RyothChatty ridiculous rating

Humbersi The first must-see film of the year.

filippaberry84 I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Arianna Moses Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Leofwine_draca A good premise is wasted in a lacklustre story for this black and white schlocker from trash king Herman Cohen. Instead of making a straightforward sequel to the earlier I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF and I WAS A TEENAGE FRANKENSTEIN, Cohen here weaves a tale which not only integrates the two monsters from those films but serves as a fitting, clever finale to his trilogy.Wes Craven must have seen this film before he made WES CRAVEN'S NEW NIGHTMARE as both movies detail with murders occurring while such films are being made (if you're with me). Indeed the self-referencing technique of which Craven has been so fond of late is to the fore in HOW TO MAKE A MONSTER. In one sequence a busload of tourists are taken to a stage where HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM is being shot. Of course, this was Cohen's next picture! Other factors like movie posters for the first two monster films are utilised in this behind the scenes shocker.Thematically, this film is the same as the previous two, in which a madman uses his two creations to kill off his enemies. Harris puts in a great performance as the multi-layered makeup artist, eliciting a number of different emotions from the viewer. At first we like him, then we feel sorry for him, only to learn that he's a maniac in the finale. Harris more than makes up for Whit Bissell's absence. Paul Brinegar makes an impression as the artist's dumb assistant (and later accomplice), and the film evokes much sympathy for him. Sadly, while Michael Landon wasn't brought back to replicate his role as the werewolf, Gary Clarke was instead substituted, and he fits the role well. It's good to see Gary Conway also return from FRANKENSTEIN. Watching these actors playing themselves is great fun. Also spot John Ashley singing on stage (awful), Ashley later went on to star in trash like THE MAD DOCTOR OF BLOOD ISLAND! Other than the novelty interest, this is a slow-moving and rather simplistic film. Only a few murders occur, and much of the screen time is taken up with a slow yet inexorable police investigation as they tighten their ring around the killer. Still, the self-referencing theme makes this one an interesting, watchable piece. The ending was originally in colour but sadly stays in black and white for television prints.

Rainey Dawn If you have seen I Was a 'Teenage Werewolf (1957)' & 'I Was a Teenage Frankenstein (1957)' first then you will recognize the Werewolf and Frankenstein's Monster in this film. You do not have to see the first two films to watch 'How To Make A Monster' because the story has nothing to do the first two films directly - each film is a story all on it's own."How to Make a Monster' is a fairly interesting, campy and a fun flick. It's a B film but one of the better B horror films from the 1950s. I think it took the idea of putting the Werewolf and Frankenstein's Monster from the Universal classic 'Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man' but this film is totally different - only the idea of the two monsters in the film together is the same. This movie is actually more of a crime film with the use of 'monsters' to help commit the crimes. As I said earlier this film is fun to watch but it's nothing spectacular either.7/10

marymorrissey deliciously fun revenge movie with lots of gay sub- and not so subtext a pair of lovers working in the makeup dept of AIP, one dominant the other submissive, are faced with the big faze out... well, one of them is not about to take it lying down so to speak! this is a richly observed little movie. lots of brilliant touches - for example the makeup job for the teen werewolf is as good or better than much of what we see today, while the teenage whatsits looks like some kind of paper mache effort attempted by a blind man. the effect is of something gone terribly wrong.the performances are more than adequate and the lead Robert H. Harris is nothing short of inspired.don't want to say anything to spoil or ruin, but if you have the least taste for camp, get busy and track down this amusement packed spectacular!

preppy-3 Monster makeup man Pete Dumond (Robert H. Harris) is told the studio is closing down his shop because they've decided to stop making horror films. He vows revenge. The final film he's on has a teenage werewolf (Gary Clarke--not Michael Landon) and a teenage Frankenstein (Gary Conway reprising his role from the original). He puts a drug in their makeup that make them obey him and orders them to kill the studio heads.Pretty much forgotten horror movie--for good reason! The plot is sort of interesting but it's basically a 30 minute plot stretched out to 74 minutes! A lot of talk but little action. There's also a pointless (and pretty funny) musical number by John Ashley squeezed in (purportedly he had some hits in the 1950s).Some of the acting is good. Harris is enjoying himself and Clarke has some good moments. Conway however seems uncomfortable. The best part of this movie is the final 11 minutes--they're done in color (the rest of the film is in b&w). We get to see a good bunch of AIP monster masks, some blood, and Harris, Clarke and Conway in full color. Fans of AIP monster movies will get more of a kick out of this than anyone else. For the color ending alone I give this a 7.Be aware--most TV prints have the whole film in b&w--the DVD has the color.