Wordiezett So much average

Listonixio Fresh and Exciting

ShangLuda Admirable film.

Mandeep Tyson The acting in this movie is really good.

Nigel P I have for years bored people rigid with my belief that some of Hammer's most interesting films came during the last few years of their existence as purveyors of horror, as they attempted to boost their fading market. This lead to experimentation, which worked beautifully with some of their output. As always, there were exceptions - and this curio is one.Peter Cushing, apparently now too old to play the Baron, is superseded by Ralph Bates in a bid to bring sex appeal to the role of Frankenstein. He is surrounded by a bevy of beautiful young women, including Elizabeth (Veronica Carlson) and Alys (Kate O'Mara). Bates is always enjoyable and nicely intense, although inevitable comparisons with 'how Cushing would have done it', would never be kind - after all, Bates is playing a philanderer, a young stud. A different take on the Baron.The jokes are very familiar to audiences of the time - everyone is horny, and the prospect and consequences of sex is tip-toed around for comedy effect, that and an amputated arm giving Victor a two-fingered salute. Dennis Price, a hugely talented and respected actor in his younger days, is much fun here as a lackadaisical grave-robber and gives the best performance in the film.The resultant story is not that different from 'Scars of Dracula', with which it was released, and which also disappointed at the box office. If anything, 'Scars' went further into later 'Carry On' territory than this - at least there are a few amusing asides here other than skin-flick slapstick.Dave Prowse's lumbering, bald-headed creature has a hulking effectiveness about him. The sound of his heavy, chain-crunching footsteps presses at least a few of the required horror buttons, although he is entirely devoid of any personality. Whenever he appears, Malcolm Williamson's soundtrack echoes H.J. Salter's music heralding Lon Chaney's monster in 1942's 'Ghost of Frankenstein' from Universal.The story itself shadows that of the 1958 Hammer original in a sedate style. This isn't a bad film (although the budget limitations are as obvious here as many Hammer films from this period), just rather under-whelming. As if aware of this, director (and co-writer) Jimmy Sangster seems deliberately to end the story in the most downbeat way possible.

Simon Alford I really enjoy "The Horror of Frankenstein." Despite the consensus on this forum (and, sadly, on nearly all movie sites), this is a rewarding and entertaining retelling of the Frankenstein tale. By 1970, Hammer had pretty much mined Shelley's story, releasing films in this series every few years. The Hammerheads were looking for a new direction and "The Horror of..." was born. They enlisted the author of the screenplay for their original Frankenstein film (The Curse of...) to helm this production. Instead of rehashing old ground, they decided to make the Doctor a cruel determined man (who is no doubt more frightening than the monster) and add a healthy dose of black humour to the proceedings. As far as I can tell, the detractors of the film find the addition of the humour to be the deal-breaker. Added to that, the film revels in an almost campy atmosphere. This may be a surprise to those who vehemently disregard the film but the atmosphere created is deliberate. Sure, it's not like the other Hammer Frankenstein film, it's a new direction.What's not to like about Dennis Price as the grave robber? Who could complain about the beautiful Kate O'Mara? (Or her ample cleavage, continually on display.) Perhaps I like the film because it was one of the first horror movies I saw in a cinema (doubled with "Scars of Dracula" no less!). Maybe I just like horror movies. It could be for any of those reasons but I keep coming back to it every few years because just the look of Hammer turns me on. If you watch in the spirit in which it is presented, I think you too will have an old-fashioned good time.

