The Curse of Frankenstein

Title: The Curse of Frankenstein
Rating: 4/5
Genre: Hammer Horror, Drama
Starring: Peter Cushing, Robert Urquhart, Hazel Court, Christopher Lee
Director: Terence Fisher
Release Date: 1957

A British Film Production Company, Hammer Film's became notorious in the late 50s for their trademark style of Gothic Horror films, creating many films that remain iconic even today. As Horror films became more sophisticated and with foreign financiers backing out, towards the end of their reign they tried to establish a new niche and became lower budgeted and self-parodical in nature, releasing multiple sequels to their earlier successes in the process until their demise in the late 70s.

Taking another dive into the world of Hammer's brand of Gothic Horror, I was far more careful in selecting the film to re-introduce me to them and came up with what I expected to be the perfect candidate. It is after all, one of those classics that I feel has well deserved its reputation; the tragic tale of the monster created so foul and despicable that he is treated as a villain before he is given a chance to prove otherwise, chased out of villages and mercilessly hunted; the tale analogous with the young author's (Mary Shelley) own feelings and ultimately asking the question, if even their creator can't bear the sight of them, how could anyone else?

It's also a landmark release for the Hammer Production company; not only their first full colour film but the first time Cushing and Lee star in a Horror film together, a duo that will go on to make many of Hammer's most successful Horror films. From the every so slightly melodramatic acting to the big breasted beauties; the slow zoom in to the screaming face and eerie music score never shy of using some organs. It is from the onset a shining example of what I expected from them; for a small budget there is an immense effort in 'squeezing every penny' out of it, with meticulous attention to detail in the backdrop; the laboratory is filled with things bubbling, smoking, whizzing, whirring and making a dreadful noise; blood is callously wiped off onto their shirts, and there is no hesitation when speaking of Frankenstein's bit on the side.

Peter Cushing – a man probably better known these days “Grand Moff Tarkin” from Star Wars V – shows his colours with a portrayal of Frankenstein that is neither evil nor malevolent, but simply blinded by his scientific ambitions to the horrors and depravity he has succumbed to until that final moment when all is too late. Even Lee's minor role as the monster has been shown consideration, for whilst the effects were none too impressive his sluggish and unsteady movements succeed in 'bringing to life' (if you'll pardon the pun) a character which could easily have otherwise lost its emphasis.

But for all the beauties to behold and the classic tragic tale of terror, it doesn't quite follow the original story. Whilst I'm not about to make a rant about the importance of perfect accuracy in the same vein as my fellow writer D. Bearer, and am perfectly willing to accept that a certain degree of artistic license is not only acceptable but healthy in basing a film on a tale already once told, taking a fresh spin on something that in an ideal world, could potentially be improved upon. An ideal world, but often not a realistic one. Here the omission of the slow realisation of what he's created; the encounter between the blind man and the monster a mere footnote; the complete absence of the tale of the monster helping the villagers, before demanding to meet Frankenstein atop a mountain alone so he can share in his depression; it all seems to rob the story of its point. It's all too easy to make a monster and villainise it, but far more difficult to show that looks can be deceiving. A classic horror film that's unquestionably deserving of it's reputation, but I can't help but feel just a little disappointed.