FRANKENSTEIN AND THE MONSTER FROM HELL (1974) Reviews and Second Sight Blu-ray details – newsdubai

Frankenstein and the monster from hell will be released in the UK on a limited edition Blu-ray by Second Sight Films on 29 August 2022. Special Features:

Main feature presented in the original UK theatrical aspect ratio 1.66:1 and alternative full-frame 1.37:1
New audio commentary by 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
Takes over the asylum
Charming Evil: Terence Fisher at Hammer
Still Images Gallery

Limited edition content:
Hard case with new artwork by Graham Humphreys
Paperback with new essays by Kevin Lyons, Kelly Robinson and Emma Westwood plus production stills
Five collectors art cards

In the meantime, here’s our previous coverage of the film:

‘Your blood will run cold when the monster rises.’
Frankenstein and the monster from hell is a British science fiction horror film directed by Terence Fisher from a screenplay by John Elder {Anthony Hinds]. The Hammer Films production features Peter Cushing, Shane Briant (Just until morning; Demons of the mind; The picture of Dorian Gray) and David Prowse (Frankenstein’s horror; Vampire Circus).

Filmed at Elstree Studios in September/October 1972 but not released until 2 May 1974, it was the final chapter in Hammer’s Frankenstein series as well as director Terence Fisher’s final film.

Reason:
Baron Victor Frankenstein (Cushing) is housed in an insane asylum. He has been appointed surgeon at the asylum, and has a number of privileges as he has secret information about the asylum’s corrupt director (John Stratton). The Baron, under the alias of Dr. Karl Victor, uses his position to continue his experiments in the creation of man.

When Simon Helder (Briant), a young doctor and fan of the Baron’s work, arrives as a prisoner, the Baron takes him under his wing as an apprentice. Together they work on a new creature. However, unbeknownst to Simon, Frankenstein acquires body parts by murdering his patients.

The baron’s new experiment is the sobbing, ape-like Herr Schneider (Prowse), a homicidal prisoner whom he has kept alive after a violent suicide attempt and whom he has grafted onto the hands of a recently deceased sculptor (Bernard Lee). When Frankenstein’s hands were badly burned in the name of science (perhaps in either Frankenstein’s evil or Frankenstein must be destroyed), the shabby stitching work was done by Sarah (Madeline Smith), a beautiful mute girl who assists the surgeon and is nicknamed “Angel”. Simon tells the baron that he is a surgeon and the problem is solved.

Previous Blu-ray releases:
In the US, Scream Factory released the film on Blu-ray on August 18, 2020. Order via Amazon.com

New: Audio commentary with film historian/author Steve Haberman and film historian/filmmaker Constantine Nasr
New: The Men Who Made Hammer: Roy Skeggs
Audio commentary with actress Madeline Smith, actor David Prowse and film historian Jonathan Sothcott
Theatrical trailer
Radio spots

Buy Blu-ray: Amazon.co.uk

Extra features include: Takeover of the Asylum: The Making Of Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell – Charming Evil: Terence Fisher at Hammer – Audio commentary by Shane Briant and Madeline Smith, moderated by Marcus Hearn – Animated stills gallery.

Reviews:
“Frankenstein and the monster from hell is far from the most worthy Hammer production; changing times and chintzy change purses saw to that. But what it lacks in finesse it makes up for with muscle; while it didn’t change their fortunes, it showed that Hammer could find his way in the modern age. It just lacked an audience.” Daily death

“The ultra-low budget shows in Scott MacGregor’s claustrophobic sets, unconvincing miniatures, and the monster’s pose is obviously a pullover mask designed by Eddie Knight (although the monster is unique in the annals of Frankenstein). But Fisher’s direction and Cushing’s consummate performance (adding complete madness this time to the character) show a true dedication to this kind of cinema, and the confinement of the asylum only adds to the doomy, bleak mood.” DVD Drive-in

” …the script doesn’t develop in any interesting way: it’s just a series of situations without resonance, and the production obviously lacked resources as it was incredibly limited in scope. What ultimately capsizes it, however, is the creature, a hairy, muscle-bound ape-man who offers little threat and certainly no grip.” David Pirie, A new legacy of horror

Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com

“… it’s all muted and languid – the murky greens and browns of the set design are depressing, and there’s a sense that we’re simply treading over old ground.” Sinclair McKay, A Thing of Unspeakable Horror: The History of Hammer Films

“The film is concerned with failure and death, following the downbeat trend Frankenstein must be destroyed. It is Fisher’s final dark adventure, with genuine moments of power and poetry, providing a fitting end to the story of the baron that does not dishonor the director or the star.” David Miller, The Peter Cushing Companion

“The Hammer Frankenstein series went out as it came in, led by Peter Cushing’s typically fine performance and Terence Fisher’s sound direction.” Tom Johnson, Deborah Del Vecchio, Hammer Films: An exhaustive filmography

The Hammer story by Marcus Hearn, Alan Barnes – Buy from Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com

Hammer Glamour by Marcus Hearn – Buy from Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com

The art of the hammer by Marcus Hearn – Buy from Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com

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