Movie Review: FRANKENSTEIN AND THE MONSTER FROM HELL (1974) *** and a 1\2 out of *****

The final entry in the Hammer Studio "Frankenstein Series" starring Peter Cushing as Baron Frankenstein, is, perhaps, the most underrated film in the entire franchise.

The first entry in the series, The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) is lauded for its groundbreaking visuals and make-up effects; Frankenstein Created Woman (1967), a favorite of director Martin Scorsese's, is usually singled out for its metaphysical meditations and dream-like quality; and Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969) is notorious for its goriness and nastiness of tone. But Frankenstein and The Monster From Hell (1974), in its own modest way, is arguably better than all of the aforementioned films, mainly because of its script, which is thematically coherent and flows wonderfully, allowing Cushing, one of the most underrated British actors in cinematic history, to deliver an elegant and subdued performance, adding even more layers to the nefarious title character.

Director Terence Fisher, in his last feature film, helms the picture with a steady hand, giving the film a muscular visual style and a terrific pace, delivering a disturbing and elegiac climax to the entire series.

Who could have thought that after six films and seventeen years, Fisher, Cushing, and co. could deliver such a full-blooded and thoughtful Gothic-horror film? Highly recommended.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2020.

Ahmed Khalifa is a filmmaker and novelist. He is the writer/director of the feature film Wingrave, released on Netflix, and the short film Seance. He is also the author of a number of novels and short stories, including the YA horror novel, Beware The Stranger, available on Amazon.

Book Review: CONVERSATIONS WITH MARK FROST. By David Bushman **** out of *****

Mention Twin Peaks (1990-1991, 2017) to anybody who's even remotely interested in film or TV, and you'll instantly hear the words "David Lynch". Rarely, if ever, will someone mention Lynch's collaborator and Twin Peaks co-creator Mark Frost. There are reasons for that, of course. Lynch is a world-renowned filmmaker and visual artist, his stamp is all over Twin Peaks, and he is, arguably, the main reason the show is still popular and influential to this day. Lynch's command of cinematic atmospherics, especially his use of music, sound, and editing to create mood, transformed Twin Peaks from just another TV show, to a unique, artistic, and groundbreaking achievement.

But Lynch, who deserves a lot credit for Twin Peaks' success, is not deserving of all the credit. And this is where David Bushman's terrific book, Conversation with Mark Frost, comes into play.

Although, over the years, Frost has received his share of acclaim for his contributions to Twin Peaks, mainly for writing some of the show's best episodes and balancing out Lynch's tendency to go over the top, this book, through candid conversations filled with smart, probing questions by TV historian Bushman, sets the record straight, once and for all, about what Frost brought to the table in his collaborations with Lynch. It also showcases his numerous other achievements before and after Twin Peaks.

Throughout the conversations included in this book, Frost comes across as intelligent and likable. Obviously, this is someone who is passionate about his craft, and who is a lot more than just the co-creator of one of the most important TV shows of all time. He has worked on numerous other shows, including the groundbreaking Hill Street Blues (1981-1987), and has written a number of screenplays and books. But the most interesting parts of the book, and the most revelatory, are the ones that deal with his complex relationship with Lynch.

Twin Peaks fans will relish the two chapters about the show. Although Frost never comes out and bad-mouths Lynch, per se, he has some interesting, and some might say negative, things to say about the auteur. And despite the positive façade Frost put on during the promotion leading up to and during the airing of the third season of Twin Peaks, he has some fascinating things to say about what went on behind the scenes, and what went wrong with what might be the final season of Twin Peaks. Frost's comments about the show are smart and candid, things fans don't usually get from Lynch. 

Highly recommended to movie and TV buffs, and fans of Frost and Lynch.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2020.

Ahmed Khalifa is a filmmaker and novelist. He is the writer/director of the feature film Wingrave, released on Netflix, and the author of a number of novels and short stories, including the YA horror novel, Beware The Stranger, available on Amazon.