GusF This is definitely my least favourite Hammer film so far. It's essentially a remake of "The Curse of Frankenstein" (introducing a third continuity to the series!) and attempts to be an edgier one at that but it fails utterly. It commits the cardinal sin for a horror film: it's not scary. It's not slightly creepy. It's just plain dull. Given that it was made by the same studio and co-written and directed by Jimmy Sangster (who wrote the aforementioned, brilliant film), it's impossible not to compare it to that film. I was apprehensive about Ralph Bates taking the lead role as the younger, supposedly edgier version of Baron Frankenstein as I was singularly unimpressed by his performance as Dracula's disciple Lord Courtley in "Taste the Blood of Dracula". I'm sorry to say that he was a very poor substitute for Peter Cushing. This Frankenstein is in many ways worse than his older counterpart, being basically a sociopath but Bates just seems bored throughout and delivers many of his lines in a monotone. He overacted horribly as Lord Courtley but even that would have been preferable to his dull performance here. The late, great Kate O'Mara is very impressive as Alys and is probably the film's shining star. However, Veronica Carlson, the very impressive female lead in both "Dracula Has Risen from the Grave" and the previous film "Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed", is wasted in the relatively small role of Elizabeth who is smitten with Victor (for some reason). Had she been a meatier part, she could have rivalled Hazel Court in the original film but, alas, it was not to be. Other than O'Mara, the only cast members who really excel are Bernard Archard as Elizabeth's father and Dennis Price as the graverobber and they have even smaller roles. There was a startling lack of charisma in the rest of the male cast of the film, even the usually reliable (and very good Macbeth) Jon Finch.Another huge problem with the film is that is very dialogue heavy. Now, you expect a film like "To Kill a Mockingbird" or "Lincoln" to be this talkie but not a Hammer horror film. The Monster (played by future Darth Vader David Prowse) does not even begin to cause troubles until 64 minutes into the film. Admittedly, this was earlier than in "Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed" but the other aspects of the film made up for that. Plus, unlike in that film, the Monster does nothing of interest or note after escaping. Yes, he kills two people but its presentation pales in comparison to the previous film. The ending is incredibly weak as well. This was supposed to launch a new "Frankenstein" film series which would appeal to a younger audience but it utterly failed in that respect. It's really no wonder that Hammer once again engaged the services of the ever reliable Peter Cushing for its last "Frankenstein" film.

BA_Harrison By the 1970s, Hammer was struggling to find an audience still willing to cough up to see lavish Gothic productions; as a result, their output became increasingly targeted at the more profitable youth market. Having been exposed to more explicit teen horror films from the US, this particular demographic demanded that the studio adapt its format to suit. Graphic gore and nudity now had precedence over fog-shrouded graveyards and creepy castles.In accordance with this new approach, The Horror of Frankenstein presents its viewers with a decidedly different take on Mary Shelley's classic: it's a sexier, nastier, gorier, and generally far more exploitative effort than any previous film in the series, and one which benefits greatly from a deliciously twisted script loaded with gallows humour.This shake-up also called for a new leading man: out went Peter Cushing's well respected, but severely obsessive scientist, and in came Ralph Bates' more loathsome incarnation of Victor Frankenstein—a younger, mean-spirited, murderous, and cold-blooded individual. Bate's performance is practically perfect, convincingly portraying the utter contempt that his character feels for all mankind—even his closest friends and admirers.Also rather memorable, albeit for completely different reasons, are the obligatory hammer babes: Kate O'Mara as Alys, the slutty housemaid who sees to the Baron's every needs (if you know what I mean), and Veronica Carlson as Elizabeth Heiss, the prettiest girl in the village and Victor's secret admirer. Both girls are absolutely stunning and possess quite impressive 'talents' (which, particularly in O'Mara's case, regularly threaten to spill completely out over the top of their costumes!).Many Hammer aficionados seem to have a problem with The Horror of Frankenstein, unable to appreciate its wicked sense of humour. I however, think that it is an extremely fun flick, and a refreshing change to the usual Hammer style. The only gripe I do have with the film is that the monster itself (played by Dave 'Darth Vader' Prowse) is rather weak in its conception: with a little more time and effort spent on the creature make-up FX (the stitching looks like it was drawn on with marker pens), he wouldn't have been quite so laughable.7.5 out of 10, rounded up to 8 for IMDb.