The concluding chapter of Hammers ‘Frankenstein’ series sees us actually break with tradition and make a clean enough sequel…Though quite whether this is a sequel to ‘Curse’ or ‘Revenge’ of Frankenstein is a bit of a different question (and one that…in this humble critics opinion, hardly really matters).

The film is set many years after the events of ‘Curse’ and ‘Revenge as we open following Dr. Simon Helder, an up and coming practitioner obsessed with the late works of Baron Von Frankenstein. Frankenstein himself hasnt been seen in years and is presumed in hiding. While practicing one of the Barons experiments, the police get wind that Simon has been paying Gravediggers to steal corpses for his experiments. Simons arressted, charged with ‘Sourcery’ for his attempt to create life and the judge sentences him to 5 years in an asylum. Noting that Simons ‘Beloved Baron’ also had the same fate some years prior.

On arriving at the asylum, Simon seeks out the head of the facility and queries the Barons stay. the chief informs him the Baron passed away a few years ago and is buried in the courtyard…But not some 5 minutes later while getting hosed down in front of the inmates as an embarrissing punishment for breaking the rules. Baron Frankenstein himself (using the psudonym Dr. Victor) stops the punishment, and sends Simon to his quarters to be treated for various cuts and grazes.

While there, Victor reveals he IS non other than the Baron, and that he made an arrangement with the Asylum owner (details of which arnt fully revealed till near the end of the film) in which the Baron was allowed to fake his death, and take on work at the asylum as the facilities chief medical operator.

Simon tells Victor all about his work and studies into the Barons findings, and Frankenstein is curious about Simons enthusiasm, and so, decides to take him on as his medical assistant, working the wards while Frankenstein ‘Attends to other projects’…

As you can imagine. Victors other work is what we’ve known him for for the last 5 or so films…But now growing frail and increasingly unable to keep up with his work, Victor must rely on Simon to assist him in his extra activities, and the end result is surely the most terrifying achievement the Baron has managed to date.

And I actually really kind of had a soft spot for this one, quite understandbly at the time this was seen as a bit ‘old hat’ which, given this film came out a year after ‘The Exorcist’ and ‘The Wicker Man’ is actually quite understandble. Retroactively however, its quite easy to view this as a ‘throw back’ picture thats trying to capture the tone and energy of the early Hammer Frankenstein movies. And I think it largely succeeds with just TWO major issues in my opinion.

The script is a nice slow boil character piece as we see Simon, a somewhat naive but brilliant doctor find himself in for WAY more than he bargained for on meeting Frankenstein and seeing how far down the rabbit hole his nightmarish visions go. The asylum inmates are all fairly richly written, they have solid backstories that help give the film a real sense of life. and they even advance the Baron as a character a bit. giving him a more worn, colder edge that isnt quite as abraisive as his sudden character change in ‘Must be destroyed’ here? he still has that softer side. But you get the feeling that a lifetime of waiting for his final success has left him rather short on patience, particularly when the creature in this film begins to take longer than hoped to get the hang of the whole ‘being reborn’ thing.

The script itself is pretty solid. I think it manages to capture the tone and feelings of the first two films pretty well, it is a little on the slow side, but I feel like it evenly distributes plot and narrative nuggets across the three acts well enough that I didnt get bored or find myself clock watching.

Theres a wonderful rich macarbre comedy tone running through this thing that reminded me a little of films like ‘Theater of Blood’ or ‘The Abominable Dr. Phibes’ just eccentric character portrayls or snipey wordplay that I feel really helped give this film the edge over its peers.

At an hour and 34 mintues long, I dont feel it overstays its welcome, but one of the few flaws I do have with this picture is its ending. The film ends open ended with the audience being left to decide whether Frankenstein continues his work or not. and theres nothing inherently wrong with that ending. But the characters of Simon and Angel have just ALSO been told some VERY traumatic information, and at one point the Baron reveals a frankly hideous plan involving Angel. That I really feel the film should have closed off before ending. Just something to signal to the audience that the idea itself was abhorrent and that a line was crossed for both Simon and Angel. they feintly imply it via the on screen actions. But they dont commit, ending the film instead with the VERY real possibility that, despite the Baron clearly crossing SEVERAL VERY unsound lines in the closing minutes…That Simon potentially would have stood by him and carried on…Which did put me off the production a bit.

Direction is pretty rock solid, Terrance Fischer is back for a final time, not only for this series, but for his career. at the ripe old age of 70. I feel like his work here is solid, but a little on the creaky side given this film was released in the mid 70s. It visually feels like a much MUCH older film than the year it came out…Which works in terms of helping maintain a continuity with the earlier Frankenstein films…But in terms of trying to win over (then) modern audiences? Im not so sure.

There is a distinct stylization here however, I feel it looks great given the era of Hammer this came out in. and I feel the cast and crew work together relatively seamlessly.

Same goes for the cine, while colour and light play is very much minimised here, they have managed to make the asylum a decently grotty seedy looking place that I feel suits the tone of the film well. Composition is a nice return to form. But much like the previous couple of entries. I do feel it is rather lacking in terms of experimentation. This felt a little over safe to me. and given the OTHER problem I have with this film…decent chiascuro work and some choice shot experimentation proabably could have really saved this picture.

Because the OTHER thing I really didnt like about this film, the thing that totally pulls you out of the action…is the creatures design itself. Clearly jut a halloween mask, and a ‘muscle suit’ with fur stuck on it. The fact Prowse bragged that he could get ‘in and out of the makeup in under 30 minutes’ is not the ‘win’ you think it is. It looks cheap, the face is rubbery and barely moves, its lit really evenly and flatly for the most part which only exacerbates the issue. Id have honestly REALLY played with shadows to hide this thing as much as possible. Because honestly? its probably the worst ‘Creature’ design in the entire series…and THATS saying something.

The edit for this? is relatively solid, cuts are precise, they use B-roll well, as mentioned I feel with more considered lighting it could have really taken things to the next level. But its a competent and tight edit that does the best it can with the footage given.

Performance wise, this is Peter Cushings Swansong as Dr. Frankenstein. and I think its arguably one of his better turns. he really gives the character some much needed ‘aged’ weight here, and given he himself was suffering with illness at the time. I feel he brings that energy with him into the performance. Showing a man who believes his days may be up, with just a subtle frustration in knowing that hes aging and his work cant keep up with what time he has left. I cant say its the performance of his career. But it is a bloody good one.

Shane Briant as Simon really is the star of the picture, starting as a little overconfident in his abilities, and slowly fidning himself more and more out of his depth and Frankenstein pushes things further and further. He gets a real complex range of emotions to play with and brings a real ‘youthful’ streak to a series thats felt very much like an old mans interpretaiton of ‘youths’ for a while now. Hes infinitely watchable.

Credit to has to go to Dave Prowse as the creature and Charles Lloyd Pack as the creature and the professor respectively. the former doing his absolute best to make it through a difficult situation in all of that makeup. The latter a warm and charismatic figure who manages to give a rock solid range for the brief time he’s on screen. they’re both delightful. and its just a shame Prowse couldnt get more of his facial acitng onto the screen, as I feel that really would have made a big difference here.

Ultimately; despite being a bit of a flop at the time, I actually really quite enjoyed ‘Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell’ its far from a perfect work. But I think it compliments ‘Curse’ and ‘Revenge’ quite well. its structurally sound and apart from the few flaws I’ve mentioned here. I had a really good time with it. I think if you can look past the monster design. you’ll probably enjoy it too.

source https://letterboxd.com/tytdreviews/film/frankenstein-and-the-monster-from-hell/