Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974) Limited Edition Review
The finale to Hammer’s Frankenstein cycle features a young Doctor who is interned in the asylum where Baron Frankenstein supposedly perished after being found experimenting on stolen corpses. In the asylum he meets the mysterious Doctor Victor and gradually comes to realise that Frankenstein is alive and well and continuing his work.
By the time FRANKENSTEIN AND THE MONSTER FROM HELL was released in cinemas, our American counterparts were offering up the likes of THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE and THE EXORCIST, contemporising the horror genre and shifting away from Gothic tales set in yesteryear. Consequently, the film had an underwhelming box-office performance, however with time the film’s popularity has grown, in part due to this being director Terence Fisher’s final directing gig, so releasing this title as Limited-Edition Blu-Ray makes perfect business sense.
Filmed in 1972, but unreleased until 1974, FRANKENSTEIN AND THE MONSTER FROM HELL was the final entry in Hammer’s Frankenstein series, and one of the film studio’s goriest offerings. For Peter Cushing, who breathes life into this otherwise run-of-the-mill flick, this was the sixth and final time that he acted as Baron Victor Frankenstein. This was also the first time that the future Grand Moff Tarkin (Cushing) and Darth Vader (David Prowse) appeared onscreen together. And speaking about Prowse, he’s the only actor to have played the same Hammer Frankenstein’s monster more than once, his first time was in THE HORROR OF FRANKENSTEIN.
There’s nothing terribly wrong with FRANKENSTEIN AND THE MONSTER FROM HELL, but there’s also nothing exceptional about it either, it’s workman-like and rather lacking in genuine thrills or chills. Sure, there’s that warm, fuzzy glow of nostalgia that kicks in from viewing a genre blast from the past, but when you strip that away, there’s very little here to surprise or enrapture you. Still, this Limited-Edition set, for those amongst you that are still itching to purchase it, is a delight to behold. In fact, when it turned up in the post for reviewing purposes, I was blown away by the extras, the packaging and therefore for die-hard fans of the film, this is an absolute must-buy.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Main feature presented in original UK Theatrical aspect ratio 1.66:1 and alternative full frame1.37:1
New audio commentary by film academic Kat Ellinger
Archive audio commentary by Shane Briant, Madeline Smith and Marcus Hearn
An Appreciation of Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell by David Huckvale
The Music of Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell
Taking Over the Asylum
Charming Evil: Terence Fisher at Hammer
Stills Gallery
Limited Edition Contents
Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Graham Humphreys
Soft cover book with new essays by Kevin Lyons, Kelly Robinson and Emma Westwood plus production stills
5 collectors’ art cards