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.