Series: Hammer Frankenstein

Superficially, The Evil of Frankenstein is a great addition to the legendary Hammer series. Superficially, the acting is sublime, the story is engrossing, and the film is action-packed. Superficially, this movie is a masterpiece not unlike its predecessors, The Curse of Frankenstein and The Revenge of Frankenstein. But I didn't get the title The Queen of Classic Horror for being superficial. And looking underneath the surface of the seemingly perfect The Evil of Frankenstein exposes a couple loose wires.(read more...)

The second of the Hammer Frankenstein dynasty, The Revenge of Frankenstein has been revered as one of the best Hammer films to date. A suitable, and in some ways superior, follow-up to The Curse of Frankenstein, The Revenge of Frankenstein is required viewing for any classic horror fan.(read more...)

Three cheers for another Hammer horror film that moves slower than lymph from a decapitated torso! (Er… I HEARD it moves slow. Yeah, that’s it). Despite one of Peter Cushing’s more spectacular performances for Hammer, Frankenstein Creates Woman needs a viewer who has a lot of patience. Perhaps someone who chooses to watch Dance with Wolves in slow motion. Someone not like me.(read more...)

Hammer, perhaps in response to The Fearless Vampire Killers (Roman Polanski's spoof of their bloodsucker flicks), sends itself up in this black comedy remake of Curse of Frankenstein. They replace Peter Cushing with the then up-and-coming horror star Ralph Bates and inject the tale with more sex, more violent death, and a wicked sense of irreverence.(read more...)

This is the one that began Hammer's revival of Gothic horror. Up until the time this was made, horror in the 50s consisted of giant monsters or atomic fiends. This took horror back to its roots, and threw in color and a heightened sexual awareness at no extra charge. Director Terence Fisher and writer Jimmy Sangster should be commended for the excellent work they do here.(read more...)