoned for bodysnatching and sorcery, a young surgeon learns that his esteemed mentor, the great Victor Frankenstein, is alive and well, and has been practicing his dark arts from within the prison walls as Dr. Carl Victor. Together, the pair manage to successfully transplant the brilliant mind of a scholar into the body of a murderous brute, but the body of the beast begins to take over its mind as it strikes off on a bloody rampage! Peter Cushing returns to the role of Baron Frankenstein in Hammer's sixth and final entry into the famed Horror series. Here, the character has taken a surprisingly modest turn that lacks the snide sense of superiority that defined Cushing's earlier performances. Cushing is in fine form, as always, and makes a grand entrance as he comes to the aid of young Simon. The plot, at this point, is quite derivative of the earlier films, but that makes it no less entertaining. Despite the shabbiness of the costume and an immovable facial apparatus, David Prowse manages to act through the make-up with his emotive gesturing and body language. FRANKENSTEIN AND THE MONSTER FROM HELL does bear the mark of Hammer's later films unfortunately, which attempted to exploit sex and gore in order to appeal to the changing tastes of the time. This film features the most graphic scenes in the series as a result, including a particularly nasty brain transplant and several bloody murders. As his last Horror film, however, Terence Fisher still retains many of the traditional Gothic trappings that gave him such success throughout the years. A lesser accomplishment in the series, to be sure, FRANKENSTEIN AND THE MONSTER FROM HELL is still a worthwhile entry for any fan of Gothic Horror.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
01/16/23
Full Review
Audience Member
The series comes full circle with Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell and Cushing's swansong performance as the single-minded and amoral baron and doctor. Perhaps taken inspiration from the events of the last film, Frankenstein is working as the doctor in residence at an asylum for the criminally insane. Having faked his death (again) he is operating as Doctor Karl Victor perfecting his work on a neolithic man(!), once again returning an actual monster to the series. The addition of the Simon character to the cast allows Cushing to deliver a performance that echoes his original in Curse as both characters are as in sync as Victor and Paul were in the original film, only this time with the roles reversed. With the mute Sarah added to the cast, the film sports a bizarre 'family' that again mirrors the first film's cast. Frankenstein even has an opportunity to laugh, the first time in the series since the first film. The production value is excellent and being one of the later Hammer films, does benefit from not looking like its rehashing the old Bray Studio sets that one can point out so easily in early Hammer films. The monster on the other hand does disappoint, looking a bit like they overreached what they thought they could accomplish. In fact none of the films ever matched Curse with the make-up job they had on Christopher Lee and it stands as the only critical deficiency of these films. Ironically this last film is the only one to end without a cliffhanger but ends on a strange casual note, with a promise of starting again. Of course this was not to be. This ending does lend the film a haunting finality to Cushing's Frankenstein; forever defeated in his scientific ambition but always ready to begin again. Its somehow comforting that the last we see of him is not trapped in flames or on his way to the guillotine, but sweeping the floors of his lab, planning some mad new scheme. Worth noting is Patrick Troughton, The 2nd Doctor himself appearing in the film's opening. Sadly he shares no scenes with Cushing, thus far the only big-screen Doctor to date. Also the original 'M', Bernard Lee in one of his last roles; its odd to see him playing such a bit part so late in his career.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
01/21/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Probably more famous for the edited scene!
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
02/17/23
Full Review
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