Review: Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell
Blu-ray: Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974)
Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell is the 7th and final ‘Frankenstein’ Hammer film and sees the inimitable Peter Cushing return once more as Baron Victor Frankenstein, who while trying to convince the world that he can safely reanimate the dead, inevitably discovers that he leaves behind him a trail of death and destruction.
David Prowse is both intimidating and empathetic as a ‘monster’ made from the reconstructed parts of various dead people, never happy to be trapped in a mish-mash of human flesh, all being controlled by the brain of a man that just wanted to die.
Peter Cushing is magnificent once more, playing a character that he is so familiar with, and possibly knowing that it was the last time that he would do so…though it’s always tinged with a hint of sadness to see him post-1971 when his beloved wife Helen passed away and those sunken cheekbones are ever more pronounced. He still has enough energy though to throw himself around in the fight scenes…a staple of Cushing in a Hammer movie.
Hammer stalwart Terence Fisher takes the directorial reigns with the confidence of a man who has done this many times before, and yet again the Hammer staples of beautiful sets, wonderful period costumes and solid performances by all involved, combine to create a hugely entertaining 95 minutes where there may be no major surprises, but everything that unfolds before you is an absolute joy to watch.
That joy is made all the more intense by the great picture quality on this Second Sight Films release, with the option to watch in its original UK Theatrical aspect ratio 1.66:1 or alternative full frame 1.37:1./
It almost goes without saying now that you get a fantastic selection of informative and entertaining special features in a Second Sight Films release, as well as beautiful packaging that enhances any collectors shelves that it is put upon, and this continues that trend with aplomb.
Special Features:
- Main feature presented in original UK Theatrical aspect ratio 1.66:1 and alternative full frame1.37:1
- New audio commentary by film academic Kat Ellinger
- Archive audio commentary by Shane Briant, Madeline Smith and Marcus Hearn
- An Appreciation of Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell by David Huckvale
- The Music of Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell
- Taking Over the Asylum
- Charming Evil: Terence Fisher at Hammer
- Stills Gallery
Limited Edition Contents:
- Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Graham Humphreys
- Soft cover book with new essays by Kevin Lyons, Kelly Robinson and Emma Westwood plus production stills
- 5 collectors’ art cards
Limited Edition release from Second Sight Films on 29th August 2022.
Review by Dave from a disc kindly supplied by Second Sight Films via Aim Publicity.
